Washington Post: School shootings are extraordinarily rare.
The statistical likelihood of a public school student being killed in a school shooting on any given day since 1999 was 1 in 614,000,000. Read more in the Washington Post...
WW: Temporary Locking Devices
Do you see what I see? THIS is why temporary locking devices should not be approved for doors serving a means of egress. They often become permanent locking devices!
UNCC ‘One-Button’ Lockdown
When a shooting occurred at the University of North Carolina Charlotte last week, an electronic locking system was already in place that allowed the campus to be locked down in seconds.
ABC15: Hundreds of padlocks installed on prison cell doors
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this news story from ABC 15 in Arizona, about the fire and safety concerns associated with installing padlocks on prison cell doors.
Kitsap Sun: Lawsuit alleges Bremerton teacher confined alone in classroom with violent student
It's only a matter of time before we see the unintended consequences of non-code-compliant, untested, unregulated security devices.
School Security and Safety in the News
Twenty years ago, I had no idea how the shooting at Columbine High School would affect our industry and my career. It was impossible to imagine that it was more than an isolated event. But here we are.
The Doors of Notre Dame Cathedral
As the world mourns the fire damage to the Notre Dame Cathedral, it turns out that the doors of Notre Dame are not just ordinary doors; there is a legend that dates back hundreds of years, to the 13th century.
Barricade Devices – Three Perspectives
These 3 perspectives showed up in my Google Alerts today - a school district using barricade devices, a man working in a school who wanted to use barricading when he committed a shooting, and the legal perspective. Powerful.
New York in the News
These news stories both happen to be from New York City, and both address topics that made me go hmmm... What do you think?
EVFPD demonstrates closed doors save lives
I've posted several photos and videos showing what happens when a bedroom door is kept closed during a fire. Check out this demonstration with the bedroom door open.
WWYD? ‘Small Town at War Over Active-Shooter Barricades’
This is INSANITY! This is yet another example of seeking to remove the safety protocols of the adopted codes, in order to prioritize security at a perceived lower cost.
Wicked Local: School’s Locks Violate Codes
A news report hit my inbox a few days ago, which discussed a security situation in a Massachusetts elementary school; some classroom barricade devices had been installed in 2014...
My Appreciation
I will get back on track with doors and hardware tomorrow, but today I want to give thanks. First, a little story that might initially sound strange, but does have a point...
My Apologies
It may be a few days until I publish a new post...I appreciate your patience.
NFPA Journal: Mind the Gap
To bring more clarity, the Fire Protection Research Foundation has begun work on a full-scale fire test on fire doors with varying gaps between the door and frame.
Escape Room Tragedy
When we think about code-compliance, it's not just about lines on a page in a book. It's about reducing the risk of tragedies like this one.
Campus Safety Takes Stand Against Non-Code-Compliant Door Barricades
Campus Safety will no longer accept ads or sponsorships from companies whose door barricades don’t comply with ADA and NFPA codes.
Our Lady of the Angels – 60 Years
Saturday, December 1st, 2018 was the 60th anniversary of the fire at Our Lady of the Angels School in Chicago, where 92 students and 3 nuns were killed.
FF: Not Punny
I thought of so many titles for this post that would have been apropos but might have offended someone, so I'll let you come up with your own.
WWYD? School Security in the News
I'd love to hear your opinions on some of the recent media coverage that presents the school security industry negatively. Are they talking about US? If not, how do we make that clear?
Hard Corners
Are these safe areas identified in each of the classrooms in the schools that you work with or visit? What do you think of this security measure?
Share with your family and friends…
These two videos regarding closed doors and double-cylinder deadbolts will save lives - IF you help spread the word. Who will you share this post with?
Fire Door Decommissioning Labels
What's the proper protocol when a fire door assembly has been installed where it is not required? If you're considering the use of decomissioning labels, read this first.
‘Bulletproof’ Classroom Doors
I agree that these doors are "an extremely discreet solution," but the last time I checked on the feasibility of using bullet-resistant doors on classrooms, there were several common objections.
Who’s at fault?
Could a locksmith be held liable for installing non-code-compliant hardware or will a facility manager face liability for failing to maintain openings in code-compliant condition?
My heart just stopped
Clothesline to tie the hardware? Duct tape to prevent smoke from coming in around the door? Solutions to address these risks have been available for decades. Why are we substituting duct tape?
Fire department uses aftermath of recent fire as teaching tool for safety
This video from a recent fire in a dormitory at Idaho State University really shows the difference that a closed door can make.
Siberian Mall Fire
In an emergency, the ability to quickly evacuate can be key to survival. Life safety is everyone's responsibility. If you see something, say something.
WW: Classroom Security
"He believes school officials could do more to prepare teachers for intruders, whether by investing in padlocks so they aren’t scrambling for ways to barricade doors..."
‘This Is Us’ and other news
Unfortunately, the media is not saying much about the closed bedroom doors in Sunday's episode of This Is Us (so I will).
Legislative Update on Classroom Barricade Devices
On Tuesday, I wrote about a bill that was passed by the Utah Senate, which would allow classroom barricade devices to be used in Utah schools. Here's a follow-up.
Utah State Legislation on Classroom Barricade Devices
Whether you live and work in Utah or not, a bill that is progressing through the Utah State Legislature could help to set a precedent that may eventually affect your jurisdiction (so please listen up).
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!"
Allegion Acquires Advanced Fire-Rated Glass Products Manufacturer TGP
Are you familiar with Technical Glass Products (TGP)? They're now part of our Allegion family! Here's the latest news...
I-Team: Fire-Rated, Self-Closing Door Was Required in Bronx Apartment Where Inferno Started
Photo: Sam Costanza/for New York Daily News
WW: Hotel Fails
Ian Baron of Katonah Architectural Hardware sent me this link to an article in the Daily Mail, and although only a few of the fails in the article are door-related, the photos definitely left me Wordless!
H.R.620 – ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017
In January of this year, a bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Ted Poe of Texas. On September 7th, the House Judiciary Committee voted to advance this bill - H.R. 620...
23 Fatalities in Malaysia Dormitory Fire
Security bars or grilles are common on windows in many developing countries and in other areas where security is a major concern...
Duck Test
This morning I was reading an article about an exit problem at the Mineta San Jose International Airport in California...
WW: School Asks 100 Graffiti Artists To Paint It Before Renovation…
This is amazing. Really. You can see ALL of the beautiful photos and read the story here on Bored Panda, but these are a few of my favorite door-related images from the article...
Honolulu High-Rise Fire
Last week, 3 lives were lost in a fire that occurred in a residential high-rise in Honolulu, Hawaii. Although the cause is not yet known...
WW: Essence Superlounge
"At around 8:45 p.m., Captain Michael Flot of the New Orleans Fire Department faced an angry crowd of hundreds outside of the Essence Superlounge to tell them they would not be able to see Xscape that night. 'This is the worst I've ever seen it,' Flot said."
Federal lawmakers pressed to make real changes in K-12 security
From Security InfoWatch, an article on a recent congressional briefing by advocates for safe and secure schools...
Change is Good
To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of change; I like predictability. I know that might surprise some of you, but I’m more apt to live by the old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” In case some of you are change-averse like me, I want to tell you about a change that is happening today.
Grenfell Tower Fire, London
While the exterior cladding on the building is being investigated for its contribution to the blaze, there are also news reports where witnesses are quoted as saying that the door leading to the apartment of fire origin was left open. This undoubtedly impacted the egress routes...
A Tale of Two Schools
I read the two news stories below on the same day, which struck me as ironic. When it comes to security and safety, you can take the easy, fast, and cheap approach, or take the time to carefully consider the issues and alternatives and invest in a suitable solution...
Fire Destroys School in Mesquite Texas
Following up on my earlier post about school security and safety, here's a report from Fox 4 News about a school fire that occurred just yesterday...
Looking Back: Nickel Mines PA School Incident
From the moment a gunman began shooting 10 girls in an Amish schoolhouse last year, 2½ agonizing minutes ticked by before state police were able to force their way into the barricaded building...
New York Times: Girls Killed in Guatemala Fire May Have Been Locked In
The idea of locking 52 girls in a classroom measuring 4 meters x 4 meters is something I hope would never happen in the US...
In the News…
A code inspector in Schenectady, New York has been indicted along with the building manager, in connection with a 2015 apartment fire that resulted in 4 fatalities...