FF: Closer Edition
I saw Alexander Wright of Allegion in my code update class at UNC-Charlotte yesterday, which reminded me that he sent me these Fixed-it Friday photos of door closers in the wild! Keep 'em coming!
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05, 2023
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05, 2023
School Security Best Practices for Openings
A new educational resource for school security and safety is now available, which provides a combined overview of industry recommended best practices for door openings as recommended by security organizations, federal reports, and past incident reports.
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05, 2023
WW: Hotel Stair
During a 1:00 a.m. fire alarm, Denise Gorski took note of the damaged latchset on a hotel's stairwell fire door. If the door wasn't propped open with a wedge, the missing lever may have prevented hotel guests from exiting. Which is worse? The open door or the potential lack of egress??
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05, 2023
AIA Webinar – Sustainability, Transparency, and Door Hardware
Whether you’re designing a LEED certified building or not, every building created today includes sustainable features. Join us on May 25th for an AIA-approved webinar, presented by Aaron Owens, Sustainability Specialist for Allegion.
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05, 2023
Decoded: Fire Door Closing Cycle
When testing a fire door to determine whether it is closing and latching properly, from what open position should the door be tested? I have updated this Decoded article about the closing cycle of fire doors for positive latching, to reflect the current codes.
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05, 2023
FF: Wordless
I once wrote a hardware spec for the hotel chain where today's Fixed-it Friday photos were taken. Based on that experience and the architect's attention to detail on that project, I'm positive that this is not what they would expect to see on a return visit.
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05, 2023
USGNN: Quick Code Q+A
I recently started a new column in USGlass Magazine, and each month I will be answering a code question related to door openings. The question in the current post is one that many of you are familiar with: Where is panic hardware required?
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05, 2023
WW: Down at the Packie
Tim Weller of Allegion sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photos of an obstructed means of egress in a liquor store (we called them "packies" in New England). I'm at a loss as to how to educate retail workers on the code requirements. Any ideas?
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05, 2023
Last-Minute Training Announcement!
Last week I posted about some upcoming code training that I'll be conducting in the Southeast, and it turns out that there is some availability in my class at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville on May 16th. There's more info in today's post.
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05, 2023
Allegion 101: The Door and Frame – Republic
The Allegion 101 training series was designed for people who are new to the industry, new to the Allegion family of brands, or just want to learn more about doors and hardware. Feel free to share this post with anyone who could benefit from this introductory training.
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04, 2023
FF: High Security Hold-Open
My ooooold friend and coworker, Chuck Gulla of Allegion, sent me this Fixed-it Friday photo from a school in Vermont. Since it's not a fire door, it's not a code issue, but it's definitely a creative solution. I'm sure the school is trying to cut down on "mischief" in the restroom.
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04, 2023
Code Update: Chute Doors
This was not the first (nor the last) time that I have seen a conflict between a chute door and a swinging fire door that provides a convenient way to hold the doors open. This has now been addressed in the International Building Code (IBC).
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04, 2023
WW: At the Craft Expo
These Wordless Wednesday photos from Charles Anderson (retired AHJ) speak for themselves... Don't forget to send me photos of the interesting doors you see in your travels!
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04, 2023
Training Opportunity – with me! :)
In a couple of weeks I will be conducting some code training in the Carolinas and Tennessee. There are a few spots available in the class in Clemson, South Carolina on Tuesday, May 9th, so if you are within driving distance, check out the training invitation here.
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04, 2023
Calling all architects and specifiers!!
I am wearing my BHMA Marcom Chair hat today...if you are an architect or specifier, I would love to have 5 minutes of your time to take a short survey that will help guide some of the organizations' upcoming initiatives. Thanks in advance!
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04, 2023
FF: Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción
This is an amazingly beautiful church right on the main square in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico. As you can imagine, there have been a few "fixes" in the last 300 years. TGIF-iF!
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04, 2023
More Doors of Aguascalientes
In yesterday's post I shared some Wordless Wednesday photos from my trip to Aguascalientes, Mexico, and I have some others prepared for Fixed-it Friday. There are more of my favorites here in today's post!
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04, 2023
WW: En La Ciudad De Aguascalientes
As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I took my family for a short trip to Aguascalientes, Mexico last week. It's a beautiful city, and of course I took lots of photos of amazing doors!
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04, 2023
IBC Update: Puzzle Rooms
Last week while I was on a short spring break trip with the kids, I was perusing the IBC, and I found a change that I forgot to write about; the change is related to escape rooms. The 2021 IBC now includes three options for egress from these rooms.
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04, 2023
Allegion 101: The Door and Frame – Steelcraft
The Allegion 101 training series was designed for people who are new to the industry, new to the Allegion family of brands, or just want to learn more about doors and hardware. Feel free to share this post with anyone who could benefit from this introductory training.
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04, 2023
FF: Spring Break
I received today's Fixed-it Friday photo from Scott Tobias of arkaSpecs, and I definitely did a double-take. Then I found out that he's on vacation with his family, and this egress door serves a ride at a popular theme park. What do you think?
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04, 2023
Decoded: Communicating Doors Between Sleeping Rooms
As I mentioned last month, my Decoded column has a new question-and-answer format. This month's question: "Are communicating doors between adjoining hotel rooms required to be self-closing, self-latching fire door assemblies?"
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04, 2023
WW: “Cooler” Security Solution
Mark was minding his own business at a family get-together in a local events venue (with an occupant load of >100 people), and there was a door calling his name from the back of the room. You can see why in today's Wordless Wednesday photos. :D
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04, 2023
TGP: Street Talk
TGPs Street Talk series is an on-demand video channel where the team goes on location to see how architectural glazing products solved design challenges. Check out this video about a fire-rated stairwell that was added to a historic building in Seattle.
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04, 2023
BSJ: How Building Codes Inform Architectural Design
A recent article in the International Code Council's Building Safety Journal addresses the critical role that the International Building Code (IBC), International Fire Code (IFC), and International Residential Code (IRC) play in how architects design buildings.
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04, 2023
FF: Paniquito
Jim Billings sent me today's Fixed-it Friday photo, which was posted in a Facebook group with a comment that it was found in a postal facility. Any theories about what happened here?
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04, 2023
Murals on Egress Doors in Health Care Occupancies
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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04, 2023
WW: Lockstar?? :)
Why is this a Wordless Wednesday post? Because I am flattered to the point of wordlessness by the article that the Yankee Security Convention shared about me. An "industry icon and lockstar"?? Just one of many!! :D
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04, 2023
Follow-Up: Locked Stairwell Doors
Last week I answered a quick question about locking stairwell doors, and Jim Elder of Secured Design raised a great point in a comment on the post. Here is a follow-up related to the release of locked stairwell doors upon fire alarm activation.
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04, 2023
Allegion 101: Protect the Door – Ives, Zero, and More
Many years ago, I worked with an architectural firm that always had me write the hardware specifications for their projects. On one small job they had a tight deadline, so they edited some hardware sets from another spec...
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03, 2023
FF: Delayed Action Closer
For today's Fixed-it Friday photo, I am updating an old post from almost 10 years ago. This week I have received several questions about holding open and locking doors in schools. Could delayed action closers be a good solution?
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03, 2023
QQ: Locked Stairwell Doors
Several people have asked the same Quick Question this week: Is it permissible by code for stairwell doors in schools to be locked during a lockdown? The answer is in today's post.
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03, 2023
Safe and Sound Schools: Supporting Schools and Communities
The mission of Safe and Sound Schools is to support school crisis prevention, response, and recovery, and to protect every school and every student, every day. Download their free toolkits linked in today's post.
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03, 2023
PASS Guidelines Version 6 Now Available
The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) has published the 6th edition of their Safety and Security Guidelines for K-12 Schools. These guidelines include a comprehensive list of best practices, and can be downloaded for free from the PASS website.
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03, 2023
Allegion 101: Control the Door – LCN
The Allegion 101 training series was designed for people who are new to the industry, new to the Allegion family of brands, or just want to learn more about hardware. The video in today's post addresses the basics of door closers.
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03, 2023
FF: “Proper Coordination Creating Great Design”
Credit for the post title - and for today's Fixed-it Friday photo - goes to Tyler Michieli of Alan Ford Architects. It's so rare to see doors where such careful coordination is apparent...maybe the whole point is for us not to notice the doors at all.
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03, 2023
1982: Westchase Hilton Hotel Fire
As I have said many times before, we have a responsibility to learn from past fires and other tragedies where door openings played a role. This month is the anniversary of a fire at the Westchase Hilton Hotel in Houston, Texas, where 12 people lost their lives.
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03, 2023
WW: Limbo Lower Now
These Wordless Wednesday photos show a restaurant's patio exit...a great reminder that when we're specifying and selecting doors and hardware we need to try to anticipate how the openings will be used in the future.
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03, 2023
Decoded: Current Requirements of the I-Codes for Classroom Door Locks
As I mentioned last month, my Decoded column has a new question-and-answer format. This month's question: "How do the changes made to the 2018 and 2021 I-Codes affect the requirements for locks installed on classroom doors?"
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03, 2023
STANLEY Access to Know-How: Sensor Monitoring
Yesterday, March 19th was National Automatic Door Day! To commemorate this annual observance, the video in today's post addresses a change that I've received some questions about lately...the ANSI/BHMA requirements for monitored safety sensors.
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03, 2023
FF: WWYD?
I received these Fixed-it Friday photos from Steve Quinn of The Flying Locksmiths. This panic hardware is installed on some service doors in a mall, and clearly they have seen a lot of cart traffic and the resulting damage. WWYD?
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03, 2023
Allegion 101: Secure the Door – Von Duprin
The Allegion 101 training series was designed for people who are new to the industry, new to the Allegion family of brands, or just want to learn more about hardware. The video in today's post addresses the basics of panic hardware.
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03, 2023
WW: Fire Door
I'm going to put this Wordless Wednesday photo from Lee Frazier of Allegion in my special collection of photos to look at when I need a good cry. It was taken in a university. :(
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03, 2023
Back-2-Basics: Panic Hardware
Here's an updated version of an in-depth summary of the code requirements and selection criteria for panic hardware. Feel free to share it with anyone who needs to get back-2-basics on panic hardware and fire exit hardware.
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03, 2023
QQ: Accessibility for Pairs or Banks of Doors
This is a great Quick Question, and I got some help from the US Access Board with the answer: When there is a pair of doors or a bank of doors, do ALL leaves have to meet the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)?
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03, 2023
FF: Dogging Alternative
This Fixed-it Friday photo leaves me with some questions because it doesn't look like a location that would typically require a fire door, BUT - the wired glass (and the creative dogging method) kind of hints at a possible fire rating. What do you think? Any theories?
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03, 2023
Allegion 101: Secure the Door – Intro to Schlage Cylinders, Keys, and Key Systems
The Allegion 101 training series was designed for people who are new to the industry, new to the Allegion family of brands, or just want to learn more about hardware. The video in today's post is an introduction to Schlage cylinders, keys, and key systems.
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03, 2023
IFSJ: Women in Fire Sciences and Fire Safety Engineering
On International Women's Day 2023, I am so honored and grateful to be included in an article published in International Fire and Safety Journal (IFSJ), highlighting seven women working in the fire sciences and fire safety engineering fields.
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03, 2023
WWYD? Painted Fire Door Assembly Labels
Unless specifically exempt from the labeling requirements, each component of a fire door assembly must be labeled to show that it is acceptable for that purpose. Is the fire door label in this photo compliant with NFPA 80? WWYD?
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03, 2023
QQ: Fire Alarm Release of Electrified Locks
I have written about this topic from various angles, but this Quick Question keeps coming up: Is it code-compliant to have an electrified lock that is normally locked on the egress side, if it unlocks automatically upon fire alarm activation?