WW: Old Fire Hose
As a last resort, I support using whatever is on hand to secure/barricade the door. But if we have time to look at the school's current situation and plan the response - is this REALLY the best we can do?
FF: Fail Safe Failure
There is a lesson behind today's Fixed-it Friday photo. Upon first glance you see an exterior door locked with padlocks and a chain attached to the lever on an adjacent door. But why?
Decoded: Model Code Changes for Delayed Egress Locking Systems
The code requirements addressing delayed egress have evolved since they were first introduced in the 1981 edition of NFPA 101 – The Life Safety Code, and that evolution continues with the 2018 editions of both NFPA 101 and the International Building Code (IBC).
WW: Security consultant recommendations violated fire codes
Watching this news report brought a little tear to my eye. FINALLY, someone in the media is talking about both sides of the equation - safety AND security.
WWYD? Bleacher Access/Egress
It seems like it must be a fairly common situation, so let me know if you have seen it before or have ideas about a solution that would be acceptable to the AHJ.
Fewer Doors –> Fewer School Shootings?
One headline that caught my eye was from the Washington Post: "Texas official says that fewer doors could mean fewer school shootings. We had experts weigh in."
NFPA 3000 – Standard for an Active Shooter / Hostile Event Response (ASHER) Program
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently released a new standard - NFPA 3000 - which sets guidelines for Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response (ASHER).
WWYD? IBC Proposal: Control Vestibules / Interlocks
BHMA has proposed a change to the 2021 IBC, to create some guidelines for interlocks - called "control vestibules" in the proposed code language. We need your help to get this right!
WW: Fixed Forever
We've all seen the back-of-house doors in shopping malls...they're often good examples of what-not-to-do.
Special-Purpose Doors for Compartmentalization
What do you think about using a special-purpose door for security compartmentalization?
WW: Break Out
I think these Wordless Wednesday photos may permanently affect my ability to speak.
Amsterdam Free Library
What's the problem with this door? Any ideas?
Short-Term Rentals
So let's say that I'm thinking about renting out my college-bound daughter's bedroom on Airbnb to help offset the cost of her books and fees. Does her bedroom door need to be a fire door? Is my house now a small hotel?
WW: Blocked Exit
A fire station? REALLY?? This reminds me of a fire station I visited a while back...
Classroom Security Considerations (May 2018)
I'm hoping this piece sums up the concerns associated with classroom barricade devices and can be used as reference material when discussing options for school security.
FF: Double Bolts
I recently ran across a Facebook page that could supply us with Fixed-it Friday photos until the end of time (or until I retire).
WW: HOW TO GET UNSTUCK!
Today's Wordless Wednesday photos came from Colin Watson of Allegion, who saw this sign in a coffee shop. I guess this is one way to address a non-code-compliant door.
Siberian Mall Fire
In an emergency, the ability to quickly evacuate can be key to survival. Life safety is everyone's responsibility. If you see something, say something.
SFM issues policy on school security
Here is one state fire marshal's answer to the school security question. What do you think?
FF: Repurposed
It is just me, or does it seem like antique stores often have creative ways of deterring egress?
QQ: Roof Doors
Is it acceptable to lock the roof access door on the roof side, to prevent access from the roof into the building?
WW: Ouverte (ou non)
Today's Wordless Wednesday photos are from a very large expo center. Although the creative slide bolt was unlocked when the photo was taken, it's scary to think about the potential for human error, or lack of egress for firefighters who might be in the building when it is otherwise unoccupied.
FF: To exit, push the button…
Yes, there is an exit sign above this door.
WW: Classroom Security
"He believes school officials could do more to prepare teachers for intruders, whether by investing in padlocks so they aren’t scrambling for ways to barricade doors..."
Decoded: Manually-Operated Sliding Doors
Manual sliders are not always allowed in a means of egress, since the model codes require side-hinged or pivoted swinging doors for most locations. The International Building Code (IBC) currently contains 9 exceptions where swinging doors are not required.
FF: College Entrance
It's too bad someone at this facility didn't ask for help BEFORE coming up with these locking "solutions." :(
WW: Retrofit Security
I'll just leave this right here. Zoom in, look around, and share your thoughts in the reply box.
Code Requirements for Electromagnetic Locks (video)
I hope this video sums up the requirements in a way that will help answer any remaining questions.
Decoded: Code Requirements for Classroom Security (video)
Our newest whiteboard animation video addresses the important topic of classroom security.
FF: State to City College: Uninstall 1,000 Fire Code-Defying ‘Barricade Devices’
Yesterday, I read an article about a college in California that purchased and installed 1,000 barricade devices at a cost of more than $200,000, as recommended by the local police chief. The college later removed the devices, as they are not compliant with the building code and fire code in California, or with the ADA.
WW: Lockdown Lowdown
Since it's Wordless Wednesday, here is a photo that Jim Phillips of SBS Associates sent me from a school walk-through. Luckily the school's security precautions kept these intruders out.
FF: Special Knowledge?
Looking at the signage, the unfamiliar locks, and the exposed wiring, I wondered if the average person would instinctively know how to exit, or whether an AHJ might think this opening requires "special knowledge"...
WW: Another School Shooting
As another school shooting occurs, I struggle with what to write. Today is Wednesday, the day that I typically post a photo that leaves me wordless...
Rooftop Heliport Egress
The more of the "vanilla" topics that are covered on iDigHardware, the more "peppermint stick" the questions become!
WW: Antique Shop Emergency Exit
Deputy Jeff Tock of Allegion found this "emergency exit" while he was out antiquing. I wonder how building occupants are supposed to exit in an emergency...I guess the store is not expecting one to occur.
WW: Wisconsin Teen’s Door-Locking Device Offers Extra Safety In Active Shooter Situations
When this story was posted on Facebook yesterday, several people attempted to address the code issues associated with the teenager's invention. A commenter posted a link to one of my articles, and another commenter called my article "a fallacy"!
FF: Locks and Chains
Thank you to Brendan Daley for this Fixed-it Friday photo. I could fix this pretty quickly with a set of bolt cutters.
WW: Salty Crew
Rich Howard of Architectural Builders Supply sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo. I'll give it a C+ for effort, but an F for egress.
WW: What’s missing?
This Wordless Wednesday video is from the Daily Mail...what's missing from this application?
Six Locked Doors
Today is the 75th anniversary of the fire at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston - one of the tragedies that had the biggest impact on the codes that pertain to doors, hardware, and means of egress. A new documentary recounts the stories of some of the survivors, and memorializes the 492 people who lost their lives that day.
Storage in Stairwells
Most of us know that stored materials don't belong in stairwells, including the space under the stairs. But with square footage at a premium, we are sometimes asked to "prove it"...
FF: LTR Panics
Well, this is one way to solve the problems with your panic hardware - NOT! Thanks to Charles Anderson for these Fixed-it Friday photos!
WWYD? IBC Changes
This is our big chance to propose some changes to the IBC, to help make it easier to interpret, and to address new developments in products or technologies, or new safety issues that have arisen...
WW: “Anger as table is spotted in front of fire door…”
This is the moment I've been dreaming of...an article in the Somerset (UK) News about someone tweeting their anger regarding the placement of a table and chair in front of an egress door!
WWYD? Bumper Cars
Leo Lebovits of M&D Door & Hardware sent me these photos from a recent trip to an amusement park. Are these doors code-compliant for a building of this type? Why, or why not?
Specifying Zombie-Resistant Door Openings (Update)
While ensuring code-compliance, of course!
Decoded: Code Requirements for Classroom Security
Our last whiteboard animation video for this year will address the 2018 model code requirements for classroom security...
WW: Warehouse Exit
I really don't know what to say about this Wordless Wednesday photo, which was sent to me by Jim Heberlein of Block Iron & Supply Company. The good news is, the doors and hardware are being replaced!
WW: School Entrance Security
Today's Wordless Wednesday photos were sent by Austin Bammann of Central Indiana Hardware. This is NOT the way I would provide security at the entrance to a school. :(
FF: Doggie Door?
Guess what this is for. And once you figure it out, what do you think about the potential impact on free egress?