Beautiful doors and hard cider...two of my favorite things. But being who I am, I wondered whether the doors were code-compliant, since the model codes allow sliding doors to be used in a means of egress when the occupant load is 10 people or less.
When the automatic operator stops working, today's Fixed-it Friday photo illustrates one way to fix it without bringing in an auto operator expert or waiting for replacement components.
Sometimes when you have a change in level of more than 1/4-inch, you just have to wing it and solve the problem using what you've got on hand! I wonder how long this gasketing extrusion could survive as a threshold substitution.
Normally, a pneumatic power transfer would be used to supply air to the pneumatic auto operator. This would have been concealed in the edge of the door and the frame rabbet, protecting it from damage. Unfortunately, the installer had other ideas...
I saw this video posted on the BANG Forcible Entry Facebook page and I thought of y'all. I'm sure you'll quickly spot the problem with this training video on how to defeat a door with panic hardware. :D
...Another propped-open fire door. When are people going to learn?? If you don't know why this is a problem, click the link to watch a video that will teach you all about fire door assemblies.
In the category of "Repairs My Husband Would Make", here's today's Fixed-it Friday photo which was posted on the Crap Locksmithing Facebook page by Randy Lahey.
Anyone else see the problem with this Fixed-it Friday photo? Note: The photo was sent to me by an AHJ, and the situation has since been corrected.
The facility's request was to automate this 4-foot x 9-foot sliding door, but I think that's a "fix" that may not be feasible. What do you think?
Maybe I should go into door forensics in my retirement years (someday). I think it's so interesting to look at a door opening and try to figure out what happened.
What is it with museums? Other than antique stores, they have to be one of the most common sites for non-code-compliant exits.
This door has an arched top so the standard closer mountings won't work, but there is an alternative - a special template from LCN!
Harry Porosky of Integrated Openings Solutions sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo. This looks like it's going to be a pretty expensive fix.
I can't say for sure that is a fire door assembly, but I've seen this Fixed-it Friday application on fire doors many times in school gymnasiums.
Jennifer Schaffer posted today's Fixed-it Friday photo on the Crap Locksmithing Facebook page, and it seems like an appropriate "fix" for a Friday...
Fire door assemblies aren't just something you read about in NFPA 80 - they have an important role in the passive fire protection of a building. Here's another fire door win!
I'm curious about this "self-cleaning" wrap installed on a door pull at a restaurant entrance. Do any of you have experience with this technology?
Not too many people would be walking down a hospital corridor and notice the problem shown in today's Fixed-it Friday photo. Can you see it?
It still amazes me that people with seemingly no understanding of the code requirements will make modifications to their doors that could result in injury or even death.
This was the result of a school maintenance manager’s attempt to unlock a door that was not on the key system. I think I would have broken the glass, but whatever works.
If you see any situations like this, I'd love a photo to help share ideas for Fixed-it Friday "fixes" that ensure all safety requirements are met.
If your fire exit hardware shows up on the job-site without the dogging feature, there's a good reason for that. Homemade dogging is not a valid fix!
Leave it to NFPA to come up with a new type of dogging that is guaranteed to keep a door with panic hardware unlocked indefinitely.
Coming in just after duct tape and WD-40 in the lineup for must-have tools to fix door-related problems...the Sharpie!
Speaking from experience, this repair method - which apparently spans across multiple industries - does not last long.
Sometimes it's painful to see what people will do to their doors and hardware. Trying to solve one problem can lead to another...
Hardware sets in a specification look like a different language to most people, so sometimes there are surprises when the doors and hardware are installed.
Where there's a will (and the AHJ is flexible), there's a way. It's clear that a lot of thought went into this opening, but I have a few unanswered questions...
Yesterday morning, Luna and I saw a security gate/screen door that made me think of y'all...check out the vertical stiles and jambs. This is some serious custom work!
This is a feat of engineering and might even be compliant with the code requirement for one operation to unlatch the door. If only I had a video...
In the never-ending battle of convenience vs. security...convenience wins again! Why bother investing in access control?
This is the first time I've ever received a Fixed-it Friday STORY...not just one FF photo, but 13 photos and Logan Piburn's narration of the whole situation. Thanks Logan!
It's Fixed-it Friday, AND...last call for the iDigHardware Yeti mug! Share your insight today on my post about school security design trends, and I'll pick a winner!
Today's Fixed-it Friday photo shows someone's attempt at solving the problem of a non-ADA-compliant thumbturn in a veterans' home. Fortunately, the locks have since been replaced.
I received today's Fixed-it Friday photo from Ken Sako of Lazzaro Companies, and I'm wordless. Maybe y'all can think of something to say.
I don't know about y'all, but I needed a laugh today (I know - odd things make me laugh). Happy Fixed-it Friday - I hope you are all staying safe and well.
I know that some architects would rather not see thru-bolts for closers, but I think they should be standard for every school specification. Do you agree?
Today's Fixed-it Friday photos show a situation found at a state college. I'm curious whether any of you can come up with examples of when this "fix" would be acceptable.
Facility managers need to carefully consider changes made to prevent virus transmission, which could affect egress, fire protection, and accessibility.
Covid-19 has inspired new "inventions" to help people avoid touching door hardware with their hands, to limit the spread of the virus. How can the hardware industry help?
Seriously...how does anyone justify this Fixed-it Friday "fix"? If someone tells you this was approved by the fire marshal, I wouldn't believe it.
You may have to zoom in and look around to see exactly what's happening in this Fixed-it Friday photo. All I have to say is...there are better ways to transfer power.
Matthew Stonebraker of Allegion just sent me this Fixed-it Friday photo of a glass door at the Mexico City National Museum of Art, and it's so cool! Have you seen a modification like this before?
The intent of the application in today's Fixed-it Friday photos is obviously to deter the use of the doors - do you think this is code-compliant? Have you ever seen any documentation on these plastic loops?
It's fire exit hardware, so it has to latch!
We've all seen closers installed incorrectly...the question is how will the control of this door be affected by the installation in this Fixed-it Friday photo?
I know these doors aren't actually secured with licorice, and I HOPE this building is under construction and unoccupied. Thank you to Keith Zettler for today's Fixed-it Friday photo.
The extreme weather we're experiencing may open up new opportunities for hardware design...today's Fixed-it Friday photos could be a prototype for a future product. :)
Keith Nelsen of Lindquist Security Technologies sent me today's Fixed-it Friday video. I'm guessing it wasn't an intentional "fix", but it's interesting nonetheless.
The story here is that the cross-corridor doors in this hospital were scheduled to be 8-foot doors, but the wrong (7-foot) assembly was installed. WWYD?