This Quick Question came up last week, and it’s a good one! According to the model codes, is it acceptable to install hold-open devices on corridor doors in a health care facility?
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Requirements for openings in X-Ray rooms and PET scan facilities have always been a bit mysterious for me, especially when combined with my other Achilles heel – glazing.
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In this month’s Decoded column, I answered several questions about automatic sliding doors and the code requirements that help to ensure their safety in a means of egress.
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Check out my article in the Winter issue of Life Safety Digest, which clarifies the requirements related to electrified door hardware.
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This is a true test of who the most loyal readers of iDigHardware are…what is my FAVORITE special template from LCN?? Hint: It’s an ST for the 4020T closer.
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Although control vestibules are not currently addressed in the model codes, a change has been approved for the 2027 edition of the I-Codes and may be used to request AHJ approval.
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Check out my article in the Summer issue of Life Safety Digest, which answers the common questions about corridor doors and smoke barrier doors in health care facilities.
A code change proposal has been submitted that would remove the self-closing/automatic-closing requirement for assisted living unit entry fire doors. I OBJECT! How about you?
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This month’s question is a common one related to egress doors in memory care units. If you have a code question you’d like to see answered in my column, you can submit it by clicking the link in today’s post.
I recently received this Quick Question from a locksmith at a university medical center: On patient room doors in a hospital, is it code-compliant to install traditional classroom function locksets which allow free egress from the room?
Last week I spent an afternoon touring a hospital under renovation after a large electrical fire (more to come on that), and I saw this modification that left me wordless. What do you think?
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Automatic sliding doors have become very common in health care facilities and other types of buildings. In this post, I have answered some of the frequently asked code questions about these doors, with links to additional resources.
The accessibility requirements related to doors and hardware are too complex to address in one post, but here are a few of the most frequently asked questions, with links to additional information.
Sliding doors are being specified more frequently, and it’s important to understand the applicable code requirements to ensure that the mandates for egress, fire protection, and accessibility are met. In this post I have answered some of the FAQs.
Today’s Quick Question has come up several times lately with regard to the code requirements for hospitals, nursing homes, and similar types of facilities: What is the difference between a “corridor door” and a “smoke barrier door” in a health care occupancy?
Beginning with the 2015 edition of NFPA 101 – Life Safety Code, a section was added that allows doors in some types of health care units to be disguised with murals. This updated post includes a clarification from the 2021 edition of the code.
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I’m on my way to Pittsburgh, and I hope to see some of you at the DHI conNextions conference! PLEASE come to one (or both!) of my sessions on Wednesday, or stop by the Allegion booth during exhibit hall hours!
You may have to look closely at this Fixed-it Friday photo from Brian Lavallee of Doors by LAVA Inc. Have you ever seen this “creative” application in use?
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The accessibility standards mandate a flush, smooth surface at the bottom of a door to avoid catching a wheelchair footpad, crutch, cane, or other mobility aid on a protrusion. Some of the most frequently-asked questions on this topic are answered in today’s post.
Wrapping up Fire Prevention Week is our final category in the hardware set: Protect the Door. Although these are not typically the most complex components of a fire door assembly, proper product selection, installation, and maintenance are crucial.
Earlier this year, a fatal fire in a Bronx apartment building demonstrated the importance of code-compliant fire door assemblies that are closed and latched when a fire occurs. Today’s post addresses NFPA 80’s three categories of fire door operation.
Because fire door assemblies are such an important part of the passive fire protection system of a building, the model codes and referenced standards require fire doors to be closed and latched during a fire. Learn more in today’s post.
For a fire door to close and latch reliably, it’s crucial for the door to be hung properly, using architectural hinges, continuous hinges, or pivots that are correctly specified for the door size, weight, and usage.
This week I will be sharing some of the resources available on iDigHardware related to fire door assemblies, to increase awareness of the requirements of the codes and standards that help to ensure fire doors perform as designed and tested.
One of the most fundamental requirements related to access control products can also be one of the most confusing – the functions of fail safe and fail secure electrified hardware. This post answers a few of the frequently asked questions related to this topic.
Today’s Quick Question: In our facility there is a mechanical room where we need a removable transom panel in a fire door assembly, to allow for the occasional replacement of equipment that won’t fit through a 7-foot door. Is this possible?
This photo is a great illustration of a problem that has come up before, and I don’t have a good answer. What solutions have you seen for double pairs of fire doors like this? WWYD?
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Today’s Quick Question: On a pair of non-fire-rated corridor doors in a health care facility, is one automatic flush bolt required for the inactive leaf, or are two bolts required (top and bottom)?
The code requirements related to doors serving roofs have long been a source of confusion, but changes made in the last few editions of the model codes have helped to clarify the intent. Today’s post answers a few of the most frequently asked questions about roof doors.
My next Decoded column addresses important code clarifications related to electrified hardware used in access control systems. I hope this article will help with more consistent interpretations of the requirements.
The difference between delayed egress and controlled egress systems can be confusing…hopefully this new infographic will help. It explains how these systems work, where they are used, and how to choose the correct application.
Would a pair of doors with a hollow metal removable mullion and locksets on both door leaves be more reliable and require less maintenance than a pair with flush bolts and a lockset? What are the challenges with this application? WWYD?
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There has been a lot of confusion over the last decade or two about smoke barrier doors in hospitals, nursing homes, and other types of health care facilities. The answers to these FAQs should help to clarify the requirements.
While the installation of an electromagnetic lock can be relatively simple, the code requirements that apply to mag-locks are somewhat complicated and may be confusing. These answers to frequently asked questions should help.
Low energy automatic operators are the type of automatic door operators that are typically actuated by a “knowing act.” There are several questions about these operators that come up frequently…
Corridor doors in health care facilities – like those leading to patient rooms – will help to protect patients in their rooms from the smoke and flames if a fire occurs. Here are some of the most frequently-asked questions about these assemblies…
What are the top trends and challenges in today’s health care facilities? From the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic to the rise of electronics, our research explores changes in the market. Download the information today.
Webinar Wednesdays continue, along with a new Security in 30 session coming up this month! Electrified hardware, hollow metal doors and frames, fire doors, panic hardware, and a Security in 30 on some important health care research!
As I said in my previous post about fire door FAQs, I will be posting more groups of FAQs in the coming months, to try to fill in some gaps where there is still confusion. In this post I am answering a few common questions on controlled egress doors in health care facilities.
There was a time when trimming doors in the field was common. With most doors now arriving prefit, prebeveled, and premachined from the manufacturer, they should not need to be undersized further in the field.
I will be publishing several sets of frequently asked questions this year, with more detailed supporting articles on each topic. If you have a FAQ that you’d like to add to the list, leave it in the comment box and I will include it in a future article.
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I was recently asked to create a class for locksmiths, installers, or others who are looking for a crash course on the most frequently-asked code questions related to door openings. And here it is! Share it with all who could benefit from this training!
Is there a code requirement that would prohibit the installation of automatic operators above an acoustical tile ceiling? Would the working space required by NFPA 70 – National Electrical Code apply here?
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This article on controlled egress locks in health care facilities will be published in Locksmith Ledger, as a follow-up article to one I wrote last fall comparing the requirements of the model codes for delayed egress applications.
John Woestman of BHMA and I worked on this article together, addressing some important changes that will be included in the 2024 IBC. It’s never too early to be aware of what’s coming!
The 2022 edition of NFPA 80 includes some important changes related to the size and attachment methods for signage on fire doors. Can you spot what’s new in the updated standard?
Sixty years ago, 16 people were killed in a fire at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut. This fire, which began when someone dumped smoldering cigarette ashes down a trash chute, resulted in many code changes related to health care facilities.
This is a quiet week for training because of the holiday, but there is a very informative webinar coming up next week, presented by Melany Whalin and Connie Alexander of Allegion. The webinar offers continuing education credit for AIA, and registration is open!
The new version of the guide is available for download now – just visit iDigHardware.com/guide. Feel free to share this link with your coworkers and others who may benefit from using the Allegion Code Reference Guide!
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Last week, I updated the Decoded article on smoke door requirements of the IBC, and I was asked to update this NFPA 101 post as well. There were not many changes in the 2021 edition of the Life Safety Code, but here is the revised post.
By request, I have updated this article on smoke doors to include the requirements of the 2021 IBC. When you have a question about a smoke door, just decide which of the 5 types it is and refer to the section for that type.
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I receive a lot of questions about gates – I’m sure it’s because it can be very tough to secure a gate while also complying with the requirements of the model codes and referenced standards. Here are some answers…
I know that many iDigHardware readers love Fixed-it Friday, but I especially love when I can use Fixed-it Friday to ask for help (there were so many helpful comments last week!). I have another question this week that I hope you will weigh in on.
When the ADA standards are more restrictive than an accessibility standard adopted by a state or local jurisdiction, do the more stringent requirements of the ADA standards apply?
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.
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Thank you for all of your comments and feedback on last week’s Fixed-it Friday post – I really appreciate the help! I’d love to hear what you think about fire door assembly labels as an educational tool for building occupants.
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Today’s Fixed-it Friday photos come with some questions…is there a way to make this opening code-compliant? It’s obviously not an egress door, but how can building occupants be protected from falling?
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Last year when I wrote a Decoded article and hosted a webinar addressing the code requirements related to touchless openings, many people asked me about the performance of copper. There’s more in today’s post…
Fabricating this protector and welding it to a rated frame to protect the door edge from cart/bed traffic would not be allowed by the frame manufacturer’s listings – at least not any listings that I’ve ever seen. WWYD?
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You know me…when I go somewhere new, I never pass up the chance to share photos of the interesting doors I encounter. Unfortunately, my latest trip was a 3-night stay in the local hospital. It’s always something.
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As I talk to people about fire door assembly inspection, two sides of the discussion have emerged. Many understand the increased life safety and fire protection provided by code-compliant fire doors – others think the deficiencies are too overwhelming to address.
Past fires in hospitals and nursing homes – and the resulting fatalities – have shaped the codes that we use today. Although today’s codes do not typically require patient room doors to be fire door assemblies, these doors provide a critical layer of protection for patients.
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Questions about double-egress cross-corridor pairs in health care facilities arise frequently, so I have updated this article to reflect the current requirements of the model codes.
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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??
Although control vestibules are not currently addressed in the model codes, my next Decoded article covers some of the considerations for the design of these systems, before submission to the AHJ for approval.
Today’s Quick Question: When does a door opening need a coordinator – and what IS a coordinator, anyway?? Can you help with some images or video to help illustrate this tough-to-explain concept?
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.
With permission from the author, Hal Kelton of DoorData Solutions, along with Door Security + Safety Magazine, I’m excited to share this article.
Hal Kelton of DOORDATA Solutions sent me this photo of a pair of doors in health care facility, and it made me wonder…how would you handle the hardware for this pair?
A change to the 2021 edition of the IBC seems to allow egress doors in some health care units to have mechanical locks in the direction of egress, instead of fail safe electrified locks. WWYD?
The Steel Door Institute (SDI) just released a new video that covers the annual inspection requirements for fire door assemblies. Feel free to share it!
Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS) is a UK-based organization dedicated to fire door safety. Sharing this information about US fire doors could improve building safety.
Hand sanitizer is not normally within my area of expertise, but I’ve been receiving questions about it so I checked to see what NFPA had to say.
I have had quite a few questions about terminated stops on fire door assemblies, so this change to the 2021 IBC should help to clarify what is allowed by code.
In case you missed this short paragraph in the NFPA Journal article I shared on Monday, I wanted to bring it to your attention since several iDigHardware readers emailed me about it…
My next Decoded column for Door Security + Safety Magazine addresses the code considerations for facilities where changes are being made in order to limit the spread of germs.
I’d like to compile some information about how hardware for an isolation room is currently being specified/supplied. What are the current recommendations or requirements?
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Facility managers need to carefully consider changes made to prevent virus transmission, which could affect egress, fire protection, and accessibility.
Today’s Quick Question: Can door hardware with an antimicrobial coating prevent the spread of COVID-19 or other viruses?
Today’s Quick Question: Is an astragal required for double-egress cross-corridor pairs in health care smoke barriers? The answer surprised me.
If a labeled fire door is installed in a location where a fire door is not required, must the assembly be maintained and inspected according to the requirements of NFPA 80?
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During a flu epidemic in 1974, hospital staff was desperate to accommodate the patients needing treatment. Luckily, someone was watching out for the life safety of all of the hospital’s occupants.
I receive so many questions about fire doors vs. smoke doors; my article from the June issue of Construction Specifier answers many of them.
Elopement is a real concern for certain health care facilities, and there are more options than there were 10 years ago.
Is it just me, or does this seem questionable on several levels (encroachment, projection into the clear opening width, potential for damage)? Is this an actual product or a creative modification?
I’m just going to admit it – I’m confused – and I’m hoping that someone who works more closely with the Joint Commission can help to clear this up. The Joint Commission recently distributed a document giving notice of 3 changes to their standards; 2 of the changes involve doors, and the effective date is March 11, 2018.
The extended deadline has now passed. Facilities that receive funding from Medicare and/or Medicaid must have fire door assembly inspections conducted annually and documented, with any deficiencies repaired “without delay.”
For most types of buildings, lever-handle locksets are standard equipment, but some existing buildings may be equipped with knobs. Are knobs acceptable by code in existing health care facilities?
For such a simple piece of hardware, protection plates installed on fire doors have caused more than their fair share of trouble, particularly in health care facilities…
Which door openings are required to have gasketing, according to NFPA 101 – The Life Safety Code?
I will definitely attend at least one of Ron’s classes, but if you are unable to be there, you can still get the answers to some of your questions about doors in health care facilities by watching Ron in this video…
I have received several calls from people who are interested in becoming fire door inspectors or who are wondering if an inspection by their in-house staff is acceptable to the Joint Commission…
For health care facilities, controlled egress can provide a greater level of safety for patients who require containment because of their clinical needs. This video explains the requirements for controlled egress and delayed egress…
In case you haven’t noticed, there is an interesting conversation happening on my post from earlier in the week about classroom barricade devices. If you have something informative to add in response to the manufacturers of these products…
Is rescue hardware allowed on a corridor door in a hospital or nursing home? Is the door able to provide an effective barrier to limit the passage of smoke without the frame stop?
