QQ: Locked Stairwell Doors
Several people have asked the same Quick Question this week: Is it permissible by code for stairwell doors in schools to be locked during a lockdown? The answer is in today's post.
QQ: Fire Alarm Release of Electrified Locks
I have written about this topic from various angles, but this Quick Question keeps coming up: Is it code-compliant to have an electrified lock that is normally locked on the egress side, if it unlocks automatically upon fire alarm activation?
Coming Up: March Training
In March we will offer an AIA approved webinar and two Webinar Wednesday sessions. These are great opportunities for continuing your education without leaving your desk!
Locksmith Ledger: Five Code Considerations for Multifamily Residential Buildings
Many doors have to meet multiple sets of code requirements, for code-compliant egress, fire protection, and accessibility. There are dozens of applicable mandates that apply to door openings in a multifamily residential building; here are five to consider...
QQ: Special Locking Arrangements
Today's Quick Question came from an AHJ: When I am evaluating a door that is equipped with a special locking arrangement, do the model code requirements for normal locking arrangements also apply?
FF: Nothing to See Here
Logan Piburn of Dyron Murphy Architects sent today's Fixed-it Friday photos of an egress door modification. I can see a few problems here...how about you?
FF: DIY EPT?
Lee Frazier of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo, taken in a school. I have edited this post based on a reader's email telling me that this is not a DIY EPT, but a concealed power transfer. I have never seen this product in the wild, and I guess Lee had not seen it either!
December Training
As 2022 winds down (that was fast!), we have one more Webinar Wednesday with sessions on stairwell reentry and delayed egress requirements, along with a recently recorded Security in 30 presentation. Happy December!
Update! QQ: Mag-Lock / Panic Hardware Clarification
There is a change coming in the 2024 IBC related to doors that are required to have panic hardware and are also equipped with electromagnetic locks. I have updated the past post on this topic to include the change.
November Training
Don't worry...it's not actually November yet! But there's some training coming up next week that I don't want you to miss - including a couple of sessions that I'm presenting. I hope to see some of you there!
FF: At the Airport
People always send me photos with a note saying, "I saw this door and thought of you..." I LOVE getting those messages (who wouldn't?)! And last week when I was flying home from the BHMA meetings, I saw these doors and thought of YOU! :D
FAQs About Fail Safe and Fail Secure Hardware
One of the most fundamental requirements related to access control products can also be one of the most confusing - the functions of fail safe and fail secure electrified hardware. This post answers a few of the frequently asked questions related to this topic.
October Training
Where have the months gone?? It's October already! We have two Webinar Wednesdays this month, and the recording of my health care lunch and learn from last week will also be available soon.
FF: Hard Wired
Scott Tobias of arkaSpecs sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photos of a pair of automatic doors with electric latch retraction panic hardware. I don't claim to be an expert on wiring for electrified hardware, but this doesn't look right to me. :-|
Decoded: Requirements for Assembly Occupancies
My next Decoded column looks at how assembly occupancies are addressed in the model codes, as well as some of the assembly-specific requirements related to door openings. Let me know if I missed anything! :)
FF: I’ll just leave this right here.
What is happening in this Fixed-it Friday photo from Debbie White of Allegion? It's a restroom door in a gas station. I'll wait while you think about it.
September Training
It's my favorite time of the year - back to school! It's hard to believe that I have a college senior, and a high school junior and senior! But the learning doesn't end with graduation...we have plenty of continuing education available this month.
WW: Hotel Raceway
The fact that this stairwell fire door is now cracked in half helps to explain why drilling wire raceways in existing doors is typically treated as a field modification that must be approved in advance by the listing lab. I'm Wordless!
Decoded: Access Control Update
My next Decoded column addresses important code clarifications related to electrified hardware used in access control systems. I hope this article will help with more consistent interpretations of the requirements.
QQ: Rearming a Delayed Egress Lock
Quick Question: For delayed egress locks, the model codes require the activation of the 15-second timer to be an irreversible process. Is it acceptable for an authorized person with a key or credential to rearm the lock during the 15-second period?
Infographic: Delayed Egress or Controlled Egress?
The difference between delayed egress and controlled egress systems can be confusing...hopefully this new infographic will help. It explains how these systems work, where they are used, and how to choose the correct application.
UL 294 – Clarification
In yesterday's post I wrote about new text that was added to the 2021 IBC Commentary, clarifying the intent of the code regarding "normal locking arrangements." The requirements related to UL 294 listings have also been clarified.
2021 IBC Commentary on Egress Doors with Access Control
For years, I have been struggling with a common code interpretation related to electrified hardware, and I know that some of you have too. With the release of the 2021 IBC Commentary, this just got a lot easier.
New Page: Special Locking Arrangements
Electrified hardware can be particularly hard - especially when it comes to codes. To try to reduce the confusion that may result in inconsistent interpretations, I have created a new page called Special Locking Arrangements.
August Training
Today is my birthday and I will be spending the day flying to Minneapolis to work with the members of our Specwriter Apprentice Program and Sales Development Program. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we have 2 Webinar Wednesdays this month!
FAQs About Electromagnetic Locks
While the installation of an electromagnetic lock can be relatively simple, the code requirements that apply to mag-locks are somewhat complicated and may be confusing. These answers to frequently asked questions should help.
July Training – Last-Minute Announcement!
Because of the holiday weekend and the Webinar Wednesday sessions scheduled for the first week of the month, this is a last-minute notification of the online training available TOMORROW - I hope some of you can make it!
QQ: Delayed Egress Mag-Locks
Last week I posted a photo that was submitted by Bruce Gill of North Central Supply as part of the 3,000-post celebration, and the photo raised a few Quick Questions about the mag-lock...
WW: 3-Point Locks + Delay
As we continue to celebrate the 3,000-post milestone, I don't know what to say about today's Wordless Wednesday photo sent by Bruce Gill of North Central Supply. SMH
June Training
There is a new Security in 30 session coming up on June 17th, along with Webinar Wednesday on the 29th. Which of these educational presentations are you planning to attend?
AIA Webinar – Access Control: Where to Start, What to Ask, and How to Design
Along with our other online training scheduled for the month of May, we have a webinar on access control and electrified hardware that qualifies for AIA continuing education credit. Save your seat!
May Training
How is it May already??? Webinar Wednesdays continue with two days of online classes this month, along with a new Security in 30 session with 10 Overtur Tips for the Integrator and Security Community.
Updated: Decoded Course
My Decoded course has been taken thousands of times on-demand, along with countless attendees who have participated in live Decoded classes taught by my Allegion coworkers. I just updated all 4 classes and they're ready to go!
April Training
Webinar Wednesdays continue, along with a new Security in 30 session coming up this month! Electrified hardware, hollow metal doors and frames, fire doors, panic hardware, and a Security in 30 on some important health care research!
FAQs about Controlled Egress Locks in Health Care Facilities
As I said in my previous post about fire door FAQs, I will be posting more groups of FAQs in the coming months, to try to fill in some gaps where there is still confusion. In this post I am answering a few common questions on controlled egress doors in health care facilities.
Introducing the Schlage FSS1 High Security Door Position Sensor
One of the highest-security projects I ever specified was a state data center, and along with vascular readers and multiple interlocks, the project required high security door position sensors. These sensors are now available from Schlage!
March Learning Opps
Great news! Webinar Wednesdays are back, along with a new Security in 30 session coming up this month! Electrified hardware, automatic operators, hollow metal doors and frames...which classes will you attend?
It’s not too late!
If you missed registering for any of the learning opportunities I mentioned last week, you can still access these informative sessions! Last week's presentations are available on-demand, and there are more scheduled for this week and next!
Learning Opps
There are some great learning opportunities coming up - a two-hour webinar on fire door assemblies from Door Safety, an Allegion Security in 30 session, and an ICC panel discussion on tornado awareness...which one(s) will you attend?
Locksmith Ledger: Model Code Comparison – Controlled Egress Locking Systems
This article on controlled egress locks in health care facilities will be published in Locksmith Ledger, as a follow-up article to one I wrote last fall comparing the requirements of the model codes for delayed egress applications.
Attracting and Retaining Talent in Our Current Climate
I have represented the Allegion brands since 1994, but these days it's not the norm to work for the same company for decades. This week's Security in 30 session addresses the important topic of attracting and retaining talent. Join us!
What’s Next? Approved changes to the 2024 IBC affecting electrified hardware
John Woestman of BHMA and I worked on this article together, addressing some important changes that will be included in the 2024 IBC. It's never too early to be aware of what's coming!
Code Update: Elevator Lobby Exit Access Doors
Have you ever struggled with securing an elevator lobby door to prevent access to a tenant space, while complying with the need for a means of egress from the elevator lobby? An approved change to the 2024 IBC should help!
Last chance for training in 2021!
It has been a long year (a long two years?), and I'm more than ready for a bit of a holiday break. But first! Our national trainers have their last 2 classes of the year this Webinar Wednesday, and our final Security in 30 session of 2021 is this Friday!
Good Point.
I love it when people contact me with suggestions for iDigHardware, even when (or especially when?) their idea is something I should have come up with long ago. Here are the upcoming classes for the next 2 WEEKS!
Code Update: Emergency Release Methods for Stairwell Reentry
Two approved changes to the 2024 IBC will affect the locking of stairwell doors; ICC Proposals E47-21 and G61-21 were approved as modified by floor modifications during the committee action hearings.
On deck for this week…
We've got a boatload of classes coming up...on health care, electrified hardware, masterkeying, accessories, and hollow metal - and the Thursday class offers continuing education credit for AIA!
Coming Up! AIA Continuing Ed Webinar
This is a quiet week for training because of the holiday, but there is a very informative webinar coming up next week, presented by Melany Whalin and Connie Alexander of Allegion. The webinar offers continuing education credit for AIA, and registration is open!
Security in 30 and a whole lot more!
Coming up this week: The next Security in 30 session for integrators, two more Webinar Wednesday classes covering electrified hardware, Door Drills on access control and the Von Duprin 98/99 series, and Allegion 101 on LCN - take your pick!
Knowledge Empowers You (K.E.Y.)
I truly believe this...knowledge empowers each of us. I often find when I'm teaching about codes, that people believe something to be true that they learned 20 years ago. But things change, and it's crucial that we keep up with what's new in the industry.