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! :-)
This may not be the kind of Wordless Wednesday photo that leaves YOU wordless but keep in mind that I am currently in Mexico where panic hardware is rare enough to be exciting...
At first glance this may look like just another creative Fixed-it Friday alteration, but upon deeper investigation it's a cringe-worthy Wordless Wednesday application. How will this opening protective perform during a fire? Who knows??
Today's Wordless Wednesday photo is shared with permission from Vince Davis, who posted it on the Fire and Life Safety Inspectors Facebook page. If this is a fire door it's got some other issues, but the egress problem is clear.
I received these photos from a code official. This pair of doors serves a large assembly space, and as you can see, the doors get a fair amount of use. The original "fix" on the LHR leaf is not all that unusual, but the extension has me scratching my head.
What problems can you see in today's Wordless Wednesday photo? I've been posting these photos weekly for almost 10 YEARS and they just keep coming!
There are plenty of issues with the restroom shown in today's Wordless Wednesday photo, so I'll just leave this right here and let y'all check it out while I sit here SMH. Thanks to Mark Kuhn of Allegion!
This lock was installed on a retail store, protecting an area with high-value merchandise. YES, those are bullet holes, and NO, the wanna-be robbers did not defeat the lock and/or gain access. #stopemwithaSCHLAGE
Although I've heard people say that no pricetag is too high when protecting our most precious assets, there are checks and balances to consider. What do you think about school security methods like this one?
Although the rules on projections into the clear opening height are changing, giant Pilgrim cat heads are not one of the allowable projections. Happy Thanksgiving!
Once the investment is made in an access control system, it seems like padlocks and hasps should become obsolete. Especially since this is probably a fire door.
Remember when you were a kid and couldn't go on the roller coaster because you weren't as tall as the line on the sign? Well, here's the egress version...
Imagine that you're in an antique store, shopping for the perfect Christmas gift. You're on the second floor when the fire alarm sounds...
