WW: PREPosterous
Here's one for those of you who are familiar with hardware installation...what's wrong with the door in this photo? Hint: It's a fire-rated electrical vault door...
Code Implications for Mechanical Hardware
Locksmiths are often called upon to increase security at an existing door or replace hardware that is damaged or defective. There are several code-related issues to note before getting started...
Fire Doors in the News
Bain said the fire itself was suppressed fairly quickly, but smoke and hot gases rushed through the hallway and up a flight of stairs, in part because the fleeing tenant left her door open and also because doors elsewhere in the building were propped open...
Decoded: Use Groups and Occupancy Classifications
In Chapter 3, the IBC defines each “use group” and NFPA 101 - Chapter 6 describes each “classification of occupancy.” Both terms describe how the building or a portion of the building will be used, and each of these codes contain requirements specific to certain uses...
WW: Hidden Door
Today's photo is from Connor Jordan, originally posted on the Door Closer Enthusiasts page on Facebook. I don't know for sure that this is a fire door, but let's assume that it is for the sake of this lesson. NFPA 80 (2013) states: "5.1.5 Removal of Door or Window...
FF: Creative Pair Modification
This one goes out to my friends at Von Duprin Tech Support...I don't think I've ever seen this particular modification before. How about you?...
FF: Airport Cart Protection
These doors are fire doors and also a marked exit, so a) replacing the fire exit hardware with surface bolts negates the positive latching, b) the rim strike that has been installed with the rim panic is not acceptable for use on a fire door, c) the guide rails prevent the inactive leaf from opening...
Coroner: Open Fire Door Resulted in Death
She added: “The one thing that would have made the world of difference, other than the fire not being started in the first place, is if the door to flat 101 (where the fire broke out) had been closed.”...
Art Institute Fire Doors
These are 3-hour fire doors which divide the modern wing of the museum from the older wings. This is an award-winning museum which houses more than 300,000 works of art in its priceless collection. The chance of a fire may seem unlikely, but if a fire occurs, the wedged-open fire doors will not protect the rest of the museum...
Certified Product Directories
Have you ever been working on a specification or submittal and needed to find out whether a particular product was certified, or listed for a certain application? Maybe the plans show an oversized fire door and you need to see if your preferred manufacturer has tested a door of the proper size...
Multi-Family Fire Door Safety – The Role of Fire Doors
Fire door assemblies play a vital role in the protection of life safety, yet many people remain unaware of their existence. We pass through these doors every day in commercial, institutional, and multi-family residential buildings. A lack of awareness...
FF: Access Panel Hold-Open
Here is yet another creative Fixed-it Friday method of holding open what I strongly suspect is a fire door based on the wire glass. If anyone has come up with a good process for educating custodians or other maintenance personnel about fire doors, I'm all ears!
In the News
The outstanding code violations include missing or damaged fire doors and exposed wiring, he said, and replacement doors and light fixtures have been ordered. An improperly installed gate and a parking problem also have been fixed to accommodate emergency vehicles, he said....
Wood Door Dowels
A long time ago, mostly before my time, some wood doors had a dowel on the edge that would indicate the type of core that was used. Several people have asked me to post a chart...
FF: Another School “Solution”
First, a few things...For everyone who still has their fingers and toes crossed from yesterday's fire door test, the wood doors passed! In addition to addressing the perimeter clearance problems, a door shoe was tested...
Continued Vigilance
I'm in Chicago today, to attend a fire test at Underwriters Laboratories in Northbrook. This product is designed to be used on fire door assemblies where the clearances are larger than those allowed by NFPA 80...
Risqué and Risky
Last fall, one of my mom-friends turned 40. To celebrate in traditional fashion, we organized a posse of 13 40-something moms to go to a show. Not a show like the GoGos Reunion Tour...a drag show...
Fire Walls
Photos of the collapsed buildings show what appear to be fire walls between each of the adjoining buildings, which may have provided some protection from the explosion and resulting fire. The term "fire wall" is often misused...
Let’s Talk it Over
I don't know about you, but I used to feel like code officials were mysterious beings...sometimes they seemed a bit unpredictable. I think a big part of this is because the sections of the codes that we deal with on a daily basis are difficult to decipher if you are not intimately familiar with doors and hardware.
Decoded: Terminated Stops and Door Bottom Seals (March 2014)
This post was printed in the March 2014 issue of Doors & Hardware
WW: Laundry Room
These photos from Jodie Meyers of Phillips-Langley illustrate exactly what Wordless Wednesday is all about. This fire door leads to a laundry room in the physical education department of a high school. The door has plenty of problems (feel free to list them in the comments)...
FF: Fire Door
This photo from Linda Varnadore of Allegion left me Wordless, but I couldn't wait until next Wednesday to share it. I guess this qualifies as a Fixed-it Friday photo, since someone obviously fixed whatever problems this fire door had by holding it open for the foreseeable future. :(
WW: Stair Door
Another hotel, another fire door problem. In case you're new to this site...this fire door needs a positive latch, and will not perform as designed and tested to protect the stairwell as a means of egress for the hotel guests if there is a fire. Unacceptable!
The Inspector – by Phil Chandler, CampusFireSafety.org
Last month I wrote about a fatal fire in a Manhattan high-rise residential building, where non-compliant fire doors likely had an effect on the outcome. There was initially a lot of publicity surrounding this tragedy and even a proposal for new legislation, but as I feared, within a couple of weeks the media was no longer reporting on the story. I recently read the article below in the monthly newsletter from the Center for Campus Fire Safety, and I loved it so much that I asked them if I could share it with you. It gives a different perspective on the same issues that I preach about all the time, from Phil Chandler, a firefighter and fire marshal. Many thanks to the Center for Campus Fire Safety, and to Phil.
Reader Photos
Here's a big group of reader photos from the emailbox!
FF: Rodless
Instead of maintaining the fire exit hardware on this pair of fire doors, the rods and most of the latches were removed and an exit alarm was installed. The most disturbing part is that there are doors like this EVERYWHERE...fire doors and egress doors that will no longer perform as designed, tested, and required by code, because of lack of maintenance or improper modifications. And without widespread adoption of the fire and egress door inspection requirements, we're left to address these problems one door at a time. In each fatal fire the main focus seems to always be on sprinklers, but compartmentalization is key to preventing the spread of smoke and flames. It goes without saying that code-compliant egress is a life safety feature which can't be compromised.
WW: L’Isle Verte Fire Doors
These photos leave me Wordless in a different way than the usual WW photos. This is a great illustration of what a code-compliant fire door can do. In the foreground of the top photo...the portion of the senior home in L'Isle Verte that is a total loss, with 32 presumed dead. In the background, the newer portion of the building that suffered little damage and from which the occupants were able to be evacuated. That portion was reportedly equipped with sprinklers, but without the fire wall and closed/latched fire doors visible in the photo, the fire would not have been compartmentalized as it was. We will undoubtedly learn more about the specifics as the investigation continues.
Senior Home Fire – L’Isle Verte, Quebec
One of the worst feelings for me is that of being powerless...of seeing a critical need before me and having no way to help. I can't imagine how it felt for the firefighters, neighbors, family members, and others who were forced to watch last week's senior home fire in Quebec, without any way to rescue most of the residents - some of whom could be seen or heard until they were taken by the smoke and flames. Heartbreaking stories are emerging, including one of a man who was able to reach his mother on her balcony and wrap her in warm clothing or blankets, but could not rescue her. The fire in L'Isle-Verte is believed to have killed 32 of the home's elderly residents, although recovery of the victims is extremely slow because the remnants of the building are encased in ice.
Fire Rated Pair: It’s the thought that counts.
That's the text message I received from Hal Kelton of DOORDATA Solutions, when he sent me this photo. :D
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.
Timbuktu Bar & Banquet Hall Fire
Every day I read news articles about fires, looking for references to fire doors or egress doors. I'm sure you can imagine my reaction when I see an excerpt like, "The bar was open and occupied at the time of the fire and a fire wall and fire door stopped any fire damage from occurring there, according to the report."
FF: Random Creativity
If any of you attended DHI's AH2 class in Savannah, Georgia back in the Good Old Days, you may have had one of my all-time favorite instructors - Bob Jutzi. I actually use a lot of his techniques when I teach, to try to make my classes more engaging and dare I say "fun"? I don't have a flat-cat Earl, but I still have the monkey from my AH2 class (and a monkey arm from another year). Bob sent me the photos below so if you want to leave him a "howdy" you can do so in the comments.
Manhattan High Rise Fire
On January 5th, a fire in a Manhattan high-rise apartment building resulted in the death of building resident Daniel McClung, who was found in a smoke-filled stairwell. Several other residents were injured, including Mr. McClung's husband who was also found in the stairwell. The fire appears to have been the result of an overloaded extension cord or power strip. The apartment's resident was not at home when the fire started, and reportedly opened his door upon returning home, saw the fire and escaped leaving the door open. This provided oxygen to the fire, and allowed the smoke and flames to spread.
Back to Cape Cod
A few years ago I took my family to a resort on Cape Cod for winter break, and I spent this past weekend at the same resort. On our first visit, I found a lot to write about...the hinges on all of the cross-corridor doors had been modified (sometimes very badly) and were no longer code-compliant for fire doors, the fire doors connecting the 8 buildings were propped open with wedges and the latches had been removed, the swimming pool egress doors were questionable, and there were a few other issues.
Doors and Codes in the News
Open fire door killed 2 at Mont Blanc - The Free Press Journal
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!
Swing Free in School?
Over the weekend I visited a local high school for a swim meet. Right away I noticed MANY pairs of fire doors equipped with LCN Sentronics, which are designed to hold the doors open until the fire alarm sounds and then close the doors to deter the spread of smoke and flames. Some of these doors were propped open with wood wedges (uh-oh). When I took a closer look, I realized what the problem was.
WW: Less Top Rod
In case you were wondering, this is not an acceptable application for a fire door. And I'm not sure if/how it's working properly, or what's under the big plate.
Reader Photos
It's been a while, so here are some of the many photos I've received from y'all...
St. John the Baptist School – Peabody, Massachusetts
Yesterday was the 98th anniversary of a tragic school fire that took the lives of 22 children between the ages of 7 and 17, who were burned or crushed to death while trying to escape. The 3-story brick and wood building was engulfed within 5 minutes, and it's miraculous that more of the almost 700 children and staff in the building were not killed. The fire began in the basement, and traveled through the building as the basement doors were left open. The oil finish used on the wood floors contributed to the toxicity of the smoke. The stairs were not enclosed, and did not discharge to the exterior. Almost all of the victims were found just inside the main entrance. As a result of this fire, Peabody became the first city to pass a law which required egress doors in public buildings and schools to swing in the direction of egress.
WW: Oh Chute!
Hotels seem to be notorious for fire door issues...here's a perfect example that was found by Chad Jenkins of the National Locksmithing Institute. Chad wrote:
FF: More Velcro
People always tell me how much they love Wordless Wednesday - the day I post photos that leave me wordless (speechless). I think the steady stream of creative applications I'm receiving would support a Friday series to help ease us into the weekends. I need some help with a catchy name for this category of posts (that doesn't contain any inappropriate language). So think about a name that goes with "Friday", and conjures up visions of creative, although sometimes misguided "solutions". If I use your idea, there's a $25 Amazon gift certificate with your name on it. Freaky Friday? Friday Funnies? Help?!
Fire Doors – Everything you always wanted to know (but were afraid to ask)
This article was published in the October 2013 issue of Construction Specifier and won CSI's Construction Specifier Article of the Year Award!!
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!
BM TRADA to stream live fire door test – 9/17/13
BM TRADA will be streaming a live fire door test over the internet on 17 September, offering viewers an opportunity to see for themselves the crucial role played by fire doors in saving lives and property.
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: No power? No problem!
When I'm teaching about the code-compliant ways to hold open a fire door, I always say that my preference is to use a wall-mounted magnetic holder because there are no moving parts, and not much can go wrong if it's installed correctly. But if there's no power to the magnetic holder, it won't hold the door open. And if the door won't stay open, someone will always come along with a creative solution.
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?