Vote for Life Safety
NASFM is certainly aware of the need to protect our schools and businesses from senseless acts of violence, however we feel strongly we must carefully consider the solutions being proposed...
WW: Mall Exit
What do you think? Is this Wordless Wednesday exit visible enough?
WW: ABC7NY – Underground Dance Dangers
Call me naive, but I always assume that when tragedy strikes, people will learn from it and try to avoid similar incidents in the future. Unfortunately, ignorance mixed with greed often stand in the way of life safety...
FF: Mystery in Maine
Here's what I know. At one time, this door was in an isolation ward that was part of a Maine psychiatric hospital campus built in 1957...
Classroom Security Risk Transfer – Paul Timm, PSP
On a fairly regular basis, someone sends me a video clip or a link to a news story, asking, “Have you seen this classroom lockdown device?”
FF: Rebar
The application in these Fixed-it Friday photos looks like a result of poor planning to me. Thank you to Mark Kuhn of Allegion for sending them!
WW Follow-Up
Last week I posted a photo and asked if the signage made the door code-compliant. As many people commented, the short answer is "no." It's hard for me to resist a "teachable moment"...
QQ: Required Swing of Double-Egress Pairs
I could have sworn that I had already answered this question on iDigHardware, but there are almost 2,000 posts and I can't find one that specifically addresses this...Is there a required "hand" for a double-egress pair?
Classroom Security AND Classroom Safety – Why Compromise? (June 2017)
The graphic that will appear with this article in Doors & Hardware illustrates a potential application for existing classroom doors if the 2-operation language is approved...
WW: This door to remain unlocked…
Austin Bammann of Central Indiana Hardware sent me this Wordless Wednesday photo. You may notice that there is signage above the door stating, "This door needs to remain unlocked during business hours." Does this signage make the opening code-compliant? Why, or why not?
I need you.
Let's not look back on this moment in history and think, "If only we had done something..."
WW: Brussels Hotel
This is not the first time I've thought to myself...I hope everyone knows how lucky we are to have (mostly) code-compliant exits in the US...
2-Operation Follow-Up
When a proposal was made to add a reference in Chapter 7 to the exceptions for 2 operations, the Technical Committee on Means of Egress almost unanimously opposed this change...
WW: Exit Bolt
My husband: "Do other people cry on Wednesdays or is it just you?"
WW: BLOCKED Exits
These are truly some of the best Wordless Wednesday photos I've ever seen, and I even got the backstory...
Decoded: Panic Hardware Refresher (May 2017)
It has been a while (6 years!) since I have written about the code requirements that apply to panic hardware in my Decoded column, so it’s time for an update...
WW: Convention Center
I need to make an avatar of me crying, to include with these posts.
WWYD? 1 Operation, or 2?
I need your help. The topic of today's post could affect life safety for decades, and I hope you will read it and leave some feedback...
WW: Army/Navy Store
I received today's Wordless Wednesday photo from Charles Anderson, and yes - he contacted the fire marshal...
Looking Back: Nickel Mines PA School Incident
From the moment a gunman began shooting 10 girls in an Amish schoolhouse last year, 2½ agonizing minutes ticked by before state police were able to force their way into the barricaded building...
Decoded: Egress Requirements for Door Openings (video)
Our next group of whiteboard animation videos is ready!
WW: Blinds
A fire marshal sent me this photo, and I'm Wordless (again). How does anyone think this is acceptable???
FF: Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Happy Fixed-it Friday, and Happy St. Patrick's Day!
WW: Beer Run
How is it possible that NOBODY else seems to notice stuff like this??
Decoded: Recent and Upcoming Changes to the Model Codes (April 2017)
When I started increasing my focus on the code requirements that affect our industry, I looked forward to receiving the new editions of the model codes and standards, so I could page through them and find out what was new...
New York Times: Girls Killed in Guatemala Fire May Have Been Locked In
The idea of locking 52 girls in a classroom measuring 4 meters x 4 meters is something I hope would never happen in the US...
WW: Blackout
I was checking out the iDH stats, and I noticed that there have been a few days lately when we've almost reached 2,000 visits. Today could be the day, because I KNOW you will want to share the link to today's Wordless Wednesday photo which was sent to me by Brent Kiernan of Allegion.
WW: Retail Exit Pair
Tim Weller of Allegion sent me this Wordless Wednesday photo. I have nothing to say about it. I'm just going to cry now.
Nightclub Tragedies Remembered
When a tragedy occurs, there is often an immediate response - a call for solutions to avoid similar incidents in the future...
FF: Duct Tape
Am I the only one who is curious about whether the tape is to keep the bolt projected for security, or retracted for safety? (I have my suspicions.)
Decoded: School Security Update (March 2017)
In case you haven't been following the classroom barricade device issue closely, here's an update. Within the last few years, products have begun to appear on the market which were advertised as a secure way to lock a classroom door...
WW: STOP! And I really mean it!
Thank you to David R. Defilippo AIA for today's Wordless Wednesday photo...
Man-Traps in Schools
This morning I found an article in my news alerts: Roxbury Eyes Spending $580K on "Man Traps" for Schools. My first thought..."Oh. No."
FF: 4 Door Lock Gadgets (video)
One of my fire marshal pals sent me this Fixed-it Friday video. Neither of us recommending the use of these gadgets, but the dogs are super-cute and I always like to see people's lock-related inventions...
WW: Double-Bar Security Device
Daniel Cannon of Allegion sent me these Wordless Wednesday photos of the back door of a restaurant. What say you?
DHI – Safely Securing the Built Environment through Building, Fire, and Life Safety Codes (video)
This is a good introductory video from the Door & Hardware Institute on how codes impact our industry. For additional training on codes...
FF: Exit Sign Position
Sometimes when I ask people if the door they are asking about is a required means of egress, the response will be "No - there is no exit sign." Lots of required egress doors don't have exit signs...
NFPA Journal: Classroom door locking against unwanted entry, By Ron Coté
As I've said before, with regard to classroom security code changes, NFPA 101 is on a slightly different schedule than the the ICC codes. Although changes to the 2018 editions of the IBC and IFC have already been approved...
WWYD? Sensor Release
When I took the photo, the sensor did not unlock the electromagnetic lock until I actually touched the door and the movement of my hand triggered the sensor. It seems obvious that the sensor should not be positioned behind the exit sign (or any obstruction)...
Quizlet: Use Groups – International Building Code (IBC)
Following up on Monday's post about NFPA 101 occupancy classifications, here are the study materials for the IBC use groups. The IBC further divides some of the use groups into sub-groups...
Architects’ Journal: Form Studio completes reworking of ‘cookie cutter’ nineties flat
Looking at the photos that accompany the article, the closing device is mounted in the door edge. Has anyone used this type of product?
Quizlet: Occupancy Classifications and Hazard of Contents – NFPA 101
I decided to try something new - a program called Quizlet, which allows me to create study materials and a test on whatever topic I want to teach about...
FF: Peace on Earth
Here's a little holiday leftover...Ed Shimpock of Seven Oaks Hardware sent me this Fixed-it Friday photo of a pair of doors that were tied shut to prevent latecomers from entering during the holiday church service...
WW: Shoe Storage
Today's Wordless Wednesday post is from Brian Rafferty, via the Fire and Life Safety Inspectors group on Facebook. I've got nothing to say about this one.
Fire Doors in the News
Happy New Year! There was lots of door-related news over the holidays...
Holiday Door Decorating
Now, before you call me Scroogette, I do love doors and holiday decorating, and I can understand the appeal. BUT, there are a few rules to keep in mind...
Schlage LM9200
A couple of weeks ago I was in our office in Carmel, and I noticed something about the conference room doors. Do you see what caught my eye?
DSSF: Opening the Door to School Safety
The Door Security and Safety Foundation has announced a video and public relations campaign which stresses the importance of securing classroom doors without compromising life safety...
Dormitory Tragedy – Ankara, Turkey
Last week I was contacted by an architect from Istanbul, about a recent fire that occurred in a girls' dormitory there. There were 12 fatalities...
Responsibility for Safety
Over the years I've had many people ask me, "If I'm the last person to work on this door, could I be held responsible for existing code problems with the opening?"