Childhood Safety Act
A new state law has passed that will affect the safety of Ohio's schools, and could raise awareness of life safety requirements in other states as well. Read about it in today's post.
Decoded: Annual Inspection of Egress Doors
Egress door inspections are getting more attention these days (read tomorrow's post to learn why), so I have updated this Decoded article to include current code requirements.
FF: Temporary Locking Device
I see a few "fixes" here. Of course, the spoon/temporary locking device, the bottom strike adapter, and I can't help but wonder whether there's an exit sign behind that painting.
WW: Big Box(es)
Big boxes (and some other stuff) blocking the means of egress...that is. Tim Weller of Allegion sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photos, which require no explanation.
Security and Safety of Door Openings: 7 Steps to Code Compliance
Building occupants' feelings of insecurity may lead to the use of security measures that can negatively impact safety. Following the guidelines in today's post will help to ensure a balance of safety and security.
WW: Keep Pushing
When I saw this photo posted by Orin Alford on the Access Control Professionals Facebook page, I knew I had to share it for Wordless Wednesday, with permission of course.
QQ: Delayed Egress Signage
My Fixed-it Friday photos from last week raised a great "Quick Question"...Is braille signage required for doors that are equipped with delayed egress locks?
FF: Push/Pull to Release
One of my favorite retired AHJs sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photos, taken in a new grocery store. Can you spot the problem? (Hint: This is delayed egress panic hardware.)
Seeking a Code Modification
In the latest post from Mark Kuhn he answers the question: "Why do you teach about codes that we haven’t adopted yet?" The situation described in the post is a great example of why.
WW: Door Buzzard
Take a look at today's Wordless Wednesday photos from Colin Watson of Allegion, and tell me (in the comments) what's wrong with this installation.
Barricade Devices – Unintended Consequences
Last week I wrote about comments left by a barricade device manufacturer here on iDigHardware, and I was reminded of a tragic example of the misuse of non-code-compliant security.
FF: Unequal Pair?
Take a closer look at these Fixed-it Friday photos sent by Robin Greenberg of Perkins Eastman...I'm interested to hear your theories about the thought process behind this "fix."
Yes…I’m offended, but I’ll be OK.
Today is my birthday and I'm going to take this opportunity to say a few words about a topic that is extremely important to me...my integrity.
High School Secure Entry Vestibule
On a recent field trip with the members of Allegion's Early Careers Program, I saw a fantastic example of a secure entry vestibule in a high school. Check it out in today's post!
WW: Going Nowhere
Last week, I got stuck in the great software debacle that affected most airlines and had me "sleeping" on a cot in the airport, next to a lady traveling with her very unhappy cat...
FF: Wheelies
I'm sure someone thought this was an ingenious Fixed-it Friday "fix" to prevent the use of these doors, but blocking the egress route is never acceptable.
WW: Snowed In
I know it's July and probably not snowing where you are, but Deviant Ollam recently sent me these photos taken by Harrison Sobczyk, and I'm Wordless!
WW: Unstaffed Facilities
Today's Wordless Wednesday photos show the main entrance of a gym that is open 24 hours/day, where there is no staff present. The question is...how do members exit after their workout?
Wide doors and panics don’t mix.
In Mark Kuhn's next post, he writes about a problem many hardware specifiers have faced...a conflict between door width and the code requirements for panic hardware.
Indicators – When, where, and why?
In his latest post, Mark Kuhn explores lock status indicators...where are they required by code, and when are they just a good idea? Where do YOU specify or supply indicators?
If it were easy, they’d call it EASYware!
The funny thing about writing a hardware specification is - EVERYONE has their own way of specifying hardware for a door opening. The even crazier thing is - most of those ways are CORRECT!
FF: There were signs.
It's hard to believe, but my third (and final) child is graduating from high school today - WOOHOO! I'll be playing hookey to enjoy the festivities, but first, here's today's Fixed-it Friday post.
WW: Alien Attack
One of the things I absolutely love the most about iDigHardware is that it keeps me connected to people from throughout my career - I've been at this a long time!
Retail Access and Egress Control
Today's post from Mark Kuhn addresses an interesting application that I hadn't thought about before - a combination of electrified hardware and a key-operated lock on the same door.
FF: Parallel Arm Shoes
I received today's Fixed-it Friday photo from Eyal Bedrik and Danny Estryk of Entry Systems Ltd., and I'm a bit Wordless. Have you seen any creative fixes lately?
WW: Hitch Lock
Brian Messina of Kamco Supply sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo, and he had to educate me on what I was looking at. #WORDLESS
Decoded: Elevator Lobby Exit Access Doors
Calling all architects! I am looking for a partial plan similar to the image in this post to use with a print article about a change to the I-Codes addressing elevator lobby security. Can you help?
QQ: Panic Hardware Dogging
An architect recently asked me today's Quick Question...How do the various dogging options for panic hardware operate? What are the pros and cons of the different types?
WW: “E” for Effort?
Brad Anderson of Allegion sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photos, taken in a hotel. Someone made a good effort but I see a few problems. What do you think?
WW: Classroom Exit
Joe Hendry of Navigate360 sent me today's WW photo, taken in a school classroom. Clearly, it is a marked exit that is blocked, but is this exit required? Tell me what you think.
Courtyard Egress Questions
In today's post, Mark Kuhn asks an important question about securing courtyards: How do the 2021 IBC requirements affect these doors when there is an access control system?
WW: Science Museum – OK? Or NO WAY?
We all know by now that doors in a means of egress are required to be readily distinguishable by building occupants. What do you think about today's Wordless Wednesday photo?
BHMA: IBC Changes 2012 to 2024
A reader recently asked me where to find the BHMA comparison of the IBC requirements from 2012 to 2024. The document has been revised, and the new links are in today's post!
FF: Crossbar Cable
Marc Zolner of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo, and he asked what the codes say about having one pair locked with a cable, with four other pairs available for egress.
FF: Another Stage Door
Every time I go backstage in a school auditorium, I see issues with the egress doors. Any ideas about what could have been done differently with this door?
WW: Emergency Door
Hal Kelton of DOORDATA Solutions sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo of an "emergency door", and well... I'm wordless!
March 25th – Tragic Anniversary
Last weekend there was a large fire at a wedding venue in the city where I live...the shocking photos and videos spread quickly across social media, and everyone in town was talking about it.
I-Codes: Scan for Changes
When I went to the 2024 IBC to look for the section that requires egress doors to be readily distinguishable, I noticed something new...check it out in today's post!
QQ Follow-Up: Door/Hardware Contrast
Today's Quick Question: Do the model codes require a certain amount of contrast between the releasing hardware and the door, so the hardware is distinguishable for egress purposes?
WW: Church Exit
While this may seem like "just another chained exit" (boooring...), I am reminded of the MANY times that locked or blocked exits have resulted in fatalities during an emergency.
WW: Courtyard Exit
I just love when I receive a photo that gives me the opportunity to explain something from a different angle, and today's WW photo from Marc Zolner of Allegion is a great example.
Decoded: Classroom Barricade Devices
This month’s Decoded question is a common one related to classroom doors in educational facilities: Are classroom barricade devices allowed by the model codes and accessibility standards?
FF: What’s the weakest link?
Barricade devices that attach to the inside lever handle of the lockset rely on the connection between the lever and the lock. And I'm sure that's not even the weakest link in today's photos.
WWYD? Obstructed Exit
Paul Timm of Allegion sent me this photo, and it illustrates a really great question about doors in a means of egress. Is there something specific in the codes that would prevent this?
WW: Wordless.
What can I say about today's Wordless Wednesday photo, taken by an AHJ? I'm sure it's the result of a renovation, but I wonder how long it will stay this way.
WW: Delays on the NYC MTA
I recently received a link from a New York City architect and public transportation commuter to a news article about a plan to use delayed egress locks on subway gates. Thoughts?
WWYD? Stairwell Reentry, Part 2
Today I have a follow-up question to yesterday's post about stairwell reentry. Neither of these questions is addressed in the codes, so I am looking for any insight from the field.
WW: Movie Theater Exit
Last weekend I took my daughters and their friends to the movies, and that's where I saw today's Wordless Wednesday application on the theater exit.
WWYD? Locking Stairwell Doors
When a stairwell door unlocks (or is always unlocked) to allow building occupants to leave the stairwell if it becomes compromised during a fire, what happens next? WWYD?
USGNN: Quick Code Q+A
When a controlled egress lock is installed in a health care unit where patients require containment for their safety or security, which release methods for egress are required by the model codes?