FF: Special Knowledge?
Looking at the signage, the unfamiliar locks, and the exposed wiring, I wondered if the average person would instinctively know how to exit, or whether an AHJ might think this opening requires "special knowledge"...
FF: Branching Out
Howard Krutzler of Mr. K's Lock and Key sent me this photo of a panic hardware modification he found. For the record, panic hardware is UL listed and can not be modified except as allowed by the listings.
FF: LifeDoor
Joel Sellinger of LifeDoor sent me these photos of the bedroom door in an AirBNB, along with a note that said, "When you realize the importance of a closed door at night...but can’t!"
FF: Pin-Removable Mullion
Today's Fixed-it Friday photo is from Jason Relyea of Allegion...I've seen keyed removable mullions, and removable mullions that are secured with screws, but this one must get removed A LOT.
FF: Ship Shape
This is one of the most amazing doors I've ever seen!
FF: Locks and Chains
Thank you to Brendan Daley for this Fixed-it Friday photo. I could fix this pretty quickly with a set of bolt cutters.
FF: Tubes
A few weeks ago I was in an old factory that is now a complex of art galleries. It took me a minute to figure out what these tubes were for.
FF: What happened here?
I know some of you are good at hardware forensics...what was the motivation for this and what modifications were made? BTW...this is a fire door.
FF: LTR Panics
Well, this is one way to solve the problems with your panic hardware - NOT! Thanks to Charles Anderson for these Fixed-it Friday photos!
FF: DIY Swing-Clear Hinges
Michael Wallick of Kelley Brothers sent today's Fixed-it Friday photos of a DIY application he spotted at a hotel. I think this is the first time I've ever seen swing-clear hinges that appear to have been fabricated on-site...
FF: Alternative Closer Mounting
Any bets on how long this installation will last? Thank you to Eyal Bedrik of Entry Systems for this Fixed-it Friday photo...
FF: Surfaceskins Antibacterial Protection
Joe Prosser of LaForce, Inc., sent me a link to an article about a product called Surfaceskins, which is a "push-pad" (pulls are also available) that releases a small amount of antibacterial gel when touched...
FF: The New Mag-Locks
I know...these would not be code-compliant on the egress side of a door in the means of egress, but you have to admit they're cool. Thanks to Leo Lebovits of M&D Door & Hardware for sending me the links to these Fixed-it Friday videos!
FF: Latch Retraction
I don't know if this is a fire door, but it looks like it might have some sort of access-control lock. Unfortunately, convenience often prevails over fire protection and security...
FF: Doggie Door?
Guess what this is for. And once you figure it out, what do you think about the potential impact on free egress?
FF: Fork Fix
Jeff Dunham of BEA sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photos. While this fire door looks pretty good at first glance, a closer look reveals someone's creative and inexpensive method of keeping the latch retracted...
FF: Find Another Exit
Today's Fixed-it Friday photos are from Leo Lebovits at M&D Door & Hardware. Someone had the forethought to remove the exit sign...I wonder if this was approved by the AHJ...
FF: Seriously Specific Signage
This makes me wonder what incident prompted the need to control which leaf is used for entrance/egress - especially on full-glass doors...
FF: Hospital Door
What led to this "fix"? Any theories?
WW: What is this?
Derrick Riding sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo of a hold-open device on a fire door (note the painted label)...
FF: NFPA 101-2018 on Classroom Security
This post has a lot going on. First, since it's Fixed-it Friday and I don't want to disappoint anyone, here's a photo from Bill Stock of Johnson Hardware...
FF: Guatemalan Style
Wrapping up my summer road trip through Guatemala, here are a few Fixed-it Friday photos - and a question.
FF: Lockout
This is not the intended use of this device. Anyone know what it's for?
FF: Trading One Problem For Another
In the case shown in today's Fixed-it Friday photo, a retail store has implemented this creative hold-open because of an assault that occurred in their public restroom...
FF: Deadbolt Retrofit
These photos, from Kelly Reese of Allegion, qualify for the double-whammy - Wordless Wednesday AND Fixed-it Friday. But don't worry...it is indeed Friday! Have a great weekend!
FF: Sharpie Seal
Ian Baren of Katonah Architectural Hardware sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo. This mortise lock is on a very fancy clothing store, and apparently it was an aesthetic problem for someone that the gasketing did not continue down the lock face. So they drew it in with a Sharpie! You'd think that if they were going to go to the trouble, they would have used a straight-edge!
FF: You Get What You Pay For
I have run out of words. Is this the best we can do to secure our classrooms? :(
FF: Double-Strength Holding Power
When Deputy Jeff Tock of Allegion sent me this Fixed-it Friday photo of double kick-down holders, I knew what you would ask...
FF: Upside-Down
I have seen this many times with mechanical lever trim for panic hardware, but I have never seen this...
FF: Count the Fire Door Problems
Even if this jurisdiction is not yet enforcing fire door assembly inspections for schools, the school is required to keep their fire doors code-compliant and to repair them in a manner that is acceptable to NFPA 80...
FF: Electric Strike Prep
For today's Fixed-it Friday photo, how about a little before-and-after action from Jimmy Resedean Jr. of A Better Door and Window Co.?
FF: Custom Rod Guide
This Fixed-it Friday photo is from Paul Goldense of Goldense Building Products. Paul will be teaching a fire door class with Jeff Batick of Allegion at the NFPA conference next week...
FF: Extension Rod
Charles Anderson sent me this Fixed-it Friday photo of a creative solution he saw at a university. Is it me or do some of those parts look like they came from the "leftover box" in the lockshop?
FF: Mystery in Maine
Here's what I know. At one time, this door was in an isolation ward that was part of a Maine psychiatric hospital campus built in 1957...
FF: Rebar
The application in these Fixed-it Friday photos looks like a result of poor planning to me. Thank you to Mark Kuhn of Allegion for sending them!
FF: Convenience vs. Security
After a lockdown system was installed at this elementary school, a piece of pipe insulation was glued to the entrance door leading to the day care center. Why?
FF: Light Duty Hold-Open
This problem-solving application was found in a school, but at least the door is not fire-rated...
FF: Do Not “Prop” This Door Open
Rick Jermain of Allegion sent me this Fixed-it Friday photo. Very cute. :D
FF: Cross-Corridor Pair
Today's Fixed-it Friday photo came from Revelation Door Inspections. This is a pair of fire doors in a university education building. See any problems?
FF: Instructions for Operation
I have to agree with Behrnt Aaberg of Aptus Group, who sent me this Fixed-it Friday photo...signage like this is a sure indication of a Norman Door.
FF: Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Happy Fixed-it Friday, and Happy St. Patrick's Day!
FF: Wobbly Door (video)
Today's "shoulda" Fixed-it Friday video came from Luis Gabriel Gonzalez, one of Allegion's specwriter apprentice. What happened here???
FF: Custom Mag-Holder Bracket
Frankly, I'm surprised this magnetic holder has enough strength to keep the door open, considering that the armature is mounted right at the closer instead of near the door edge...
FF: Over the Railing, or Under?
Before any of you point out that we don't know whether this is a fire door - that is true. But it opens from a stairwell, so there is a high probability that it is a fire door assembly. And maybe the door is still in use...
FF: Duct Tape
Am I the only one who is curious about whether the tape is to keep the bolt projected for security, or retracted for safety? (I have my suspicions.)
FF: 4 Door Lock Gadgets (video)
One of my fire marshal pals sent me this Fixed-it Friday video. Neither of us recommending the use of these gadgets, but the dogs are super-cute and I always like to see people's lock-related inventions...
FF: Exit Sign Position
Sometimes when I ask people if the door they are asking about is a required means of egress, the response will be "No - there is no exit sign." Lots of required egress doors don't have exit signs...
FF: Flipped
This is the outside of a door leading to a single restroom in a well-known sandwich shop chain. Anybody see the problem?
FF: Scheduled Dogging?
I received this photo from Scott Aikenhead - Tech Support for Allegion Canada. I've never seen anything like this and all I can think of is that this contraption is dogging and undogging the panic hardware on a timer...
FF: Fire Door Signage
If you read my recent article on code requirements pertaining to signage, you'll be able to identify the problem with this creative Fixed-it Friday signage on a fire door assembly...