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?
Delayed Egress Locks in the Wild
I found the doors in today's photos on a recent trip to Indianapolis with my youngest daughter. Many of iDigHardware's long-time readers will remember her from the Olden Days.
WW: “After-Hours” Security
Today's Wordless Wednesday photos were taken in a packed high school gym during a competition. The non-code-compliant security devices that were in place at the time illustrate one of the reasons why egress doors should comply with the codes at all times.
WWYD? Fail Safe or Unlock Upon Loss of Power
As I mentioned a while back, Mark Kuhn of Allegion will be helping me out with some code development work and other duties, including an occasional blog post. In today's post, Mark shares some thoughts on a term found in the model codes.
Decoded: Controlled Egress Locks
This month’s question is a common one related to egress doors in memory care units. If you have a code question you’d like to see answered in my column, you can submit it by clicking the link in today's post.
FF: Key-Operated Lock
Michael Conn of Allegion sent me today's thought-provoking Fixed-it Friday photo, of a restaurant's main entrance door that has been equipped with a key-operated lock (double cylinder deadbolt). "Thought-provoking?" Read on...
WWYD? Building Bridges
The doors on this hotel bridge could be lockable if they met the requirements of the new section of the I-Codes addressing egress doors serving exterior spaces. Does anyone want to take a guess on what would be mandated by that section?
WW: Multipurpose Hardware
I don't think the use of the door hardware in today's Wordless Wednesday photo is part of the cycle testing for durability - not to mention the stored materials blocking the exit!
USGNN: Quick Code Q+A
In my current column in USGlass Magazine, I addressed electromagnetic locks released by a switch in the door-mounted hardware. Do you know the difference between the requirements for this application vs. sensor-release locks?
WW: Truck Stop Exit
Jon Payne sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo of the secondary exit in a busy truck stop. This is why I firmly believe that AHJs should not allow non-code-compliant security measures "after hours"...those devices often end up installed 24/7.
Classroom Security Function Panic Hardware
I recently saw a photo in a door and hardware installer's group on social media, with a question about the purpose of the cylinder on the head of the panic hardware. Was it supposed to lock the latch? Or control the locked/unlocked indicator?
WWYD? Grocery Store Egress
This grocery store's manager stated that the justification for this closed exit was that people were walking out of these doors without paying for their merchandise. I have my own thoughts about this situation, but I'm wondering...WWYD?
WW: Under Construction
I don't know what's on the other side of this door (is this a required exit from the area under construction?), but the idea of someone using this type of temporary hasp - possibly without evaluating the egress path, makes me nervous. How about you?
“Tis the season to decorate your doors….BUT WAIT!”
Mark Kuhn's latest post is a great reminder about holiday decorating and the considerations for fire doors and other doors in a means of egress. Happy Holidays!
WW: Happy Holidays!
I've seen a lot of creative holiday decorations that impact the exits, but what do you think about today's Wordless Wednesday photos, sent by a retired fire marshal?
USGNN: Quick Code Q+A
In my current column in USGlass Magazine, I addressed the requirements for electromagnetic locks released by a sensor. Are you aware of the change to the 2024 I-Codes affecting this application?
WW: (Un)Safe Shopping
A retired fire marshal sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photos of yet another retail exit...once an AHJ, always an AHJ. When you hit the stores this holiday season, check the exits (and send me photos)!