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?
WW: NOLA
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.
WW: Dirty Laundry
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!
WW: Wordless “Fix”
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!
WW: Trends
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.
WW: Are the cost savings worth the risk?
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?
WW: Which came first?
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?
WW: Retail Fail
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.
WW: Oh no, oh no, oh no, no, no, no, no
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.
WW: Positive Latching??
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??
WW: Access Control x2
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.
WW: Doors of EnCOURAGEment
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!
WW: Caption This
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?!
WW: Hedge Your Bets
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???
WW: More Vacation Shopping
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??
WW: Life’s a Beach
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.
WW: Just a little off the side
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.
WW: Horror Show
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!
WW: Somewhere in Iceland
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!
WW: Less-Bottom-Rod (LBR) Single?
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?
WW: I need to vent!
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.
WW: Here we go again.
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?
WW: All Aboard!
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...
WW: “A closed door made all the difference.”
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?
WW: Beyond the Door
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?)?
WW: Cuchillo de Mesa
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!
WW: Strike-Out
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!
WW: Hotel Fire Door
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!
WW: Flaming Lips & Space Bubbles
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
WW: Shoe Shopping
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!
WW: Exit if you can find it
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.
WW: Do you see what I see?
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?