Top 10 – Fail Safe vs. Fail Secure
In this article, I covered not only how fail safe and fail secure electrified hardware products operate, but which type would commonly be used in various types of systems.
WWYD? Is a 15-second delay too long?
Should the model codes be modified to require immediate egress through doors with delayed egress locks during emergencies other than fires?
Wireless access control on university campuses
I graduated from college more than 30 years ago, and based on my experience with my soon-to-be college freshman, times have changed!
Key Boxes – Crucial Life Safety and Security Equipment
Media outlets have reported that locked electronic doors hindered law enforcement response in the recent Virginia Beach shooting. Authorized access should be addressed in each facility's emergency plan.
WW: Push Button to Exit
Warning: Today's Wordless Wednesday post is not wordless. Check out the video and scroll down for the words.
WWYD? Tenants Sue for Physical Keys – and Win
I can definitely see how a lock that is only controlled by a phone could be a problem, and the court agreed - the tenants now have keys. WWYD?
WWYD? Delayed Egress Pull Station
This application was found in an airport, and requires building occupants to use a pull station to initiate a delayed egress lock. Is it code-compliant?
UNCC ‘One-Button’ Lockdown
When a shooting occurred at the University of North Carolina Charlotte last week, an electronic locking system was already in place that allowed the campus to be locked down in seconds.
WW: DIY Power Transfer
Electric power transfers, thru-wire hinges, and door cords are used to transfer wires from the wall/frame to the door for electrified hardware. Or you can be creative and DIY.
FF: Mag-Holder / Mag-Lock Conflict
I've heard it said that there are a thousand ways to screw up a door, and I think it's probably true. Here's just one of the many conflicts to watch out for.
AP News: ‘It doesn’t open’
Fifty people died in the shootings at the two mosques in Christchurch. How many could have survived if the egress door had allowed immediate evacuation?
FF: Richland Two Institute of Innovation
If our industry is so complex that the students' research didn't turn up existing products or a hardware advisor, we need to get more user-friendly.
University of Tennessee – Knoxville
Do you know what this is a picture of? The Schlage AD lock on my oldest daughter's dorm for next year, at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville!
FF: Screwy Armatures
As the saying goes..."'A chain is only as strong as its weakest link," and this applies to mag-lock installations as well. I've seen some creative mounting efforts, but these have me shaking my head.
Locksmith Ledger: Electromagnetic Locks – 7 Applications and the Codes That Apply
How do you choose which code section to use?
WWYD? Deadbolt + Mag-Lock
Is it code-compliant to add a deadbolt to a door with a mag-lock, that can be used to lock the door during a power failure?
FF: Electric Strike Mismatch
This one is a real head-scratcher. How did this happen, AND what's the card reader for? #hardwaremysteries
Maintained vs. Momentary Switches
Maintained and momentary switches are both used with electrified hardware - do you know when to specify or install each type?
FF: Southeast Asia Airport
A knob, lever, AND a mag-lock? And what's with the stainless plates? Are they covering old vision lights or do you think they were "original equipment"?
QQ: Monitored or Recorded Egress
Quick Question: Is it code-compliant for a card reader on the egress side of the door to be used to monitor who uses the door?
WW: Delayed Egress Retrofit
Joe Fazio of Precision Doors & Hardware sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo. I don't know what to say. How about you?
WWYD? Classroom Exit Alarm
I really need your expertise on this one...talk to me about exit alarms to deter the use of classroom doors, or to at least notify the teacher that someone has opened the door.
Escape Room Tragedy
When we think about code-compliance, it's not just about lines on a page in a book. It's about reducing the risk of tragedies like this one.
Decoded 4: Codes for Electrified Hardware (with AIA CEUs!)
Of all the code requirements that apply to doors and hardware, electrified hardware raises the most questions. Here's a training opportunity to help!
WWYD? Push-to-Exit Switch
Are pneumatic switches required as the auxiliary release devices for sensor-release electrified locking systems? Or are other types of switches acceptable? Please share your insight and experience!
WWYD? Sensors for Electrified Hardware
What's the best/most reliable/most secure technology for a request-to-exit sensor in an access control system? If you have a preference, tell me why in the reply box (please).
QQ: Break-Glass Switches
I've received this question many times over the years...Can a break-glass switch be used to unlock a door in the means of egress?
WW: College Dorm Exit Stair
This summer I visited quite a few colleges, and this dorm left me Wordless. :( Can you find all of the code-related issues with these fire doors and egress doors?
FF: Pair Power Transfer
This pair of doors had one of my least favorite applications to begin with, and then access control was added. It's a challenging modification, and something is missing here.
FF: Switched/Sensor Bar
Although electromagnetic locks are easier than some other electrified hardware to retrofit, I try to avoid using them in schools whenever possible. How about you?
FF: Mag-Lock TJ Mount
Top jamb brackets for mag-locks are not the most aesthetically-pleasing application, and this installation has some extra modifications that will definitely affect the strength and durability.
Security for Higher Ed
Imagine that you work for a university, you read iDigHardware, and you find out that I'm wandering around your campus. I'm guessing there were some mixed emotions...
WW: Exit Alarm
Today's my birthday and I've got a Wordless Wednesday present for you. Look closely at this grocery store exit...any theories about what is happening here, or how it operates in an emergency?
Decoded: Deterring Elopement in Health Care Facilities (September 2018)
Elopement is a real concern for certain health care facilities, and there are more options than there were 10 years ago.
QQ: Mag-Locks on Fire Doors
1) Are electromagnetic locks allowed to be used on fire door assemblies? 2) Do electromagnetic locks installed on fire door assemblies have to be labeled?
QQ: Manual Rearm for Delayed Egress
Does a delayed egress lock have to be rearmed manually after power failure and fire alarm release, or only when the 15-second timer is activated by an attempt to exit?
WW: What’s wrong with this picture?
See anything odd in these Wordless Wednesday photos from Scott Straton of Allegion?
QQ: Elevator Lobby Egress
Can elevator lobby doors be locked, and only allow egress through the tenant space when there is a fire alarm?
FF: Pool Access
I'm curious about what age children are prevented access by the 54-inch mounting height, and whether that jives with the age of children who can read the sign and enter the code.
WW: Why Bother?
These Wordless Wednesday photos, from Geno Markette of Yates and Felts, are not just your run-of-the-mill padlocked-gate photos.
FF: Fail Safe Failure
There is a lesson behind today's Fixed-it Friday photo. Upon first glance you see an exterior door locked with padlocks and a chain attached to the lever on an adjacent door. But why?
Decoded: Model Code Changes for Delayed Egress Locking Systems (July 2018)
The code requirements addressing delayed egress have evolved since they were first introduced in the 1981 edition of NFPA 101 – The Life Safety Code, and that evolution continues with the 2018 editions of both NFPA 101 and the International Building Code (IBC).
WWYD? IBC Proposal: Control Vestibules / Interlocks
BHMA has proposed a change to the 2021 IBC, to create some guidelines for interlocks - called "control vestibules" in the proposed code language. We need your help to get this right!
QQ: Panic Hardware and Mag-Locks
The 2018 edition of the IBC includes an important clarification regarding doors with panic hardware and electromagnetic locks.
WWYD? Fail Safe Access Control?
What are the considerations for an access control system in buildings that may continue to be occupied during a fire alarm?
FF: To exit, push the button…
Yes, there is an exit sign above this door.
WW: Retrofit Security
I'll just leave this right here. Zoom in, look around, and share your thoughts in the reply box.
Code Requirements for Electromagnetic Locks (video)
I hope this video sums up the requirements in a way that will help answer any remaining questions.