WW: Key-Operated Lock
The IBC allows key-operated locks in some locations - do you think this lock is compliant with the language below if the required signage is included? And for extra credit, who knows what kind of lock this is? :)
WW: Key, Special Knowledge, and Effort
2015 IBC: 1010.1.9 Door operations. Except as specifically permitted by this section, egress doors shall be readily openable from the egress side without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort...
WW: Duct Tape Again
I can't believe how many photos of duct-taped doors I have posted (here are a few: 1, 2, 3)! Debbie White of Allegion sent me this one. Wow...
WW: School Security
Why? Because it's easier and less expensive to secure the door when you don't consider codes or safety.
WW: PSA? Really??
I'm at the BHMA Codes and Government Affairs meeting in sunny Fort Lauderdale, and the "public service announcement" below was just shown during our discussion about codes that pertain to the use of barricade devices in schools. It illustrates the marketing methods used by some of the manufacturers of these locking devices. I will remain Wordless, but you don't have to!
WW: You Must Jump
I received today's Wordless Wednesday photo from both Don Funsch of Commercial Mill and Builders Supply and Chuck Park of Fire Door Inspection Service. Be forewarned. Don't exit unless you're willing to be run over.
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."
WW: Armed Forces Museum
Today's Wordless Wednesday photo was sent to me by Lee Francisco and Jerry Rice of DH Pace. The "Remove for Exit" bar makes this exit non-compliant.
WW: Meanwhile, in Arkansas…
A bill to change the state fire code and allow barricade devices in Arkansas schools is moving through the legislative process, despite "strong objections" from State Police Capt. Lindsey Williams, who serves as state fire marshal. Several politicians including an Arkansas state senator are investors in a company that makes barricade devices - ULockitSecurity...
WW: Special Knowledge and Effort
Most egress doors are required to be readily openable with no special knowledge or effort. The door must unlatch with one operation, and the operable hardware must be mounted between 34 inches and 48 inches above the floor. There are several problems with this Wordless Wednesday dutch door found at a cell phone store...
WW: Frost Heaves
In the Wordless Wednesday photos below, one door is stuck partially open and the other pair has been taken out of commission. How do you balance the life safety requirements with the feasibility of addressing problems that will probably last for several more weeks if not longer?
WW: Chained Exit
These photos are the definition of Wordless Wednesday. I saw them posted on the Truck Floor Training Facebook page and asked for permission to share them here...
WW: Don’t Dowel Doors
Paul Elliott sent me these Wordless Wednesday photos of retail egress issues he has run across. When he mentioned the dowel to a store employee, the employee said, "No problem. We’ll untie it if there’s a fire." No joke.
WW: Shop Till You Drop
Since it's Wordless Wednesday, I'll let you tell me what's wrong with this "key-operated lock" application. Extra credit if you can tell me what changed about the key-operated lock requirements in the 2015 IBC...
WW: Peas and Corn
Parents of middle schoolers at the W.F. Burns Middle School in Valley, Alabama, received the letter below asking them to send a canned food item to school for use as part of their school security plan. I'm going to keep Wordless on this one, so I can hear the opinions of all y'all...
WW: Hard Wired
Today's Wordless Wednesday photos were sent by Jim McDonald of Twin City Hardware (who is not responsible for this installation!)...
WW: Please Open Door Slowly
Today's Wordless Wednesday photo was spotted on Flickr by Deputy Jeff Tock of Allegion. I wonder how long this sign has been dangling...
WW: Not an Exit (Any More)
This door is in a high school auditorium, and although it no longer seems to be used as an exit (and there are marked exits nearby), it is the first door you see when attempting to exit. Many AHJs will tell you that if it looks like an exit, it has to act like an exit...
WW: Esoteric Exits
If I had a dollar for every time I was asked to make a door invisible, I'd have enough money to buy that desert island I've been dreaming of. But then y'all would have to find a new place to send your Wordless Wednesday photos...
WW: Booth by the Exit
I have to admit, I do like to sit where I can see the exit. But this might be a little too close for comfort...
WW: Emerald City
Did you know??? NFPA 101 - The Life Safety Code states, "It shall be the duty of principals, teachers, or staff to inspect all exit facilities daily to ensure that all stairways, doors, and other exits are in proper condition." I think someone missed this one...
WW: Climb to Exit
Jerry Rice of DH Pace sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo. This behavior isn't going to change until someone gets in trouble...
WW: Good Luck
It's Wordless Wednesday again...thank you to Keith Moore who sent this photo via Jeff Tock of Allegion.
WW: Exit – Keep Locked!
It's Wordless Wednesday, and this "exit" leaves me wordless...
WW: BHMA in AZ
I spent most of last week in Arizona at the BHMA meeting, and I found this great (terrible) Wordless Wednesday photo for you. If you're new to this site, the problem with this exit is that it has been modified for use as display space in a souvenir shop at the Phoenix airport. Doors in the means of egress must be visible, with no decorations, mirrors, curtains, or stuffed monkeys...
WW: Intermittent Arcing
Paul Goldense of Goldense Building Products took today's Wordless Wednesday photo while searching for the problem causing mag-locks in a psychiatric unit to work intermittently. I think he found the issue...
WW: School Security
These are egress doors in an occupied school gym. Luckily they are going to be replaced shortly, but meanwhile, I'm Wordless.
WW: Hole in the Wall
It's Wordless Wednesday again! When I was in Baltimore a few weeks ago, I was loitering around these pairs of fire doors leading from the exhibit hall to the service corridor...
WW: Hotel Exit
When I stay in a hotel I always check the fire doors and egress doors, and unfortunately I usually find issues. I guess I'm not the only one...
WW: Have a Coke and a Smile
It's Wordless Wednesday again, and these photos DEFINITELY left me wordless...
WW: Fly Trap
What can I say? Thank you to Gary Huizen of Huizen's Locksmith Service for posting this Wordless Wednesday photo on the iDigHardware Facebook page!
WW: Hot Mess
I'm working on a blog post - hopefully for tomorrow, about a code problem involving stairwell reentry requirements. And it's not good news. But for today, from Edward Marchakitus of Cornell Storefront Systems, the emergency exit on a retail store. You'll be happy to know that this is the "before" photo:
WW: Obstructed Egress
An architect's office can't claim that they didn't understand the requirements for an unobstructed means of egress, right?
WW: Special Closer Mounting
These photos were taken by Todd Borsch from Allegion. This is not a special template authorized by LCN!
WW: Fire Extinguisher Access
When the wrong lock function is installed, there are ways to rectify the situation. Today's Wordless Wednesday post is one of them...
WW: Fez Egress
In Fez, we stayed in two riads - beautiful old houses that have been converted to guesthouses. Check out the stairs...I wouldn't want to have to get out quickly. The egress rules are a little different here...
WW: All Points Electric
This week's Wordless Wednesday post is surveillance video of a break-in at All Points Electric in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. For educational purposes, what type of glass breaks like this?
WW: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
If you're not an avid reader of Doors & Hardware (what??), you may not be familiar with the Real Openings column by Mark Berger of Securitech. Mark's photos ALWAYS leave me wordless. With Mark's permission, here are his photos from the July issue...
WW: Fan Club
This is a marked exit from a dry cleaner's. The photo was posted on the Truck Floor Training page on Facebook - a group for firefighter training. It's interesting to look at this door from both perspectives...
WW: Casting Fail Follow-Up
A couple of weeks ago I posted a photo of a broken door closer casting for Wordless Wednesday, and there were a lot of questions and comments...
WW: Duct Tape
I received this photo from Chuck Noble of Certified Fire Door, and it is the epitome of Wordless Wednesday...
WW: Casting Fail
I've only seen this a few times in my career. I'll bet it was messy.
WW: Butt in Any Time
I'm at the BHMA meeting in Chicago this week, and the restaurant we selected for dinner (a Chicago icon) had the added bonus of a door that left me a little Wordless. This is the main entrance and exit from a restaurant with an occupant load of approximately 300. See any issues?
WW: PREPosterous
Here's one for those of you who are familiar with hardware installation...what's wrong with the door in this photo? Hint: It's a fire-rated electrical vault door...
WW: Retrofit Dogging Device
It's Wordless Wednesday again, and Lance Werner of Allegion just sent me this photo of what happens when the wrong lock function is supplied. Creative solutions are more fun than buying a new lock...hopefully it's not a fire door...
WW: Grocery Store Egress
In addition to the blocked egress path, I see a security bar with a padlock and hasp, the original lockset, and an exit alarm, presumably requiring at least 3 operations to unlatch the door. And possibly a key. And a detailed map to find your way to the door...
WW: Scary Emergency Exit
This week's Wordless Wednesday photo is from Keith Lathrop of Midwest Wholesale Hardware - a particularly scary emergency exit with a chain and padlock to replace the missing rods and top latch...
WW: Hidden Door
Today's photo is from Connor Jordan, originally posted on the Door Closer Enthusiasts page on Facebook. I don't know for sure that this is a fire door, but let's assume that it is for the sake of this lesson. NFPA 80 (2013) states: "5.1.5 Removal of Door or Window...
WW: Self-Closing
This is not the first time my friend Bob Jutzi has left me Wordless. ;) Each door is 3'-9" wide x 10'-0" high. The doors are thought to be original to the building, built in the 1880's...
WW: Bartender Exit Only
It seems like every time I attend a meeting of one of the associations I belong to, I see something to use on this site (here's one from a CSI meeting, and another, and another...