Last weekend I opened the door to a sports facility where my son was attending a birthday party, and I saw an interesting (to me) application. My three friends scattered when they saw me whip out the camera...I still don't know why it's so embarrassing to be seen with someone taking a picture of a door, but it seems to be a universal reaction unless you hang out with other hardware people.
We had planned to get on the road early yesterday afternoon but we ended up leaving Williamsburg around 5 p.m., about the same time everyone else coming home from everywhere decided to leave. The traffic was terrible, and after 6 hours of driving we had gone as far as Elkton, Maryland and couldn't stay in the car for one more mile.
I've added a new page to help you find what you're looking for - the Index tab above. There are already 76 posts (!) and I'll be adding two new features shortly. One will be a series called Industry Profiles - to help you get to know some of the great people who work in the door & hardware industry. The other is in response to your requests...a series called Basic Training. Our office periodically offers a 5-week course by the same name, which is a pretty generic introduction to doors & hardware including mechanical and electrified hardware, codes, and blueprint reading. Many of our current customers are Basic Training alumni. Quite a few people have found this website and asked for more information on the basics, so they can learn about hardware from the ground up. I hope to have the first posts of both series ready next week.
I started this website a few months ago as a way to connect with our customers and help them find answers to their code questions. I have been amazed at the response to the site, from all over the United States and 18 other countries (and counting!). It really is a small world.
1008.1.8.6 Delayed egress locks. Approved, listed, delayed egress locks shall be permitted to be installed on doors serving any occupancy except Group A, E and H occupancies in buildings that are equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or an approved automatic smoke or heat detection system installed in accordance with Section 907...
This article was written by Carl Prinzler, one of the creators of the original exit device, at the end of the 1930's. I think it's an interesting insight into the development of the first exit device and the code requirements at that time.
There's a great resource for code information on the Reed Construction Data site. It includes information for all 50 states, major cities, and some counties, and lists contact information for many of the AHJs in each jurisdiction.
When my daughter was in preschool, she told her class that when she grew up she wanted to be a "hard work insultant", just like her mom. After 20+ years of explaining to people what I do, I can't blame her for being a little confused. In case you've been wondering why anyone would need a hardware consultant, here are the answers to some frequently asked questions:
I readily admit that I get excited about things that wouldn't excite the average U.S. citizen but that's part of my charm. ;-)
Last week I conducted a 3-hour class for the New England Chapter of the Door & Hardware Institute. The class is available to any hardware suppliers, architects, or end users in New England who need to understand code requirements related to doors and hardware, including recent changes to the Massachusetts State Building Code, and the 2006 and 2009 editions of the International Building Code and the Life Safety Code. If you have 12 or more people who are interested in attending, I will conduct the class at your facility or our office in Needham, Massachusetts. It's worth 3 HSW learning units for AIA members, and 9 continuing education points for DHI members.
I don't know what I was thinking. This should have been the very first post!
I have worked long and hard to achieve certifications within the hardware industry, so you can bet your booty they're printed on my business card. People often ask what they all mean, so here's a quick run-down.
