Code Update: Refrigeration Machinery Rooms
Now that you've memorized the applications that require doors with panic hardware, a change to the 2021 IBC will add a new location that requires panics.
Distance Learning this Week
This is one of my favorite weeks of the year, but maybe for a different reason than you might expect. :-)
Tomorrow is Webinar Wednesday
Our national trainers are continuing with their Webinar Wednesday series - classes are currently scheduled into August. Feel free to share this information with your colleagues.
Webinar 2 Follow-Up: Panic Hardware – When, Where, and Why?
Thank you to those who attended the live webinar last week! The webinars page has been updated with the recording, a list of resources, a short survey, and information about Webinar 3!
Last Call For Webinar 2
Many of you probably know a lot about panic hardware already, but maybe you have colleagues who could benefit from Webinar 2 which I'll be presenting this Thursday. Please share!
Webinar 2: Panic Hardware – When, Where, and Why?
My next webinar is coming up on Thursday, April 16th. The topic will be panic hardware - where it is required and the related code requirements - including the electrified options.
FF: Not. O.K.
Seriously...how does anyone justify this Fixed-it Friday "fix"? If someone tells you this was approved by the fire marshal, I wouldn't believe it.
FF: Delayed Egress Modification
You may have to zoom in and look around to see exactly what's happening in this Fixed-it Friday photo. All I have to say is...there are better ways to transfer power.
WW: Guess What Happened Here
This Wordless Wednesday photo is an unbelievable example of the abusive conditions a door might face in a school. What do you think happened here?
WW: Office Exit
It's Wordless Wednesday, and I don't know which contributes more to my wordlessness...the impeded egress, or the compromised security.
Security Sales & Integration: Cracking the Code
My recent article in Security Sales & Integration addresses panic hardware from an access control perspective.
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: 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.
WW: Back Door
Have you watched the Six Locked Doors documentary yet? And yes, this door has an exit sign. And a "no exit" sign. And an "emergency exit" sign. :(
WW: Just No
I can not for the life of me think of any circumstances that would make me consider locking egress doors in a school using this method. Just no. Never. #wordless
QQ: Electric Latch Retraction & UL 294
Is the UL 294 listing required by the model codes for panic hardware with the electric latch retraction / electric dogging feature (EL/QEL)?
WW: Children’s Museum
There are so many code issues with this "exit" in a children's museum that I'm just going to remain #wordless. Could you quickly operate this door in an emergency?
WW: Chinese Restaurant Exit
This Chinese restaurant has 30 tables, which means that the occupant load is probably over 100 people - definitely over 50. What's wrong with this (WW) picture?
Safe Exit (video)
This video was made by Von Duprin in the 1940's...I'm very proud that I can continue to share the importance of life safety and free egress!
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??
WW: Sticks in Strikes
Billy Rogers of Rogers Installations sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo, and I'm feeling a little ill. This pair of doors serves a 9,000 seat auditorium, and the man on the right appears to be from the fire department. :(
WW: Pipes
It's chilling to consider what will happen when someone needs to use this exit in an emergency. The other exterior doors have the same security measure in place. :(
WW: Do Not Block
It's Wordless Wednesday again...can you believe that I've been posting WW photos every week since January of 2011?? And there's no end in sight! Keep the WW and FF photos coming!
Locksmith Ledger: Codes Matter – For the Safety of Building Occupants, AND Your Bottom Line
This article was published in the October 2019 issue of Locksmith Ledger, and includes some questions that you can use to determine whether your code knowledge is up-to-date.
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!
WW: Rebar
It took me a second to see what was happening here, and now I'm #wordless. Thank you to Kim Murkette of Isenhour Door for the photo!
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...
WWYD? Corrosion to the Max
Any idea what is corroding or oxidizing inside of this door - and to this extent?? I've never seen anything like it! What's the solution? WWYD?
WW: More Zip Ties
I can almost understand how trash cans get placed in front of exit doors, but the (semi-permanent) use of zip-ties is hard to take.
Doors Provided for Egress Purposes
People ask me all the time...Do ALL doors have to meet the requirements of the IBC? How do you differentiate between an egress door and a non-egress door?
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: 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: 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: 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 – WW: School Security and Safety
This is one of the most egregious examples of a non-code-compliant egress modification that I've ever seen, and yes, it was in a school.
Top 10 – Panic Hardware
I don't think it's a coincidence that panic hardware was one of the reasons I started learning about codes in the first place.
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!
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. :|
WW: Making a Case for Mullions
Back in 1993, Bill Elliott told me to always specify rim panic hardware with a removable mullion on exterior pairs that require panics. It was good advice.
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.
WW: Wordless…
Jeff Rapp of Wilkus Architects sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photos. I hope whatever this facility is trying to protect is worth the risk. :(
QQ: Panic Hardware on Residential Occupancies
This question keeps coming up...Is panic hardware required for the residential floors of hotels and apartment buildings?
Johnson Security Lock
I need some help tracking down this lock (if it's still available) for a current project. Have you run across anything like this before?
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: Electric Strike Mismatch
This one is a real head-scratcher. How did this happen, AND what's the card reader for? #hardwaremysteries