The next article in my Decoded series addresses clarifications to the 2024 model codes related to stairwell reentry. These requirements ensure that building occupants can leave a stairwell if it becomes compromised during a fire.
...and (zip) TIES and (bungee) CORDS! I know it's Fixed-it Friday, but this photo sent by Jim Overbey of Allegion has me wordless! If life safety was not a concern for the person making this modification, liability should be!
In the past, some of my colleagues have compared me to Navin Johnson, Steve Martin's character in The Jerk. I will admit, Navin's excitement over the arrival of the new phone book does share some similarities to my reaction to the publication of the new codes.
Really. What can I say about this Wordless Wednesday "emergency exit", sent to me by Tim Weller of Allegion. Feel free to comment with suggested captions.
This Quick Question has come up quite often over the years - I was shocked to find that I had not yet answered it here: Is XYZ product certified as compliant with NFPA 101 (or any other model code)?
When you're out doing your holiday shopping, be on the lookout for non-code-compliant retail exits (and send me some photos!)...you probably won't have to look too far!
I recently received this Quick Question from a locksmith at a university medical center: On patient room doors in a hospital, is it code-compliant to install traditional classroom function locksets which allow free egress from the room?
I recently taught an interactive code update class for an enthusiastic and competitive group of conference attendees, and I'm sharing some of the information from that session in this article, so everyone can benefit from what was covered in the presentation.
BHMA recently posted another edition of Codes in Context - this time focusing on changes to NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code. The summary report and the supporting focus documents can be downloaded from the site’s Codes in Context page.
Today's Fixed-it Friday photos illustrate another barricade device used to secure a classroom door. I don't recommend this method or any other device that impacts egress, is non-compliant with the ADA, and is untested for security.
No...just no. This is not an effective way to lock a classroom door. ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 locksets that have been tested and certified for strength and durability will provide the necessary level of security as well as code compliance.
In my current column in USGlass Magazine, I addressed the requirements for locks that delay egress for 15 seconds, which have become common in retail facilities. Do you know what is required for code-compliant delayed egress hardware?
It's hard to believe that it has been 6 YEARS since I last updated this post on zombie-resistant door openings, and 9 YEARS sine I wrote the original version. With the new model codes coming out soon it's time for another update, and what better day to post it than on Halloween??
In my current column in USGlass Magazine, I answered a question about a common application for aluminum storefront doors: Are paddle latches (AKA push paddles) a code-compliant option for the main entrance of a business occupancy?
As most of you know, the codes require egress doors to be operable without special knowledge or effort. This door is on a something like a bus that moves people around the airport (except with "normal" doors), but what are these exit instructions trying to say?
While traveling to and from Tanzania and Zanzibar, we visited 8 airports in 5 countries, and saw a few interesting airport applications. Check them out and let me know what you think!
Next week I will be back in my old stomping ground to do some training on recent and upcoming changes to the I-Codes, NFPA Codes, and referenced standards related to swinging door openings. It's not too late to register!
This padlock and hasp have been added to the only exit serving a seating area for an indoor soccer facility. Thank you to Marc Bates of the University of Missouri - Kansas City for the photos, even though they made me cry a little.
I have shared my concerns about classroom barricade devices dozens of times, but today's Wordless Wednesday photos from Mark Berger of Securitech have inspired me to review the issues once again.
Yesterday I shared an updated Decoded article on clear opening width and height, and this Quick Question was raised: Does the projection of a surface-mounted strike for rim panic hardware affect the clear width of a door opening?
This Decoded article on clear opening requirements was first published almost 10 years ago, and remains a frequently visited post on iDigHardware. It has now been updated with current code references.
Automatic sliding doors have become very common in health care facilities and other types of buildings. In this post, I have answered some of the frequently asked code questions about these doors, with links to additional resources.
I received today's Wordless Wednesday photo from Jake O'Keefe of Allegion, who was helping the locksmith for a large hospital with a problem at one of their exterior doors. The door was "stuck", but on the bright side, the problem was pretty easy to diagnose.
Today's Quick Question is one that comes up frequently with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs): When fail secure electrified hardware is installed on an exit door, how is egress accomplished during a power failure?
Because of some changes made in the 2024 editions of the I-Codes, I have updated this Decoded article addressing when to use fail secure vs. fail safe electrified hardware.
Although there is a section in the I-Codes dedicated to automatic doors, this section does not address the hardware used for security and egress. Locks for automatic sliding doors are covered in other sections of the model codes.
I will be teaching two classes during the DHI conNextions conference next month in Boston, and I hope to see a lot of familiar faces there! The classes are both code updates, but the focus is slightly different. Which one will you register for?
I received today's Wordless Wednesday photos from a retired AHJ - this is a 22,000 square foot sports facility used for batting practice and baseball training. What do you think of the "emergency exits"?
Last week I started a series of posts looking at the code requirements related to automatic sliding doors, and while I was reading up on the topic, I noticed something interesting in both the I-Codes and the NFPA codes.
In my current column in USGlass Magazine, I addressed the topic of security vestibules in schools. Consider this question: What should be avoided when designing, specifying hardware or updating features in secured entry vestibules?
I'm wondering why these doors swing toward the soccer field, but it's hard to know the egress route without a floor plan. Regardless, someone has solved the problem of unauthorized access to the stands with today's non-code-compliant Fixed-it Friday modification.
Today's Quick Question: Under what circumstances does an automatic sliding door require the break out / break away feature, allowing the sliding door to swing in the direction of egress during an emergency?
Given the situations I see while traveling internationally, I could probably create Wordless Wednesday posts until the end of time. The important thing to note is how fortunate we are to have strong codes and good enforcement in the U.S.
My next Decoded article looks at some of the exceptions where doors serving assembly spaces are NOT required to have panic hardware. Did I miss any? Leave a comment and let me know!
Krystina Regan of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photos, taken at the local nail salon. Although I do have an appreciation for clear instructional signage, the hex wrench replacement for the thumbturn and the added surface bolt are a no for me.
My kids all participated in drama club at school and I was a behind-the-scenes helper, so I have witnessed firsthand the creativity of that crowd. What do you think of this exit, which serves the backstage area in a high school theater? OK, or NO WAY?
I'm continuing to revise my Decoded articles to maintain them as an up-to-date resource for the industry...familiarity with use groups and occupancy classifications is crucial to understanding and applying the codes.
My current monthly column in USGlass Magazine answers this question: On pairs of doors, are inactive leaves that are not required for egress allowed to have manual flush bolts? Do you know the answer?
In my quest to ensure that my library of Decoded articles continues to be valuable as current reference information, I have updated this article on an important requirement of the I-Codes. Have you heard of the Duck Test?
A few years ago I decided to learn how to dance - salsa, cumbia, and other Latin dances - not the easiest undertaking, but very rewarding. My new obsession has taken me to several sources of Wordless Wednesday photos, including a restaurant that I went to last night.
Most of the codes and standards are updated every 3-5 years, but there may be a period of time when a new product is available that is not specifically addressed until the next edition is published. How is this handled by the AHJ?
Although more than 7 years have passed since the tragic shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, questions remain about the “design, unpermitted renovations, and code enforcement” there.
A couple of weeks ago I shared a photo of a blocked retail exit, and Lee Frazier sent me today's photo from another large retail store. During the pandemic, many stores changed their ingress and egress routes, and the after-effects are lingering on.
My current monthly column in USGlass Magazine answers this question: Are deadbolts compliant with the code requirements for egress, fire protection and accessibility? Do you know the answer?
Tim Weller of Allegion sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo...retail space is definitely at a premium these days. If you think the exit is blocked now, just wait until the balloon lady arrives for her shift!
I received this Quick Question the other day, and it has been a while since I've written about this topic: Is it acceptable to install panic hardware on a 2-foot-wide door that is part of a 5-foot-wide unequal leaf pair?
Last week when I was with our specwriter apprentice/sales development program cohort, I stopped into a large retail store and noticed their Wordless Wednesday method for entrance/exit control at the main entrance.
The bad news is that on my way to do some training in Minnesota, my flight was delayed and I had an unplanned overnight in Texas. The good news is that I found a good Wordless Wednesday application in the airport.
This exit serves an aircraft hangar in a military museum and is properly marked - there is an exit sign above the door. What do you think about the additional exit path marking projected onto the floor? WWYD?
I saw this Fixed-it Friday photo posted by Vincent Zito on the Locksmith Nation Facebook page, and I asked for permission to share it. This is NOT an authorized means of repairing this product, which looks like it has faced more than its share of abuse.
