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.
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!
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!
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?
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. :|
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!
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
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?
Today's Wordless Wednesday photos may look familiar to a few of you. Note the exit sign over the door to the small room, the swing of the doors, and the egress situation once in that room.
Today's Wordless Wednesday photos, taken in a laundromat, require some explanation. Take a look and see what you notice. Thank you to Joe Cross of Allegion for sending the photos!
This could have been a Fixed-it Friday contender, but the "fix" left me Wordless. Thank you to Eyal Bedrik of Entry Systems Ltd for today's Wordless Wednesday photos and video!
Today I visited a third location of the same retail chain, and again, the restroom doors had padlocks and hasps like the second location, and a saggy door (no foot pull) like the first one. I'm seeing a trend.
Another day of driving, another restroom door. Coincidentally, this is the same retail chain as the restroom door I posted last week. Why is it so important to lock the restroom doors that someone has installed non-code-compliant locks?
I'm wondering whether this restroom door, which is dragging on the floor and won't close fully, was damaged before the foot pull was added, or if the downward force on the foot pull contributed to the problem. What do you think?
Today's Wordless Wednesday photo was sent to me by Shane Meier of NMC Health, who made an interesting point about the priorities of retail. Until life safety becomes more important than profit, this problem will continue.
Sometimes I see a Wordless Wednesday photo that gives me that "I'm about to cry" feeling. An actual tear may have leaked out when I saw these photos posted by Jimmy Wood Jr. on the Fire Inspectors with No Borders Facebook page.
Rit Bellefleur of Accurate Commercial Door & Hardware Services, LLC sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo. This is a fire door in a school, and the bottom latch clearly serves no purpose. What's the point??
Someone recently asked me which sections of the code I would reference to show that padlocks are not allowed on egress doors. There are plenty of options...the section that requires egress doors to be readily openable, for starters.
Cathy Kopp of Norwood Hardware & Supply sent me a link to this event, and I have to say - I'm Wordless and even a little misty. This fundraiser has been held annually for 10 years and has raised a total of over $400,000!
A fire marshal sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo, but neither of us know the original source. We'd love to give credit to the photographer, and to ask what in the world is going on with this door?!
Scott Straton of Allegion sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo of a blocked exit in a restaurant (more foliage!). I'm Wordless. What more can be said that I have not already said 1,000 times???
Last week I posted a Wordless Wednesday photo taken on a beach vacation...here's another one from one of my Allegion colleagues. How many problems can you find? And who else has vacation photos to share??
I know that some of you are holding out on me...you were on your summer vacation, you saw a door and thought of iDigHardware, took some photos, and they're still sitting there in your phone.
Today's Wordless Wednesday door is located in a hockey rink, and it looks like the panic hardware was mounted too close to the door edge because the opening has a removable mullion. This was the installer's solution.
Michael McGough of Allegion sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo, of a wall stop he found in the changing room of a department store. Cue the (scary) music!
Yes - Iceland! Robin Greenberg of Perkins Eastman sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo, taken in a Christmas-themed store in Iceland. The egress door is so cleverly disguised, it looks like the exit sign is in the wrong place!
Given the added expense and maintenance issues that can come with vertical rod panic hardware, I can't think of a reason why someone would use a vertical rod device on a single door. Can you?
Today's Wordless Wednesday photo, sent in by Rick Eldridge, is from the generator room of a hospital. We'll just assume (fingers crossed!) that it's not a fire door assembly.
I received today's Wordless Wednesday photo from Andy Buse of Allegion, and I can't think of anything witty or even educational to say. Why would someone think it's ok to block a marked exit with display shelving?
I love reusing and repurposing...especially when something that has outlived its original purpose becomes an architectural element. This example is from Erich Roscher, who sent today's Wordless Wednesday photos of an old caboose...
A 4-month old baby is alive today because someone pulled the door closed and gave the firefighters time to rescue him. So...did you sleep with your bedroom door closed last night? If not, why not?
I know that many of us are door-focused, but sometimes other portions of the egress route leave me wordless. How is it possible that problems like this - very obvious problems - remain unresolved for years (decades?)?
This dogging method was found in a Mexican restaurant, hence the post title which sounds fancy but means "table knife." :) Thanks to Dave Toloday of Allegion for sharing today's Wordless Wednesday photo!
I know it's Wordless Wednesday, but sometimes a Fixed-it Friday "fix" leaves me wordless - like this one. If you see any interesting installations, code violations, hardware fails, or beautiful doors...you know what to do!
Fire doors in hotels are critical for helping to deter the spread of smoke and flames during a fire. To perform as designed and tested, the fire door needs to be closed and latched if a fire occurs. This is why we need annual inspections of fire door assemblies!
I'd love to know what the fire marshal in Oklahoma City had to say about the plan for this concert! There were 100 space bubbles - each holding 1-3 people. Egress concerns, anyone? #wordless
Today's Wordless Wednesday photo is from Brian Mead. I think the emergency exits for retail stores look like this more often than not...we just don't usually see them. Make a point of looking, and if you see something, say something!
Stuart Hurwitz shared today's Wordless Wednesday photo with me...yet another retail store where the manager has no idea that egress doors need to be visible and the means of egress must be clear.
I received today's Wordless Wednesday photos from an AHJ, who will remain anonymous. During an inspection, he found this water heater enclosure. But what's that thing sitting on the pipe behind the vent?
Debbie White of Allegion sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo, which she received from a friend. I love it when my friends send me door photos...hopefully I'll be getting more as we can safely start to travel again! Hint, hint. :)
This Wordless Wednesday photo brings back bad memories of my brothers locking me in closets and other dark and scary places. I'd love to know why this door is lockable from the outside...any ideas?
Ben Gorton posted this photo on the page of the Facebook group called "There's no crying in hollow metal", and I just knew I had to share it (with permission) for Wordless Wednesday. This door is an emergency exit for a shooting range, and I'm #wordless.
These doors would be nearly impossible to open in an emergency...they require special knowledge and effort, coordination and dexterity, and the hardware is far above the allowable range. #wordless
The power of water is incredible. I think we will continue to see the changing weather patterns impacting the model codes and standards - code changes are already occurring with regard to hurricane/tornado protection and storm shelters.
I know this is kind of a personal question, but be honest...did you close your bedroom door when you went to sleep last night? It could save your life, and today's Wordless Wednesday photos are proof of that.
I'm sure there's some sort of explanation for this, right? Today's Wordless Wednesday photo was taken at a convention center that is currently being used as a Covid vaccination site.
This report illustrates why I don't like to see key-operated locks allowed in most locations. When a double-cylinder deadbolt is installed and there is a need to lock the doors to prevent access, there is no code-compliant way to facilitate egress.
Have you ever pointed out a door problem to someone and had them respond with a shrug and some form of "so what"? A fire door is held open improperly...so what - chances are slim that the building will catch on fire today. Right??
I received links to these news reports from several iDigHardware readers as far away as Dubai. As I have said before, sometimes the immediate response to a threat does not take all factors into consideration.
There were plenty of times over the years when my kids reluctantly tolerated my "teachable moments" about life safety. I'm so happy to know that some of it stuck! I hope you are talking to your family and friends about doors! :-)
