WW: School Security
These are egress doors in an occupied school gym. Luckily they are going to be replaced shortly, but meanwhile, I'm Wordless.
WW: Hotel Exit
When I stay in a hotel I always check the fire doors and egress doors, and unfortunately I usually find issues. I guess I'm not the only one...
Access to Panic Hardware
I'm sure you've seen panic hardware with some sort of guard or protection above, below, or around the panic. Should the codes define a certain area of free space around the panic hardware, ensuring that the actuating portion is obvious and readily available to someone using the exit? How much clear space is needed?
WW: Have a Coke and a Smile
It's Wordless Wednesday again, and these photos DEFINITELY left me wordless...
Time-Sensitive Opportunities!
There are 3 educational opportunities coming up, but you have to act fast! An on-demand video of a fire door test - 1 week only! Access Control Training begins Thursday! The next online Decoded course begins tomorrow!
Assembly Doors with Mag-Locks
In a recent discussion about code change proposals, there was a question about whether electromagnetic locks should be an acceptable alternative to panic hardware, on doors serving Assembly occupancies - essentially the application shown in the photos below. If approved, a door serving an assembly space, and perhaps even Educational occupancies depending on how the proposal was written, could have mag-locks released by a sensor, and no panic hardware - no latching device at all...
Decoded Quick-Tips: Fire Door Assemblies
In preparation for an upcoming class for access control professionals, I'm putting together some printable summaries of code tips on security-related topics. The first sheet I'm working on addresses requirements specific to fire door assemblies that would be important to an access control integrator or security consultant...
Stairwell Reentry – Revisited
Something recently caught me by surprise and I feel like I should bring it to light so that anyone who is specifying, supplying, or installing electrified hardware on stairwell doors would be aware of the potential issue...
WW: Hot Mess
I'm working on a blog post - hopefully for tomorrow, about a code problem involving stairwell reentry requirements. And it's not good news. But for today, from Edward Marchakitus of Cornell Storefront Systems, the emergency exit on a retail store. You'll be happy to know that this is the "before" photo:
WWYD? School Security
In addition to providing support and training on door-related code requirements, my job also includes participating in code development - helping to propose changes to the codes that affect our business, and reviewing proposals from others. There is currently research underway that may propose to add school security requirements to a national code...
Decoded Online Training
In a few weeks I will be teaching my Decoded online course again, this time on behalf of the Center for Campus Fire Safety. The Decoded course is a 4-class series on code requirements applicable to doors and hardware, and is based on the following codes and standards...
WW: Obstructed Egress
An architect's office can't claim that they didn't understand the requirements for an unobstructed means of egress, right?
Doors in the News
Keith Brooks, Head of Prevention and Protection at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “This case is a perfect example of how important fire doors are when a fire breaks out both in the home and the workplace. They play a critical element in saving lives and property and should never be propped open..."
FF: 5 Operations to Exit
Eric Rieckers of Yadon Construction Specialties sent me this classic Fixed-it Friday photo of a door gone wrong. Security must not be enhanced at the expense of life safety, and doors in a means of egress must be unlatched with one operation. Several of these locks are also mounted outside of the allowable range for operable hardware.
Locked in Mazagan
This was not the first time I've been locked in. My youngest daughter locked us in a hotel room on another summer road trip, and once I got locked in the Trinity Church stairwell. Hopefully being locked in Mazagan makes #3 of 3...
WW: Fez Egress
In Fez, we stayed in two riads - beautiful old houses that have been converted to guesthouses. Check out the stairs...I wouldn't want to have to get out quickly. The egress rules are a little different here...
WWYD? School Multi-Stall Bathrooms
A couple of weeks ago I posted about my teacher-friend Shilana, who shared with me (and y'all) a bit about her school's lockdown procedures. I asked her about several scenarios...what she would do if she and the kids were on the playground, in the gym, or in the restroom when the lockdown alarm sounded...
TBT: Wide Throw Hinge
These photos were sent in by Eyal Bedrik of Entry Systems Ltd., after his recent trip to the US from Israel. The photos were taken at the George Eastman House in Rochester, New York. The home was built between 1902 and 1905, and is 35,000 square feet with 50 rooms!
WW: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
If you're not an avid reader of Doors & Hardware (what??), you may not be familiar with the Real Openings column by Mark Berger of Securitech. Mark's photos ALWAYS leave me wordless. With Mark's permission, here are his photos from the July issue...
NFPA 101 on Fire Door Inspection
Last week I was asked whether the 2012 edition of NFPA 101 - The Life Safety Code requires annual fire door inspections for health care facilities. As many of you know, the Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will soon be using the 2012 edition of NFPA 101 when they survey health care facilities...
WW: Fan Club
This is a marked exit from a dry cleaner's. The photo was posted on the Truck Floor Training page on Facebook - a group for firefighter training. It's interesting to look at this door from both perspectives...
FF: Disguised Doors
For those of us concerned with egress requirements, disguising the egress side of a door is a questionable method of preventing elopement, since egress doors must be readily distinguishable...
Decoded: Calculating the Occupant Load
Many code requirements are dependent upon the occupant load of the room or space in question. For example, the International Building Code (IBC) requires panic hardware for doors equipped with a lock or latch, which serve Assembly or Educational occupancies with an occupant load of 50 or more (the occupant load limit for NFPA 101 – The Life Safety Code is 100 or more)...
50 Articles!
Late in 2010 when this blog was about a year and a half old, the editor of Doors & Hardware asked if they could publish one of my blog posts in each issue as a monthly column...
FF: Service Call
Jon Dudley from Allegion sent me this Fixed-it Friday photo after being called out to a hospital because of a panic device that was not functioning properly. The access control system would operate the device electrically, but two self-tapping screws had been installed on the underside of the device which prevented the touchpad from being actuated manually.
NYC Code Update
The New York City Department of Buildings has announced that New York City will be adopting a new construction code as of October 1st, 2014. Please forward this post to any of your colleagues who work on projects in NYC.
Random Doors of Dallas
If you're here in Dallas for DHI's CoNEXTions 2014 and you see any beautiful or interesting doors, send me a clear photo and I'll add it to this post! OH - and come to my class tomorrow (Friday) so I'm not all alone - CE1401 Codes and Standards Update at 1:30 in Senators Hall. Here are some that I've seen so far...
More Reader Photos
I'm tied up preparing for Day 2 of COR140 and the rest of the week's events, so here's another batch of reader photos. Thank you to all of the readers who make it a little easier to keep iDigHardware running when my hair is on fire. I just noticed that all of today's photos came from my Allegion brethren, so it's an all-Allegion post!
Reader Photos
I'm in Dallas this week to teach DHI's COR140 - Using Codes and Standards and then attend the DHI Conference - CoNEXTions 2014. It's a crazy-busy week, so it may be a full week of reader photos. If you've been hoarding your awesome door photos, send them along!
See you next week?
In just a few days I'll be heading to Dallas for CoNEXTions 2014 - the DHI annual conference. As I mentioned before, I'll be teaching COR140 - Using Codes and Standards Monday-Wednesday, and in late-breaking news, I'll be teaching the CE1401 Codes and Standards Update on Friday (6/27) from 1:30-4:00 p.m. CE1401 is an online code update, but I'm going to talk about some of the recent changes live and in person. This class is being offered for FREE as part of the conference registration (it is normally $250 for members/$350 for non-members).
WW: Butt in Any Time
I'm at the BHMA meeting in Chicago this week, and the restaurant we selected for dinner (a Chicago icon) had the added bonus of a door that left me a little Wordless. This is the main entrance and exit from a restaurant with an occupant load of approximately 300. See any issues?
FF: The Sleeve
After Tuesday's school shooting in Oregon, there were several news reports about a school security product developed by a group of teachers. It's called "The Sleeve," a steel sleeve that fits over the door closer arm to prevent an intruder from opening the classroom door from the corridor...
Code Implications for Mechanical Hardware
Locksmiths are often called upon to increase security at an existing door or replace hardware that is damaged or defective. There are several code-related issues to note before getting started...
Fatal Fall From Roof
I read in the news this morning that a 2-year-old boy died when he fell from the roof of a 4-story apartment building in Dorchester, Massachusetts - about 25 miles from my home. Many of the news reports focus on the lack of supervision that allowed the toddler to leave the day care on the first floor, climb 4 flights of stairs to the roof, push the door to the roof open...
WW: Grocery Store Egress
In addition to the blocked egress path, I see a security bar with a padlock and hasp, the original lockset, and an exit alarm, presumably requiring at least 3 operations to unlatch the door. And possibly a key. And a detailed map to find your way to the door...
WW: Scary Emergency Exit
This week's Wordless Wednesday photo is from Keith Lathrop of Midwest Wholesale Hardware - a particularly scary emergency exit with a chain and padlock to replace the missing rods and top latch...
DHI Technical Education in Dallas!
Back in the Olden Days when I went to hardware school, I couldn't wait to get my AHC certification and become an instructor. I really looked up to them (and still do!). They were very knowledgeable but they had a lot of fun too. Then life happened...
Decoded: Use Groups and Occupancy Classifications
In Chapter 3, the IBC defines each “use group” and NFPA 101 - Chapter 6 describes each “classification of occupancy.” Both terms describe how the building or a portion of the building will be used, and each of these codes contain requirements specific to certain uses...
Ramp It Up
As I stood outside the warehouse I noticed that everyone who went in or out of the exit (which was not the main entrance), had something to say about the "ramp." This exit would clearly not be considered accessible, but it was even difficult for able-bodied visitors to use...
MGM Stampede
It appears this massive mishap could have been a lot worse than it turned out to be, but it is nevertheless a scary incident that left many people hurt and hundreds in harm's way. That may prompt the MGM Grand to reevaluate its current design and make some tweaks to avoid similar incidents in the future...
FF: Airport Cart Protection
These doors are fire doors and also a marked exit, so a) replacing the fire exit hardware with surface bolts negates the positive latching, b) the rim strike that has been installed with the rim panic is not acceptable for use on a fire door, c) the guide rails prevent the inactive leaf from opening...
WW: Bartender Exit Only
It seems like every time I attend a meeting of one of the associations I belong to, I see something to use on this site (here's one from a CSI meeting, and another, and another...
WW: Western Store Emergency Exit
Today's Wordless Wednesday photos came from an anonymous fire inspector pal of mine. This is very common in retail stores - the merchandise displays creep in and encroach upon the egress route, or inhibit the operation of fire doors...
WWYD? Elopement in Schools
Even if we only consider the space with the smallest occupant load - the classroom, the codes do not give us many options for preventing a student from eloping. If the classroom has an exterior door that is required for egress, it can not be locked in the direction of egress....
WWYD? School Seclusion Room
Some schools include seclusion rooms, where a child may be placed if he/she needs time to calm down without endangering themselves or others...
FF: I’ve got a welder and I’m not afraid to use it.
Paul Goldense of Goldense Building Products sent me these photos, taken in a 6-bay heavy truck repair garage. Lots of torches, welders, flammables, and other hazards present. Instead of replacing the door on the left, someone adept at welding Fixed-it...
Decoded: Key-Operated Locks
I need some help from you...a nice clear photo of a door with the signage described below, as well as the indicator lock. If you have seen one of these in your local area, I'd really appreciate some help with these photos...
WW: Restaurant Exit
This illustrates why I disagree with "bending the rules" to allow non-code-compliant security devices to be used "after-hours." When the fire marshal agrees to something like this, the compromise would typically come with a qualifier...
In the News
The outstanding code violations include missing or damaged fire doors and exposed wiring, he said, and replacement doors and light fixtures have been ordered. An improperly installed gate and a parking problem also have been fixed to accommodate emergency vehicles, he said....
WW: Vertical Rod Repair
When I look at a photo and can't come up with the right thing to say, I know it needs to be posted for Wordless Wednesday...like this one from Kevin Taylor of Allegion...