Alert: Clear Opening Height Conflict
When you have a project with 6'-8" doors, it's important to think about the clear opening height and the hardware that projects down from the frame head.
5
03, 2019
4
03, 2019
Locksmith Ledger: Electromagnetic Locks – 7 Applications and the Codes That Apply
How do you choose which code section to use?
1
03, 2019
FF: Corn Cob Core
Bill Cushman of Genesis Door and Hardware sent me this link to a door with an unusual core...I was Wordless even though it's Fixed-it Friday!
28
02, 2019
WWYD? Arched Brick Opening
The fire marshal wants these stairwell doors to close more reliably than they do with the original system. Note the arched brick "frames" and the swing-clear strap hinges (cool, right??). WWYD?
27
02, 2019
WW: Ladder Lock
Sometimes when Wordless Wednesday rolls around, I really am Wordless. Today is one of those Wordless Wednesdays.
26
02, 2019
Guy Grace on Classroom Barricade Devices
Guy Grace is the Director of Security & Emergency Planning for Littleton, Colorado - the school district where Columbine High School is located. Here is his stance on classroom barricade devices.
25
02, 2019
QQ: Hinges for Fire Door Assemblies
Quick Question: Are steel, ball-bearing, butt hinges for fire door assemblies required to be UL listed?
22
02, 2019
FF: Mama Mia
I saw this last night at a local hang-out called Mama Mia, and I thought of y'all. Happy Fixed-it Friday!
21
02, 2019
Decoded: Signage for Automatic Doors
My next article for Door Security + Safety Magazine addresses the signage required for automatic doors. It will appear in the April edition.
20
02, 2019
WW: Rocky Mountain Mercantile
The horizontal bars on this "emergency exit" are padlocked to hasps welded to the door - likely to prevent theft - AND EGRESS!
19
02, 2019
Do you sleep with the door closed? Your life could depend on it.
As long as there are still people who haven't heard this message, I'm going to keep sharing it.
18
02, 2019
WWYD? Deadbolt + Mag-Lock
Is it code-compliant to add a deadbolt to a door with a mag-lock, that can be used to lock the door during a power failure?
15
02, 2019
FF: Double-Sponge Door Stop
Yes, you are looking at two kitchen sponges wrapped in a washcloth. Whatever works - Happy Fixed-it Friday!
14
02, 2019
MSD Public Safety Commission Report
We must continue to learn from this research, to help avoid or reduce the effects of future active-shooter incidents. Please invest some time today, in memory of the MSDHS victims.
12
02, 2019
My Appreciation
I will get back on track with doors and hardware tomorrow, but today I want to give thanks. First, a little story that might initially sound strange, but does have a point...
10
02, 2019
My Apologies
It may be a few days until I publish a new post...I appreciate your patience.
8
02, 2019
FF: Electric Strike Mismatch
This one is a real head-scratcher. How did this happen, AND what's the card reader for? #hardwaremysteries
7
02, 2019
Lead-Lined Closer Covers
What do you know about lead-lined doors, frame, and hardware? Here's one little tidbit, but I'd appreciate it if you would share your insight!
6
02, 2019
WW: Wordless
I have spent two days trying to figure out what to write in this post. I'm still thinking.
5
02, 2019
Maintained vs. Momentary Switches
Maintained and momentary switches are both used with electrified hardware - do you know when to specify or install each type?
4
02, 2019
QQ: Extended Latch Guards
A follow-up to an earlier post...Can extended latch guards be installed to bring doors with surface vertical rods into compliance with the accessibility standards?
1
02, 2019
FF: Southeast Asia Airport
A knob, lever, AND a mag-lock? And what's with the stainless plates? Are they covering old vision lights or do you think they were "original equipment"?
31
01, 2019
WWYD? NFPA 80/105 Updates
It's almost time to submit change proposals for NFPA 80 and NFPA 105 - tell me what's on your wish list and I'll see what I can do to help!
30
01, 2019
WW: Take a Closer Look
Sometimes door problems are not evident until you take a closer look. I wonder how many people have walked past these doors and never noticed...
29
01, 2019
QQ: Monitored or Recorded Egress
Quick Question: Is it code-compliant for a card reader on the egress side of the door to be used to monitor who uses the door?
28
01, 2019
Enforcement of 5-Pound Operable Force Limit
Heads up - the 5-pound force limit on operable hardware is something everyone should be aware of long before the final inspection by the AHJ.
25
01, 2019
FF: Rim Strike
There is actually a strike designed for this purpose, but without job-site creativity I wouldn't have any posts for Fixed-it Friday.
24
01, 2019
Michele Gay on Classroom Security
This video from Michele Gay of Safe and Sound Schools is a great tool for educating parents, teachers, and school administrators about school security and safety. Share it!
23
01, 2019
WW: Delayed Egress Retrofit
Joe Fazio of Precision Doors & Hardware sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo. I don't know what to say. How about you?
22
01, 2019
NFPA 3000 Webinar – Archived Recording
One part of this webinar that got my attention was the EMS perspective on how a delay in accessing the classroom could affect the medical outcome. The archived webinar is linked in this post.
21
01, 2019
WWYD? Classroom Exit Alarm
I really need your expertise on this one...talk to me about exit alarms to deter the use of classroom doors, or to at least notify the teacher that someone has opened the door.
18
01, 2019
FF: Door Holder
Thanks to Kelly Reese of Allegion for today's Fixed-it Friday photo! Hopefully this isn't a fire door!
17
01, 2019
Decoded: Crossword Puzzle – Part 2 (March 2019)
A couple of weeks ago I posted Part 1 of my new Decoded crossword puzzle...here's Part 2! I would appreciate any feedback before the March issue of Door Security + Safety goes to print.
16
01, 2019
WW: Moose & Squirrel
Animals + automatic doors...what could be better on a Wordless Wednesday? Ok - I can think of a few things that might be better, but check these out anyway...
15
01, 2019
NFPA Journal: Mind the Gap
To bring more clarity, the Fire Protection Research Foundation has begun work on a full-scale fire test on fire doors with varying gaps between the door and frame.
14
01, 2019
DSSF – NFPA 3000 Webinar
Training alert! On January 16th the DSSF will host a webinar on NFPA 3000 - Standard for Active Shooter / Hostile Event Response (ASHER), presented by John Montes of NFPA.
11
01, 2019
FF: Restaurant Ingenuity
Sometimes when I see these creative solutions it seems like it would have been easier to use something that has already been invented, but I guess that would take all of the fun out of it.
10
01, 2019
Errata to ICC A117.1-2017
Before you get excited about the maneuvering clearance change in the 2017 edition of A117.1, check the errata document. Or maybe I'm the only one who gets excited about that stuff...
9
01, 2019
WW: Classroom Egress
Andrew Harris of Willis Klein sent me today's Wordless Wednesday photo, and it's disheartening. This is the exterior door of a middle school classroom with one or more students who have special needs.
8
01, 2019
Decoded: Crossword Puzzle – Part 1 (February 2019)
If you remember my last Decoded crossword puzzle you may find it hard to believe that I created it 4 years ago! Let's see if you've been paying attention!
7
01, 2019
Escape Room Tragedy
When we think about code-compliance, it's not just about lines on a page in a book. It's about reducing the risk of tragedies like this one.
4
01, 2019
FF: Top Jamb Closer
This is why I prefer parallel arm door closers over top jamb or regular arm.
3
01, 2019
QQ: Field Painted Panic Hardware
Can panic hardware be painted in the field without voiding the label?
2
01, 2019
WW: Fire Hose Security, Revisited
As I've said before...as a last resort anything goes, but THIS SHOULD NOT BE PLAN A! Do you agree or disagree?
24
12, 2018
Happy Holidays!
Thank you for being part of the iDigHardware community - in total, iDH readers have spent more than 12,500 hours reading the content on the website in 2018. That's amazing!
21
12, 2018
FF: Fight Your Way Out
This Fixed-it Friday photo is of an egress door serving a martial arts studio. It's a good thing the students have special skills they can use in an emergency.
20
12, 2018
Final Report of the Federal Commission on School Safety
Some thoughts about the newly-released federal report, and some of the documents that are referenced in the report...have you read it yet?
19
12, 2018
WW: What’s Wrong?
Eric Laidlaw of Jensen Hughes sent me these Wordless Wednesday photos...I'd love to hear your theories/analyses of what's going on with this opening.
18
12, 2018
Etched Labels – UL 305 / UL 10C
On numerous occasions I've gotten the call - a painter/cleaner/mischievous kid peeled the UL label off of the panic hardware or fire exit hardware.
17
12, 2018
Campus Safety Takes Stand Against Non-Code-Compliant Door Barricades
Campus Safety will no longer accept ads or sponsorships from companies whose door barricades don’t comply with ADA and NFPA codes.