Decoded: Clear Opening Width and Height
The original version of this post was printed in the February 2014 issue of Doors & Hardware
Variable Door Thickness
I've specified hardware for A LOT of doors. Thousands. But I've never worked on a door like this one, where the door thickness varied from top to bottom. When you have a door with an unusual thickness, you need to consider the interface between the lever trim/control, the lock body, and the panic hardware, along with the length of the fasteners and cylinder. With a mortise lockset or a mortise panic like this Von Duprin 5575 device, the location of the lock body within the door thickness factors into the equation. For example, if it was a 3" thick door but the lock body was installed at the push side face of the door, only the connection between the lever and the lock body would need to be addressed. If the lock body was installed at the pull side face of the door, only the connection between the lock body and the panic hardware would need to be addressed. If the lock was centered in the door thickness, both connections would be affected, as below.
CBS Chicago: Would-Be Burglar Thwarted After Pulling Door Marked ‘Push’
The fact that this door swings in instead of out seems to confuse the burglar enough that he can't figure out how to get in. However, I would NOT recommend inswinging doors as a security measure! Considering that people generally try to exit the way they came in, I think this opening could be an egress problem unless it is serving a very small bar. What do you think?
BUILDINGS BUZZ – Voices from the Industry
I always enjoy having a chance to work with facility managers to make sure they're up to date on what's new in my world - whether it's a new product or a recent code change. I often answer specific questions and help with product applications one-on-one, but I really appreciate the opportunity to connect with them en masse.
WW: What’s wrong with this “exit”?
Unrelated to this post...I need a good clear photo of a hospital stop / terminated stop on a hollow metal frame. Can anyone help me out?
Q&A: Life Safety Code 2012
A few years ago I met Brad Keyes of Keyes Life Safety Compliance, who is a terrific resource when it comes to life safety questions about health care facilities. When I received the question below I sent it to Brad, and his answer was so comprehensive and helpful that I asked if I could post it here. It is relevant to all types of health care facilities, not just ambulatory health care. Thank you Brad, for allowing me to share this information!
Doors of River Street – Savannah, Georgia
Before anyone says, "Why didn't you stop and see me??", we were only in Savannah for a quick lunch break. :)
WW: Pool Access and Egress
Happy New Year!!!
Doors and Codes in the News
Open fire door killed 2 at Mont Blanc - The Free Press Journal
FF: Exit Alarm
I just realized that this post had not been published yet...but it's still Friday! Enjoy the weekend!
Happy Holidays!
And if you decide to decorate your door this holiday season, make sure you don't create a problem with egress, fire-resistance, or accessibility!
WWYD? Museum Gates
I'm looking for some ideas to help a designer with the gates in the sketches below. Here’s the scenario:
WW: Overlapping Astragal
Last week on The Building Code Forum, one of the members mentioned that their local police department recommended the installation of overlapping astragals on the exterior pairs at their schools. This left me WORDLESS! It definitely feels like 2 steps forward - 1 step back some days.
WWYD? Connecting Classroom Doors
Many classrooms have a door connecting to the adjacent classroom. Correct me if I'm wrong, but since most classrooms do not require a second means of egress, I think those doors are typically there for convenience. I tried to find something in past codes that would have required the second door, but so far I only see the requirement for a second means of egress when the occupant load reaches 50 or more. (Note: There are some situations where a classroom may need to have a second means of egress because it is not located on the ground floor.)
WW: Ice Time
This photo, from an ice arena, gives me the chills. Ice rinks are notoriously difficult locations for doors and hardware...lots of abuse, often a high occupant load, humidity and corrosion issues, and other contributing factors. In case you don't see the problem right away, look at the top of the mullion. Angle brackets have been bolted to each door, and there is a pin inserted through one bracket, through the mullion, and through the other bracket. Someone trying to exit through these doors would likely have no idea why they won't open.
WW: Chair Lift
This Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for industry colleagues who share their expertise, code officials who try to answer questions even when I'm way down into the nitty gritty, people who read this blog (or at least come to look at the pictures), and for photos like this...
WW: Look Closer
I just had an idea. I'm putting together an online code class for my coworkers, which will be available to others outside of the company next year. The way I like to teach about codes is to explain the intent behind the requirement, show examples, reference the applicable section of the code, and preferably to break up the education into small chunks so it's easier to absorb over time. The way I initially tried to learn was to read the code books and highlight the sections, but it didn't really stick with me. So many people email me to say, "I know the code says something about *this*, but where is it?"...something they have read or heard may have left an impression on them about the requirement, but it didn't settle into their brain for the long haul.
WW: Down at the DMV
I find the Department of Motor Vehicles so frustrating that one year I actually cried because after waiting over an hour they said I didn't bring the right utility bill. AND...my car got hit by someone taking his driving test in the parking lot (he failed). It might have all been worthwhile if I could have spotted an exit at the DMV like this one, sent in by Lisa Augerson of Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies. According to Lisa, the DMV person said they keep it unlocked during business hours.
Special Egress Locks in I-2 Occupancies
This article was published in the October 2013 issue of the Locksmith Ledger:
Reader Photos
It's time to clean out my inbox again! Here are some of the reader photos I've received. Thanks to all who sent them!
Music City Center – Nashville, Tennessee
I know what you're thinking..."When is she going to stop talking about Nashville and get on to something interesting like gasketing or clear opening width?" :D
School Locks Doors from the Inside
Sometimes it's hard to believe that this continues to happen, but I love to hear about people pushing for code-compliance and protection of building occupants. Sadly, I'm sure the locks were present for a long time before someone noticed or said something, but the good news is that they were removed before tragedy struck.
WWYD? Gate with Access Control and Panic Hardware
Here's a tough one...
More Doors of Nashville
A hodge-podge of the doors I saw while I was in Nashville for CONSTRUCT last week...
Public Library – Nashville, Tennessee
I'm in Nashville this week for the CONSTRUCT show, and I've been scoping out some of the beautiful doors in town. My 1 vs. 100 Fire/Life-Safety class went well today...nobody fell asleep or faked an injury so they could leave early. Tomorrow I have 1 vs. 100 Electrified Hardware at 2:45, so if you're here at CONSTRUCT, head over to the Learning Pavilion. I decided today that the only thing worse than speaking to a large crowd is speaking to nobody, but luckily I had a pretty full class. Tomorrow will be the same "game show" format but with a different topic, so come back if you attended today! On Friday morning at 9:30 (room 205C), I'm participating in the CONSTRUCT Bloggers Panel, so if you've ever thought about starting a blog, have any questions about blogging, or just want to meet some bloggers, come on down!
Decoded: Panic Hardware on Electrical Rooms (November 2013)
This post was printed in the November 2013 issue of Doors & Hardware
WW: Push-Pull-Panic
Cory Yamaguchi of Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies sent me this photo of an egress door he saw on an outing to the local dairy farm with his family. I'm picturing a farm that hosts lots of visitors, not the type where the cow:human ratio is 100:1. In addition to the creative application of pull handles, there are loops up at the top (one looks like it's missing) if they need a little extra security. If you're just tuning in, this is not code-compliant.
Reader Photos
Thank you to everyone who has sent me photos of doors they've seen in their travels (or while laying on the couch). Kelly Chimilar from Allmar Inc. noticed these doors with an obvious egress problem while watching Thursday Night Football. If you don't know what the problem is, I will hold a special online study session for you after work tonight. ;)
WW: Panic Hardware Protection
Assuming this is the back door of a restaurant, what's wrong with these pictures sent in by Eric Miles of Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies (other than the fact that the door is filthy!)?
More News
It's one of my favorite times of the year..."Back to School!", and school security is all over the news. How do we keep our kids safe at school?
Recent News
Georgia school shooting: A hero emerges - Christian Science Monitor
WW: Egreso en México
As I mentioned a few days ago, I'm in Mexico taking in all of the lovely doors of San Miguel de Allende. I haven't seen much evidence of building / life safety codes, but we did go to a popular museum in Guanajuato and I saw this exit stair...I guess you could call it a form of delayed egress.
Decoded: Elevator Lobby Egress
This post was printed in the October 2013 issue of Doors & Hardware
The Palladium – Carmel, Indiana (July 2013)
This article was printed in the July 2013 issue of Doors & Hardware
WW: Deadlocking Latch
Tim Kaye of Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies sent me this photo of a required egress door in a school, which truly left me wordless. :(
Reader Photos – What’s wrong with this picture?
I've received lots of photos lately that illustrated problems with how products were specified, supplied, or installed. So let's play...what's wrong with this picture???
WW: Emergency Exit – Do Not Enter
Andy Lindenberg of Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies sent me this one. I'm a little confused. Should I use this door in an emergency, or not?
Reader Photos
Time to clean out the inbox! Here's the first batch:
Fire and Egress Doors in the News
Here are a few articles that have crossed my desk recently (and some not-so-recently but I'm cleaning house). If you find an article that you'd like to share, send it along!
Science Lab Doors
Several questions have come up lately regarding the door and hardware requirements for science labs in schools. When a short article about a chemical fire in a lab storage cabinet came across my desk, I decided to do a little digging. I found that fires in school science labs are not uncommon, in fact, the number of injuries to students has grown - in part because of changing educational requirements which advocate more hands-on science instruction. In the event of a lab fire, building code requirements can help to limit the damage to the lab and prevent the fire and smoke from spreading.
WW: Stove Top Stuffing
I was just looking for a particular discussion on the Building Code Forum, and I ran across this photo which I forgot to post. I was probably saving it for the WW before Thanksgiving. :) The fire inspector had been called back to reinspect this exit, which was missing the panic hardware.
WWYD: Help Wanted
I answer A LOT of questions every day, and I love doing it. I'm so glad to be able to provide this resource for our staff and customers, and anyone else who comes across my site. But sometimes I get questions that I don't have a good answer for, and that's where you come in. Please leave a comment if you have any insight on ANY of these questions...
Beautiful Doors of Denver
I'm in Denver for the AIA conference, and this afternoon I played a rousing game of Code Jeopardy with the Denver Chapter of DHI. If you're at the AIA conference this week, stop at our booth (#530) to play a short version of Code Jeopardy and your name will be entered to win an iPad Mini! You can enter whether you get the questions right or not, and you'll probably learn something about a new code requirement in the process.
WW: Powerbolts
This opening is secured by power bolts, which are released via the wall switch. The panic hardware is just for show...there's no way for the devices to latch without a mullion. :(
Online Code Resources
I've compiled some of the code resources I currently use, in hopes that some of them might be helpful to you. If there are other websites that you visit for code information, please leave a comment and I'll add them to the list.
New York City – Part 2
Here are some more photos from my weekend in NYC...these are all about taking a closer look.
Fire & Egress Doors in the News
Fire in China poultry plant kills more than 100 people - Al Jazeera (vide0)
WW: New York City
This photo is from one of the fine establishments we visited in NYC. You can tell it's *fine* because of the champagne buckets.