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...
Violent crimes in public schools: Why parents aren’t being notified
With these conditions in so many schools, I don't understand why any district would take on the potential liability associated with failure to meet their duties of care...
NFPA Video: Barrier Walls and Fire Doors
I will definitely attend at least one of Ron's classes, but if you are unable to be there, you can still get the answers to some of your questions about doors in health care facilities by watching Ron in this video...
Amazing Lock From The 1600s
I'm having a "staycation" this week so I probably won't add any new (old) locks to my collection, but I saw this AMAZING lock...
Just close the door!
It has taken a looooong time to get the general public to listen, but people are finally talking about the importance of closed doors...
Do you have a smart home?
It made me wonder...with all of the hardware lovers and tech-savvy people who read iDigHardware, how many of you live in a "smart home"?
Decoded: Egress Requirements for Door Openings (video)
Our next group of whiteboard animation videos is ready!
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???
The Roots of International Women’s Day
It has been quite a few years since I faced discrimination because of my gender - if any of you have a problem with learning about codes from a woman, you've kept it quiet (good idea)...
Fire Door Inspection App
About 5 years ago I was in a large hospital that had just spent thousands of dollars (probably tens of thousands) to have a "pre-Joint-Commission inspection" done...
Man-Traps in Schools
This morning I found an article in my news alerts: Roxbury Eyes Spending $580K on "Man Traps" for Schools. My first thought..."Oh. No."
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...
Arson at Westlake Apartments
This fire was also mentioned in a report called Selected Published Incidents Involving Fire Doors, which was compiled for me by NFPA's One Stop Data Shop back in 2009...
DHI – Safely Securing the Built Environment through Building, Fire, and Life Safety Codes (video)
This is a good introductory video from the Door & Hardware Institute on how codes impact our industry. For additional training on codes...
Fire Doors in the News
Happy New Year! There was lots of door-related news over the holidays...
DSSF: Opening the Door to School Safety
The Door Security and Safety Foundation has announced a video and public relations campaign which stresses the importance of securing classroom doors without compromising life safety...
School-Related Performance Crime
Last night, my friend posted on Facebook that her daughter, a freshman in college, had received a text warning from the school that there was a creepy clown nearby...
Intro to Keying Terms (video)
Last night, my oldest daughter told me that her science assignment was to explain how inclined planes are used in keys. She had researched it, and described how the pins go into the cuts on the key...
Intro to Continuous Hinges (video)
Here's another of our latest set of whiteboard animation videos - taking it back to basics and discussing continuous hinges. If you know someone who is learning about hardware and could benefit from these "intro" videos, please share a link with them!
Intro to Electromechanical Locking Hardware (video)
Here's another of our latest group of whiteboard animation videos; this one covers electromechanical locking hardware like electric strikes, electric latch retraction panic hardware, electrified locksets, and electrified trim for panic hardware...
Controlled Egress vs. Delayed Egress (video)
For health care facilities, controlled egress can provide a greater level of safety for patients who require containment because of their clinical needs. This video explains the requirements for controlled egress and delayed egress...
Fail Secure vs. Fail Safe (video)
When working with electrified hardware it's very important to understand the difference between fail secure and fail safe products. I hope this video helps!
Stairwell Reentry (video)
I've received a lot of questions about stairwell reentry lately, so I think it's time for me to address that topic in another article for Doors & Hardware. In the meantime, here's a new whiteboard animation video about stairwell reentry!
Fire Door Win!
Kudos to the fire department, but the fire doors got some recognition too! From KCRA News...
Decoded 4 – Codes for Electrified Hardware
I am SO EXCITED that the last class in the Decoded series is finally available on-demand, so you can take all 4 classes any time - for free!
FF: Expensive (and Painful) Ride
Thank you to Estefano Pilonieta of M&D Door & Hardware, who found this on Imgur and knew it would make my day. :D
Paris Doors to Other Cities (video)
Several people have sent this video to me lately, so in case you're not one of the 10+ million people who have viewed it on Facebook, check it out! It's pretty cool.
Banned: Classroom Barricade Locks
In this age of classroom shootings, many are looking for barricade locks - a cheap and easy stopgap to bolster door security...
Decoded 2 – Fire Door Assemblies
The first 2 Decoded classes are now available on-demand! Class 1 is Intro to Codes & Accessibility, and Class 2 is on Fire Door Assemblies. They're free!
It’s not you. Bad doors are everywhere.
As a hardware consultant, there were many times that I tactfully pointed out to an architect what I thought was a door-related design problem. My advice was usually ignored unless the issue was code-related. Finally...vindication from Vox and 99% Invisible.
The Design-Bid-Build Process (video)
Here's the last whiteboard animation video in the current "Intro to Door Hardware" series...about the design-bid-build process for new construction.
Basics of Steelcraft Hollow Metal Doors (video)
Rounding out our "intro" series of whiteboard animation videos...here's an introduction to hollow metal doors. The rest of our whiteboard animation videos can be found on the Allegion Training page, or on the Videos page of iDigHardware.com. What other topics would you like to see addressed in future videos?
Types of Panic Hardware (video)
Just when you thought there couldn't possibly be enough to know about panic hardware for another whiteboard animation video...here's one that talks about the different types of panics available and why you might choose one over another.
Viral Video Follow-Up
In yesterday's post I wrote about a video on classroom barricade devices that had gone viral. In the first 36 hours or so, the video had 18 million views. 18 MILLION! Almost 600,000 people have shared the video on Facebook, and about 6,500 people have commented. This is an amazing (and somewhat disturbing) example of the power of social media...
Intro to Low-Energy Automatic Operators (video)
Do you have questions about low-energy automatic operators or the standards that apply to them? Maybe this will help...
Intro to Thresholds and Gasketing (video)
Here's a new whiteboard animation video explaining the basics of thresholds and gasketing, including the related accessibility requirements...
Intro to Codes (video)
We've been working on a new series of whiteboard animation videos...here is one of my favorites!
Decoded 1 – Introduction to Codes and Accessibility
When I take time off for the holidays, I often leave a crossword puzzle or some other activity in case you decide to check in while I'm away. This time I'm posting the first of 4 Decoded classes for you to check out while things are relatively quiet...
‘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...
FF: Inflate to Escape
I know...lots of videos this week. It's just a coincidence - not a new trend. I'll just leave this right here...
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...
Close the Door
I've been talking about this for years with regard to fire doors as well as doors in a home, but it's nice to have someone from UL back me up...
Panic Hardware Styles and Types
Whether panic hardware is required by code or specified for increased security and ease of use, there are three basic styles and four types that are commonly used...
Introduction to Codes
Whether we’re specifying, supplying, installing, or inspecting doors and hardware, it’s our responsibility to speak up if we see situations that we know are not code-compliant and do our best to rectify them...
Intro to Ives Hinges (video)
One more whiteboard animation in the latest series...this time on hinges!
Anatomy of a Fire Door (video)
One of my original goals when I started this blog in 2009, was to make learning about codes less painful. I think these whiteboard animation videos do just that! Here's the latest...all about fire door assemblies!
Door Closer Arm Options (video)
People ask me all the time..."What's a 'CUSH' closer?" The answer is in our latest whiteboard animation video!
Where is Panic Hardware Required by Code? (video)
This is one of the most common questions I receive...do you know when and where panic hardware is required?
Flush Bolts and Coordinators (video)
I hope this whiteboard animation video helps to explain one of hardware's most confusing topics - flush bolts and coordinators!
Options for Securing Classroom Doors (video)
Here's the latest in our series of whiteboard animation videos explaining door-related topics. This one covers various options for securing classroom doors, in alignment with the guidelines from the National Association of State Fire Marshals. Enjoy and share!