FF: Plastic Loops
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?
FF: Spring-Loaded Top Latch
It's fire exit hardware, so it has to latch!
FF: Close(r) Call
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?
FF: Licorice Laces
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.
FF: Only in Alaska
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. :)
FF: Concealed Closer Arm
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.
FF/WWYD? Magnetic Holder
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?
FF: Another Electrified Hold-Open
Restaurants are notorious for creative hardware applications...next time you go out to eat, look around at the doors and send me some photos! :)
FF: Auto-Operator Actuators
There's no point in installing an automatic operator if the user can not reach the actuator. Do you know where to find the mounting recommendations for knowing-act switches?
FF: Permanently Dogged
Another Friday, another "fix." This fire door probably won't perform as designed and tested, should a fire occur. Why does convenience so often win out over safety??
FF: Angled Opening
Check out this opening, installed on a ramp in a restaurant. The building was originally a warehouse for a grain mill and other materials shipped by train during the mid-1800s. Can you see the "fix"?
FF: Clamp Hold-Open
The creative solutions never end! RB Sontag of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo, and if this is a fire door, we've got a problem.
FF: Another Creative Hold-Open
Kelly Reese of Allegion sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo, and I have to admit, it's pretty creative. Unfortunately, if this is a fire door the purpose of the fire door assembly has been completely defeated.
FF: Wood Wedge Problem Solvers
There's more than one way to hold open a door for convenience, and if it's a fire door, the method needs to be code-compliant. Here's a great Fixed-it Friday example.
FF: Camo Panic
Ahhh...that feeling you get when you overhear someone telling their coworker that they think they've spotted a code violation - and they took a photo of it!
FF: Whatever Works
Kick-down holders (prohibited in most commercial locations) are meant to flip down and hold the door open. This one is being used for a different purpose. Any ideas?
FF: Key/Tool, Special Knowledge AND Effort
It can sometimes be difficult to determine whether a particular type of hardware requires special knowledge or effort to operate since this is left up to each AHJ to interpret. Not this time...
FF: Screws
It warms my heart that in the last 10 years, the number of people who actually notice these problems (and often do something to resolve them) has increased significantly.
FF: Auditorium Exit
How quickly we forget the lessons learned in tragic events such as the fires at the Iroquois Theatre and the Cocoanut Grove Nightclub. If you see something, say something!
FF: Wordless
I'm Wordless about today's Fixed-it Friday photo. Considering that this is a retail store, I'm not even sure how/why this happened. Any theories?
FF: Church Exit
Looking past the Fixed-it Friday "fix" and the non-code-compliant hardware, what do you think about the design of this opening? Are these exit doors easily identifiable?
FF: Trashed Exit
Chris Stokes of Precision Doors and Hardware sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photos, taken in a gas station/convenience store. At first, this looks like careless placement of a trash can...
FF: Lever Return Spring
I'm sure you have some photos hiding in your phone that could be suitable for Wordless Wednesday, Fixed-it Friday, or to illustrate a question or problem. Submit them and you might be a winner!
FF: Sound Horn for Service
I love these Fixed-it Friday photos from Richard de Campo of Poss Architecture + Planning and Interior Design. This door leads from the showroom area to the welding shop at The Iron Gallery in Rifle, Colorado.
FF: Please Shut Door
The door in these photos is at the top of the stairs in a bar, exiting from a non-sprinkled basement assembly room that is used for weddings and parties. What do you think? OK or NO WAY?
FF: Any End-Cap Wood Do
John Bianco uploaded these photos to the "There's no crying in Hollow Metal" Facebook page, and he said I could share them here for Fixed-it Friday. I'm not sure I've ever seen this fix. How about you?
FF: Classroom Storage
Today's Fixed-it Friday photos were sent in by Colin Watson of Allegion. I'm sure some of you must have theories on why this storage closet opening was detailed this way. I can't wait to hear them!
FF: EO Retrofit
Pat Filholm of All Secure Inc. sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photos. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," I always say, but luckily in this case Pat will be upgrading their security.
FF: Italy Finale
Yesterday I posted a Fixed-it Friday photo even though it was Thursday, but don't worry! I saved up some FF photos during my trip to Italy, and I'm sharing them all today!
Top-10 – FF: All-Time Fave (so far)
Here it is - my favorite Fixed-it Friday photo of all time (so far)! If you have any interesting door photos from your summer vacation, I'd love to see them!
Top 10 – FF: Communicating Door Closers
Many of my Fixed-it Friday posts show creative attempts at what-not-to-do, so as #6 in the Top-10 series I wanted to highlight another type of Fixed-it Friday post.
FF: Gas Transfer Modification
This Fixed-it Friday modification must be against the law in the US, but just about anything goes in Mexico.
FF: Lift Bar to Exit
This is an egress door serving a stadium. Someone "fixed-it" from a security standpoint, but what about egress? This requires a key AND special knowledge and effort!
FF: Make it Work
Today's Fixed-it Friday photo is from Nolan Thrope of Allegion. What's the old saying..."necessity is the mother of invention"?
FF: Panic Privacy
This door - yes, with panic hardware - is on a restroom in Italy. The non-code-compliant hook modification solves the privacy problem. :|
FF: Just wrench it open.
Got any old locksets, deadbolts, panic hardware or electrified hardware laying around? It would be a great help for firefighter training! Oh - and it's also Fixed-it Friday!
FF: Why ask why?
This is the door hardware equivalent of whodunnit...maybe I should start calling these "whydunnit."
FF: Low Light
Any theories about what happened in today's Fixed-it Friday photo?
FF: State House
There are Fixed-it Friday applications everywhere...you just have to be on the lookout.
FF: Wheelie
I have a theory about what happened here...what's yours? This "fix" shows the importance of making sure the correct hardware is specified from the get-go.
FF: Sweet Spot
When classroom doors are kept locked all the time, it can be inconvenient for teachers and for students trying to enter the classroom when the door is closed. This is one school district's solution.
FF: Why is this unacceptable?
I received this photo from Audrey Weiser of DHI - she was looking for some code language that would clearly state that this application is not allowed. Unfortunately, there isn't anything specific (that I can think of) in the model codes.
FF: Nailed It!
What in the world? How long could this Fixed-it Friday repair possible last?? I just love Crap Locksmithing's Facebook page!
FF: Kick-Up Stop
This isn't the best practice from a security standpoint, and would be an even bigger problem if this was a fire door, but it does qualify as Fixed-it Friday ingenuity.
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.
FF: Out of Alignment
I've seen a lot of fix-it attempts. But I don't think I have ever seen one quite like this.
FF: Hard-Wired Exit
Take a look at these egress doors serving a large arena. The struggle for security is real, but we can't forget about life-safety in the process!
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.
FF: Corn Cob Core
Bill Cushman of Genesis Door and Hardware sent me this link to a door with an unusual core...I was Wordless even though it's Fixed-it Friday!
FF: Mama Mia
I saw this last night at a local hang-out called Mama Mia, and I thought of y'all. Happy Fixed-it Friday!