WW: SMH (= Shaking My Head)
Austin Bammann of CIH sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photos and I have no words left. How do we reach retailers to educate them about their door openings??
WW: Yet another restaurant exit
Colin Watson of Allegion sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photos, and if you look closely, I think you'll be Wordless too. What is it with these restaurants and their exits??
WW: What could go possibly wrong?
I've received questions before about how to secure certain areas of a stadium or sports arena, and in many cases there is not a code-compliant way to do so without negatively affecting egress. Today's Wordless Wednesday photos give me chills.
WW: Storeroom Egress
I have heard people excuse non-code-compliant egress because a room is "just a storeroom" or "just a bathroom", but the model codes do not exempt these spaces from the requirements for egress.
WW: Double Trouble
Today's Wordless Wednesday photos were sent by John DeHaan, a self employed door repairman in Utah. Yet another restaurant's secondary means of egress secured with non-code-compliant hardware. :(
WW: Another Restaurant Exit
I can hear some of you saying, "But there's no exit sign above this door!" While that appears to be true, it doesn't mean the door can have non-code-compliant hardware.
WW: School Security Modification
This Wordless Wednesday photo was taken in a school - the good news is that this hardware is in the process of being replaced. Hopefully the current focus on school security will mean increased attention to life safety as well.
WW: Burger Joint
A retired AHJ sent today's Wordless Wednesday photos of a secondary means of egress in a small hamburger restaurant. Technically, the second exit may not be required, but if the door is provided for egress purposes, it must be code-compliant.
WW: Hotel Raceway
The fact that this stairwell fire door is now cracked in half helps to explain why drilling wire raceways in existing doors is typically treated as a field modification that must be approved in advance by the listing lab. I'm Wordless!
WW: Hotel Fire Doors
Remember last month when I mentioned that I might question the condition of a restaurant's kitchen based on their doors and hardware? Well, the same goes for hotels, and these Wordless Wednesday photos of my hotel's fire doors from last week's trip are a compelling example.
WW: Unsuccessful Break-in Attempt
What can I say about today's Wordless Wednesday photos from Kevin Doerr, other than a) this is Falcon panic hardware, b) the break-in attempt was unsuccessful, and c) the panic still operated correctly for egress.
WW: Field Trip!
Last week I spent a couple of days in Minnesota with our new specwriter apprentices and members of our sales development program. I LOVE working with this group as they begin learning about doors and hardware.
WW: Science Center Exit
Anthony Gugliotta of Allegion sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photos of some egress doors he saw at a science center during a recent vacation. What do you say?? OK? Or NO WAY?
WW: Down at the Irish Pub
I LOVE to receive Wordless Wednesday photos from readers' travels. This one is from Bill Dorner of Allegion, and was taken in a pub in Kinsale, Ireland. The problem of blocked exits is clearly a global issue.
WW: Cool Exit
Thomas Reinhardt sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo of a door with an egress problem. I can appreciate that someone manufactured a rolling rack for the AC unit and it can be moved out of the way if the exit is needed, but...no.
WW: Overheated
Jeff Weller of Southwest Entrances sent me this Wordless Wednesday photo from a trip to Quebec City. I have to say...this was definitely a first for me. This "exit" leads to an exterior fire escape.
WW: Wired
When I was a specwriter, I dreaded having to tell an architect that their idea wasn't code-compliant, was not durable enough to hold up over time, or would not function in a way that would work well for the end user...
Last Day!
After writing countless times about fire doors needing to close and latch, and hearing about the impact of open fire doors during a Bronx apartment fire earlier this year, seeing a stairwell fire door permanently prevented from closing is just too much.
Almost to 3,000 Posts!
This deadbolt modification was found on an apartment entry door - the surface bolt prevents the deadbolt from being unlocked from the outside with a key. Pretty creative, but I hope no one ever has to enter to help during an emergency.
WW: 3-Point Locks + Delay
As we continue to celebrate the 3,000-post milestone, I don't know what to say about today's Wordless Wednesday photo sent by Bruce Gill of North Central Supply. SMH
Day 2 – Crescent Wrench Lockout
When a lost key may have fallen into the wrong hands, and the maintenance staff needed to secure the door until the locksmith arrived, this was their solution. Photo submitted by Paul Linder of Hills Brothers Lock and Safe.
Celebrating 3,000 Posts!
Sent in by Pak Keung Yip, this photo was taken on the back porch of a residential home, where the contractor provided a knife to cut out a screen that might block the exit. I love the creativity and thought that went into this solution, but I'm a little wordless.
WW: Coffee Shop Exit
I didn't have to look far during my road trip to find an egress problem. The coffee was GREAT, but the rear exit would be confusing during an emergency. Maybe next time I will work up the nerve to pull back the curtain.
WW: 3,000 Posts!
iDigHardware will reach a new milestone very soon, and you can help me celebrate! Submit your photos by Friday, June 17th, for a chance to win something from the iDigHardware Prize Vault!
Wordless
Today I am wordless for the 19 students and 2 teachers killed in the latest senseless act of school violence at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
WW: Schlage Phalanges 1000
Today's Wordless Wednesday photo came from Grant DeLay of Allegion (and he gets all the credit for the product name), but it looks like the photo originated with Brian Ingham of Integrated Design Solutions. It's a classic!
WW: Half-Baked Exit
Today's Wordless Wednesday photo came from one of my retired fire marshal pals, which reminds me how much I love the fact that people who have retired are still engaged with iDigHardware.
WW: The difference a closed door can make.
Today's Wordless Wednesday photos are from the Facebook page of the Edmond, Oklahoma Fire Department, demonstrating the impact of a closed door during a fire. Close Before You Doze!
WW: Hot Mess Express
David Johnson of Cook & Boardman sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo of a restaurant's rear exit. I absolutely love that people see doors that are a hot mess and think of me! :)
WW: This.
I just received this Wordless Wednesday photo from Allison Berejka of Allegion, and I'm beyond wordless. This is a stairwell fire door in a New York City apartment building, and it will serve no purpose if a fire occurs.
WW: Just stick a tote in it.
One of my retired fire marshal friends sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photos...neither life safety nor security is winning here. Don't forget to send me your Wordless Wednesday and Fixed-it Friday photos!
WW: Word Problems
Andy Lindenberg of Allegion sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photos, taken in a school. After an entire swim season with no one reporting the issue, a janitor noticed the problem. #wordless!
WW: Why we need fire door inspections.
There are millions - yes, MILLIONS - of existing fire door assemblies that have been modified or damaged, or that have not been maintained properly. The only way to find them and fix them is to enforce the code requirements for fire door inspections. What's the hold up?
News 4: Over 100 building violations found after fire
With the number of apartments in a metropolis like New York City, and the prevalence of fires in multifamily buildings, how are code officials ever going to get a handle on the non-code-compliant conditions?
WW: Calling All Sports Fans
Marc Zolner of Allegion sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo, taken in a sports facility. For whatever reason, this type of building is a common location for non-code-compliant exits. How many problems do you see?
WW: “Why aren’t more Tennessee schools using door barricades?”
Some days I just want to give up on reading the news. A Nashville news station posted a report recently asking why more Tennessee schools are not using classroom barricade devices, and I'm wordless.
WW: Michigan HB5701
A proposed change to Michigan law would allow classroom barricade devices to be installed on spaces like gymnasiums, libraries, auditoriums, and cafeterias. How can we help legislators see the potential implications of this decision?
WW: Covid Precautions
Today's Wordless Wednesday photos of a security checkpoint in a high school are a great illustration of how easy it is to overlook egress and other code requirements when our attention is focused elsewhere.
WW: In the News
Several news stories left me wordless this past week...ANOTHER apartment fire in the Bronx with an open door, funding to cut the bottom of classroom doors (including fire doors) to increase ventilation, and parliament fire doors latched open.
WW: Beyond Help
When I saw these photos on the Locksmith's Journal Facebook page, I was wordless. Luckily, I was given permission to share them here! This door looks like it has seen better days. What do you think?
WW: Have you seen something like this before?
I received this photo of a fire door in a hotel stairwell from Gabriel Montoya of Jansen Ornamental Supply. You might be thinking to yourself, "This doesn't leave me wordless...I see stuff like this all the time!" That's the point.
WW: Repurposed
Today's Wordless Wednesday photo was sent in by Robbie McCabe of McCabe Consulting. The door, frame, and hardware were approved to be reused - they were in great shape. The installers did a fantastic job. Just one little problem...
WW: Another Apartment Fire – Another Outcome
In light of last weekend's fire in the Bronx, I am reviving this 5-year-old post. It won't be wordless, but it's an amazing illustration of the protection provided by fire doors that are closed and latched during a fire.
WW: TGIbF
Thank goodness it's being fixed! This roof access door in a school somehow ended up with panic hardware, and to take care of the problem of too-easy access to the roof, the padlocked surface bolt was added. I was definitely wordless at first glance!
Holiday Countdown…3!
Next up in the countdown...it's Wordless Wednesday! I know that many of you LOVE the Wordless Wednesday posts, which I have been publishing weekly since January 25th, 2011. Time flies when you're having fun!
WW: Privacy Plus
I keep finding "just one more" photo to share from my October road trip - the world is full of Wordless Wednesday and Fixed-it Friday applications! This storefront gives me cringey vibes...what do you think?
WW: “Extra” Exits
I took today's Wordless Wednesday photo in a restaurant during my October road trip...the booth was partially blocking one exit, and a couch, piano, and other random items were blocking another. I guess they were just extra exits. :|
WW: Zip It
Barry Dean of IML Security Supply sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photos, and I have no words. Really. None. #wordless Check the related post links for more creative zip tie applications!
WW: Bus Stop
Jen Boggs of Mulhaupt's sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo, taken in a small toy store. I know that egress problems in retail stores are not uncommon, but this one has me shaking my head. #wordless
WW: Museum Exit
These doors are serving an assembly occupancy - a museum that receives more than 1 million visitors per year. What do you think? Would you consider these doors "readily distinguishable" and "easily recognizable"? Ok, or No Way?