FF: Electric Strike Prep
Just yesterday I was talking with a class about prepping existing frames for electric strikes. I'm not an installer, but something seems off here. What do you think?
Life Safety Digest: Controlled Egress Locking Systems in Health Care Facilities
I have an article in the Summer issue of Life Safety Digest, that covers the code requirements for controlled egress locks in health care units where patients require containment.
WW: Hospital “Egress”
Today's Wordless Wednesday post is definitely not wordless, it includes an explanation of why these hospital doors would not be compliant with the US model codes (the hospital is in Mexico).
FF: Door Looooop
I saw this Fixed-it Friday door down at the home improvement store. What do you think? Is this extended door loop a legit way to transfer the power to the hardware?
Electromagnetic Locks – Love ‘Em or Leave ‘Em?
Mark Kuhn is following up on last week's electrifying post about electric strikes, with his thoughts on electromagnetic locks. Do you have anything to add?
Observations on Delayed Egress Locks
I recently saw some delayed egress locks "in the wild" at the Aeropuerto El Dorado in Bogotá, Colombia, and I had a few thoughts on the applications and in particular, the signage.
Electric Strikes – Past their prime?
Mark Kuhn: Just about every week, I need to convince someone that electrified locks and electrified panic hardware are a far better choice than an electric strike. What do you think?
FF: Let me out (again)!
The door in today's Fixed-it Friday photos is another example from my trip to Colombia, this time in Cali. This door would not comply with the US model codes for egress...can you see why?
WW: Let me out!
Today's Wordless Wednesday photos were taken in the lobby of an apartment building, where the ONLY way to exit was for someone at the security desk to press the release button. Yikes!
WW: Access Control(ish)
Colin Watson of Allegion sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photos, reminiscent of the days when a locked door would have a key hanging on a nail nearby.
FF: Oopsie Daisy
It's a good thing that the problem with this frame prep was noticed before the frame was installed...can you tell what's wrong with today's Fixed-it Friday photo?
FF: Can you help me out?
Tim Chow sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo of a pair of doors with access control, and I can't figure out what those little wires are for. Any ideas?
UL: Locking Configurations for Access and Egress Control
UL has recently updated an article that will be helpful when conducting a search for product listings in UL Product IQ. Check out today's post for an example of how to use this directory.
Decoded: Locking Stairway Doors in Schools
In this month's Decoded column for the School Security + Safety edition of Door Security + Safety Magazine, I address several considerations for securing stairwell doors.
Decoded: Listings for Electrified Hardware
My next Decoded article covers one of the more confusing topics related to electrified hardware - are these products required to be listed to UL 294, UL 1034, neither, or both???
Looking Ahead to the 2027 I-Codes
In the January/February issue of Door Security + Safety magazine, I have an article giving a preview of two important changes that have been approved for the 2027 I-Codes.
WWYD? UL 294 / UL 1034
I'm preparing to do some training on this topic, so I'd love to get some feedback from readers. Please share your insight/experience in the comments!
QQ: Locked Doors on Elevator Lobbies
Today's Quick Question relates to a change to the 2024 IBC: What type of lock may be used to secure an egress door leading from an elevator lobby to an exit access corridor?
Life Safety Digest: Special Locking Arrangements vs. Normal Locking Arrangements
Check out my article in the Winter issue of Life Safety Digest, which clarifies the requirements related to electrified door hardware.
The Schlage XE360 is a winner!
The Schlage XE360TM Series has been named the top product in the SecurityInfoWatch.com Readers' Choice Product Award in the Door Hardware & Locks category!
QQ: Access-Controlled Egress Doors
If I had to name the one code section that has caused me the most pain and suffering during my career, the section addressed in today's Quick Question post would be the one.
RX Switches – What are they for?
In his latest post, Mark Kuhn addresses a common question that comes up during code review...What's the purpose of an RX switch in the door-mounted hardware?
Update! iDigHardware.com/SLA
If you're not familiar with the SLA page, it's THE resource for the code requirements related to electrified hardware and special locking arrangements on iDigHardware. Now updated!
Data Center Security
The latest post from Mark Kuhn addresses a type of facility that is becoming much more common these days - data centers. How do you think the model codes should address these buildings?
WW: “Child Safety Door”
Jamie Lyn Callahan of Allegion sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photos, taken during a kids' birthday party at an indoor playground. This door makes for a great "teachable moment."
Decoded: Solving the Puzzle of Electrified Hardware Codes
Check out my crossword puzzle from the conference issue of Door Security + Safety Magazine, to review some of the code requirements related to electrified hardware!
Fail Secure Electric Strikes and Fire Alarms
Mark Kuhn's latest post addresses an issue that I wrote about a while back...it's been 10 years since my original post, so I guess it's time to take a fresh look. :D
What’s that? Electric Power Transfer (EPT)
The idea for today's post actually came from a question I received about the standard mounting location for an EPT. Do you know where to find answers to questions like this?
Decoded: Annual Inspection of Egress Doors
Egress door inspections are getting more attention these days (read tomorrow's post to learn why), so I have updated this Decoded article to include current code requirements.
WW: Keep Pushing
When I saw this photo posted by Orin Alford on the Access Control Professionals Facebook page, I knew I had to share it for Wordless Wednesday, with permission of course.
QQ: Delayed Egress Signage
My Fixed-it Friday photos from last week raised a great "Quick Question"...Is braille signage required for doors that are equipped with delayed egress locks?
FF: Push/Pull to Release
One of my favorite retired AHJs sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photos, taken in a new grocery store. Can you spot the problem? (Hint: This is delayed egress panic hardware.)
Seeking a Code Modification
In the latest post from Mark Kuhn he answers the question: "Why do you teach about codes that we haven’t adopted yet?" The situation described in the post is a great example of why.
WW: Door Buzzard
Take a look at today's Wordless Wednesday photos from Colin Watson of Allegion, and tell me (in the comments) what's wrong with this installation.
WW: Going Nowhere
Last week, I got stuck in the great software debacle that affected most airlines and had me "sleeping" on a cot in the airport, next to a lady traveling with her very unhappy cat...
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?
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.
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?
FF: I’m Wordless
I saw today's classic Fixed-it Friday photo on the Locksmith Nation Facebook page, and I asked Allen Medvin for permission to post it here. Allen is not responsible for this fix!
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?
Stage Door Follow-Up
Last week I asked for ideas about what could have been done differently with the hardware on a stage door. Today's post is a follow-up with the solution that I would specify.
QQ: Electrified Locks and Accessibility
An interesting Quick Question showed up last week: Do the accessibility standards mandate an extended amount of unlock time for electronic locks, to accommodate people with disabilities?
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.
WWYD? Stairwell Reentry
In some buildings, a stairwell may have more than one door serving a floor. In that case, are all of the doors required to allow reentry, or could one door be designated for this purpose?
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.
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.