Someone recently asked me which sections of the code I would reference to show that padlocks are not allowed on egress doors. There are plenty of options...the section that requires egress doors to be readily openable, for starters.
I hope everyone who celebrated a holiday yesterday had a nice long weekend - we're back in the saddle today! This week there are several classes available on electrified hardware, and a Door Drills class on the Von Duprin 98/99.
This post is going to require some patience and focus, but it will be worth the effort if you have ever run into misinterpretations about the code requirements for access control hardware that allows free egress at all times.
Thanks to everyone who attended my webinars last week - the recording of the session will be on the webinars page of iDigHardware within the next few days. Here's what's coming up this week.
A fire marshal sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo, but neither of us know the original source. We'd love to give credit to the photographer, and to ask what in the world is going on with this door?!
My webinar addressing the changes to the 2021 model codes is this Thursday, August 26th! If you need to know what's new (don't we all?), join me at 11am or 2pm Eastern. And we have other great classes this week to choose from!
Misinterpretations of the model code requirements for electrified hardware continue to hit my inbox on a regular basis, BUT - I expect some help from the ICC soon. In the meantime, I hope this Decoded article will reach the people who need it - feel free to share it!
Scott Straton of Allegion sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo of a blocked exit in a restaurant (more foliage!). I'm Wordless. What more can be said that I have not already said 1,000 times???
Have you ever run into the problem of needing to secure a door serving an enclosed courtyard, but also needing to provide free egress from the courtyard through the interior of the building? There's finally a code-compliant solution!
Last week I posted a Wordless Wednesday photo taken on a beach vacation...here's another one from one of my Allegion colleagues. How many problems can you find? And who else has vacation photos to share??
Because of a change to the 2021 International Building Code, we will soon see an increase in the number of automatic doors required for some types of buildings. Are you prepared?
Joann Robertson of Playground Medic is an expert on playground safety (cool, right?!), and she sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photos. They're from a retail store that sells patio accessories, plants, and gifts. Any theories about the motivation behind this fix?
The new version of the guide is available for download now - just visit iDigHardware.com/guide. Feel free to share this link with your coworkers and others who may benefit from using the Allegion Code Reference Guide!
I know that some of you are holding out on me...you were on your summer vacation, you saw a door and thought of iDigHardware, took some photos, and they're still sitting there in your phone.
On Thursday, August 26th, I will be hosting a webinar covering some of the important changes to the 2021 editions of the International Building Code (IBC) and NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code. Are you up to speed on what's new?
I receive a lot of questions about gates - I'm sure it's because it can be very tough to secure a gate while also complying with the requirements of the model codes and referenced standards. Here are some answers...
Today's Fixed-it Friday photos were taken by Andrew Stein of Claflen Associates Architects + Planners. They illustrate just how easy it is to defeat an egress door in the name of security.
If this article looks familiar, you've been reading iDigHardware for a long time. :) I last wrote a Decoded article on this topic in 2014, but the requirements have changed, so here's an update.
On Thursday, August 26th, I will be presenting a webinar covering the 2021 updates to the International Building Code (IBC) and NFPA 101 - Life Safety Code. The webinar qualifies for AIA and DHI continuing education units. I hope to see you there!
Earlier this week I wrote about dead end corridors as requested by one of our specwriters. Joel Niemi left a comment that I think is worth sharing, as it's related to a pretty common situation.
Yes - Iceland! Robin Greenberg of Perkins Eastman sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo, taken in a Christmas-themed store in Iceland. The egress door is so cleverly disguised, it looks like the exit sign is in the wrong place!
Sometimes a floor plan will show a corridor that ends with a wall or a locked door, creating a dead end. Today's Quick Question: What is the maximum length of a dead end corridor that is allowed by the model codes?
There are so many options for online training this week! Whether you're an architect, end user, distributor, locksmith, installer or security integrator, new to the industry or with years of experience, there's something for you to learn.
I received today's Wordless Wednesday photo from Andy Buse of Allegion, and I can't think of anything witty or even educational to say. Why would someone think it's ok to block a marked exit with display shelving?
I love reusing and repurposing...especially when something that has outlived its original purpose becomes an architectural element. This example is from Erich Roscher, who sent today's Wordless Wednesday photos of an old caboose...
I received this photo of a bank of doors with delayed egress panic hardware from Jim Elder of Secured Design LLC, and we got to chatting about some delayed egress questions. I'd love to hear what you think. WWYD?
Today's Quick Question keeps coming up: On which types of access-control doors do the model codes require the installation of an auxiliary push button to release the electrified lock?
I know that many of us are door-focused, but sometimes other portions of the egress route leave me wordless. How is it possible that problems like this - very obvious problems - remain unresolved for years (decades?)?
Have you ever been SO SURE about something that when you search unsuccessfully for confirmation you start to question what else you might have missed? This one took me by surprise.
While doing some research about special amusements and the applicable code requirements, I was reminded that the 37th anniversary of a special amusements tragedy recently passed; 8 teenagers lost their lives in this fire.
The IBC states: Doors in the means of egress shall be readily distinguishable from the adjacent construction and finishes such that the doors are easily recognizable as doors. Do you think this door is "readily distinguishable"? WWYD?
I'd love to know what the fire marshal in Oklahoma City had to say about the plan for this concert! There were 100 space bubbles - each holding 1-3 people. Egress concerns, anyone? #wordless
Timmy Jackson posted today's Fixed-it Friday photo on the Crap Locksmithing Facebook page. I think it's about time to upgrade to the 2021 model, don't you?
Several colleges and universities approached Allegion to find a solution for individual lockdown of doors with panic hardware and access control. For doors with Von Duprin QEL devices, the Emergency Secure Lockdown (ESL) feature is the answer.
Today's Wordless Wednesday photo is from Brian Mead. I think the emergency exits for retail stores look like this more often than not...we just don't usually see them. Make a point of looking, and if you see something, say something!
It's almost swimming pool season! I have updated a past blog post about changes to doors serving pools, spas, and hot tubs to be published as my next Decoded column in Door Security + Safety Magazine.
Stuart Hurwitz shared today's Wordless Wednesday photo with me...yet another retail store where the manager has no idea that egress doors need to be visible and the means of egress must be clear.
I received today's Wordless Wednesday photos from an AHJ, who will remain anonymous. During an inspection, he found this water heater enclosure. But what's that thing sitting on the pipe behind the vent?
Debbie White of Allegion sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo, which she received from a friend. I love it when my friends send me door photos...hopefully I'll be getting more as we can safely start to travel again! Hint, hint. :)
The next series of Allegion 101 begins tomorrow, Webinar Wednesday continues with 4 classes available this week, and next week there's a live presentation on the ABCs of Access Control that offers AIA credit.
Following up on Wednesday's restroom post...any theories on the situation in this restroom? It's Fixed-it Friday but I'm not sure what they were fixing with this application. Thanks to Charles Anderson for the photos!
This Wordless Wednesday photo brings back bad memories of my brothers locking me in closets and other dark and scary places. I'd love to know why this door is lockable from the outside...any ideas?
Stairwell doors can be one of the more complicated applications in an access control system, because of the code requirements that apply to these doors. Learn more about access control systems on stair doors this Wednesday!
Take a look at these Fixed-it Friday photos, sent to me by Eyal Bedrik of Entry Systems Ltd. I think I've hit the wall, because I just keep shaking my head at the photos arriving in my inbox and I can't think of any more ways to say, "Don't do this, people."
Ben Gorton posted this photo on the page of the Facebook group called "There's no crying in hollow metal", and I just knew I had to share it (with permission) for Wordless Wednesday. This door is an emergency exit for a shooting range, and I'm #wordless.
A few weeks ago I posted a recorded class on delayed egress and controlled egress locking systems. If you'd prefer to listen to that presentation live, I will be conducting the class for the American Society for Health Care Engineering on April 22nd.
These doors would be nearly impossible to open in an emergency...they require special knowledge and effort, coordination and dexterity, and the hardware is far above the allowable range. #wordless
Great News! UL has published an article to clarify the different UL listings that apply to electrified hardware. This should help with the confusion caused by the model code requirements for the UL 294 listing on certain types of systems.
Do you know...The minimum required clear opening width for a single door? How to measure the clear opening width for a pair? The formula for calculating the actual clear opening width of a doorway?
Do you know the difference between these two types of systems - where they're allowed, what purposes they serve, and all of the code requirements that apply? This presentation covers these systems in detail.
