News

Code Jeopardy!

If you'll be attending the conference, I hope to see you in some of our sessions - 3 of the Code Jeopardy classes are more "basic" (but very educational!) questions, and 3 classes have "advanced" questions (on need-to-know topics!). This is a fun way to learn about codes - yes, I said "FUN!"

By |2017-10-26T12:51:08-04:00April 26th, 2016|News|0 Comments

School Fire in Bethel, Alaska

Nobody ever thinks it will happen to them...a fire in their home, school, or workplace. But according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated annual average of 5,690 structure fires in educational properties between 2007 and 2011. I've written many times about how important it is...

By |2016-06-01T13:47:30-04:00December 14th, 2015|Fire Doors, News|2 Comments

‘Borderline national crisis’ in fire safety, says BWF-CERTIFIRE chairman

This press release is from UK-based BWF Certifire, but the US faces the same fire door problems that are endangering building occupants every day. Kudos to BWF Certifire for raising awareness of the value of fire doors...we NEED a similar program in the US, but who is willing to take it on? Scroll down for an informative video produced by the British Woodworking Foundation...

By |2015-11-30T12:04:28-05:00November 30th, 2015|Fire Doors, News, Videos|3 Comments

Landlord Jailed for Door Failure

Jay Liptrot is a Wales landlord, and ironically - a firefighter, who failed to install a fire door assembly to protect an apartment where 2 adults and 3 children died in a tragic act of arson. Although he was originally charged with manslaughter, his charge was reduced and he was convicted and sentenced to 15 months in prison...

By |2017-08-13T08:49:06-04:00November 24th, 2015|FDAI, Fire Doors, News|2 Comments

Classroom Barricade Follow-Up

A few weeks ago I mentioned that there would be a meeting with the Ohio Board of Building Standards to discuss the proposed code language allowing classroom barricade devices. Quite a few of you left comments, and like me, most felt that the proposed language does not go far enough to keep teachers and students safe...

By |2016-04-26T20:05:41-04:00November 17th, 2015|News, School Security|2 Comments

Closed Door Follow-Up

On Tuesday I posted some news reports about the effects of a closed door during a fire. NBC-5 has released a follow-up story on the fact that national fire safety organizations have not been including the message to sleep with your bedroom door closed in their educational materials...

By |2015-12-16T09:59:56-05:00November 12th, 2015|Fire Doors, News, Videos|2 Comments

Cleveland Hill School’s Fire Legacy

Take a close look around the next time you’re in a school building. Notice the fire alarms, extinguishers, rescue windows and frequent drills? They can all be traced back to that fateful day, experts say. “All of that put together has made our school buildings so safe when it comes to fires,” said David G. Hess, Cleveland Hill’s director of facilities. “That fire has really made a difference.”

By |2018-02-14T09:20:36-05:00March 31st, 2015|Historical, News, School Security|2 Comments

WW: School Security in the News

The Leelanau County Sheriff's Department received $128,750 from a Michigan State Police school safety grant, and Sheriff Mike Borkovich said every penny will go toward installing a tool designed to make doors impenetrable. "I think it's very much just like a caveman picking up a gigantic rock and putting it on the front of its cave," Borkovich said. "You are not going to be able to go through that door. It buys us time."

By |2017-03-28T09:52:13-04:00March 25th, 2015|News, School Security, Videos, Wordless Wednesday|16 Comments

Decoded: 2015 IBC Roundtable

If you are a member of the New England Chapter of DHI I hope you already know about this upcoming class, but in case you didn't get the memo...I will be teaching a code class next week along with Jeff Batick, Greg DeGirolamo, Paul Goldense, and Jim White.  This class will be available for other DHI chapters to teach, as long as there are a few members who can act as facilitators.  If you're interested in hosting the class, drop me an email and I'll get you in touch with the right person at DHI.  We are using the 2015 IBC for next week's class, but it could be taught using other editions of the IBC if necessary.  The class is worth 9 DHI CEP points, with 4 additional points for the facilitators.

By |2015-03-02T21:27:29-05:00March 2nd, 2015|Accessibility, Fire Doors, Means of Egress, News|0 Comments

FF: Missed Opportunity

This Fixed-it Friday news report about replacing entrance doors in multi-family homes makes a few good points, but misses out on the chance to educate people about how their fire doors should operate.  I noticed a few things that weren't 100% accurate or could have been more clear...like the statement that you don't need fire doors in your single-family home.  I would have mentioned the need for protection between the garage and the house - the International Residential Code requires a solid wood door, or a solid or honeycomb core steel door, or a 20-minute fire door:

By |2015-02-26T10:32:53-05:00February 27th, 2015|Fire Doors, Fixed-it Friday, News|6 Comments

Another Fire Door Win

Although the news reports are focused on the recent loss of a historic school in Champlain, New York, a fire door between the original section and a 1960's addition did help to prevent the spread of smoke and flames:

By |2015-01-19T11:31:25-05:00January 19th, 2015|Fire Doors, News|0 Comments

Fire Door Win! (and a fail)

Reporter Quote: "The people who ran from the room where the fire began left the door open behind them, and the fire quickly spread into the hallway..." Fire Department Quote: "There's a fire door that separates the two compartments of that wing, and it did its job..."

By |2015-01-16T10:53:36-05:00January 16th, 2015|FDAI, Fire Doors, News|0 Comments
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