Back-2-Basics: Panic Hardware

15 10, 2013

Back-2-Basics: Panic Hardware

By |2014-04-26T19:35:07-04:00October 15th, 2013|Back-2-Basics|16 Comments

Panic hardware, also known as an exit device (or fire exit hardware when used on fire doors), is designed to provide fast and easy egress to allow building occupants to exit safely in an emergency.  Code publications define panic hardware as, "a door-latching assembly incorporating a device that releases the latch upon the application of a force in the direction of egress travel.”  Panic hardware may also be used because of durability or ease of use, even when it is not required by code.

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11 10, 2013

FF: More Velcro

By |2013-10-16T10:37:45-04:00October 11th, 2013|Fire Doors, Fixed-it Friday|14 Comments

People always tell me how much they love Wordless Wednesday - the day I post photos that leave me wordless (speechless).  I think the steady stream of creative applications I'm receiving would support a Friday series to help ease us into the weekends.  I need some help with a catchy name for this category of posts (that doesn't contain any inappropriate language).  So think about a name that goes with "Friday", and conjures up visions of creative, although sometimes misguided "solutions".  If I use your idea, there's a $25 Amazon gift certificate with your name on it.  Freaky Friday?  Friday Funnies?  Help?!

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4 10, 2013

School Locks Doors from the Inside

By |2013-10-04T13:55:53-04:00October 4th, 2013|Means of Egress, News|5 Comments

Sometimes it's hard to believe that this continues to happen, but I love to hear about people pushing for code-compliance and protection of building occupants.  Sadly, I'm sure the locks were present for a long time before someone noticed or said something, but the good news is that they were removed before tragedy struck.

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3 10, 2013

Opportunities!

By |2013-10-29T13:31:36-04:00October 3rd, 2013|General Info|10 Comments

It's hard to believe, but this week was my 19th anniversary with Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies.  I started out with the independent manufacturers' rep, MPS Sales, representing several of the IR product lines, and in 2001 we all joined the company as direct employees.

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2 10, 2013

WW: Velcro Dogging

By |2013-10-11T09:31:24-04:00October 2nd, 2013|Panic Hardware, Wordless Wednesday|13 Comments

In a brand-spanking-new huge and beautiful convention center, these attracted a lot of attention and MANY people mentioned them to me last week.  The panics have hex-key dogging, so I have no idea why they've resorted to wide-scale use of velcro.  Speaking of dogging...last night I went to an evening meeting at a school, and the teacher used her key to let us in the main exterior door.  Once inside, she turned to face the door opening and said, "Ok - there's a trick...where is it?"  Then she spied the small end of an allen wrench sticking out of a hole in the frame about 6 feet up, pulled it out, dogged the panic, and stuck the wrench back in the hole.  Very high-tech.  The funny thing is...the other leaf of the pair has an electric latch retraction device; all they need is a switch at the door to dog it.

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26 09, 2013

The Parthenon – Nashville, Tennessee

By |2017-10-12T20:30:52-04:00September 26th, 2013|Beautiful Doors, Road Trips|5 Comments

A few years ago I posted some reader photos and information about the replica of the Parthenon, in Nashville.  Since I'm here this week for CONSTRUCT, I went over early this morning to see it for myself.  I have one more day at CONSTRUCT, starting with the Bloggers' Panel in room 205C of the Music City Center.  Come on over if you have any questions for the panel of bloggers - Dave Stutzman (SpecWords), Elizabeth O'Sullivan (Comments from a Specwriter), Charles Hendricks (Design Matters), Eric Lussier (Eric D. Lussier), and me!

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25 09, 2013

Public Library – Nashville, Tennessee

By |2013-09-29T19:10:00-04:00September 25th, 2013|Beautiful Doors, Means of Egress, Road Trips|5 Comments

I'm in Nashville this week for the CONSTRUCT show, and I've been scoping out some of the beautiful doors in town. My 1 vs. 100 Fire/Life-Safety class went well today...nobody fell asleep or faked an injury so they could leave early. Tomorrow I have 1 vs. 100 Electrified Hardware at 2:45, so if you're here at CONSTRUCT, head over to the Learning Pavilion. I decided today that the only thing worse than speaking to a large crowd is speaking to nobody, but luckily I had a pretty full class. Tomorrow will be the same "game show" format but with a different topic, so come back if you attended today! On Friday morning at 9:30 (room 205C), I'm participating in the CONSTRUCT Bloggers Panel, so if you've ever thought about starting a blog, have any questions about blogging, or just want to meet some bloggers, come on down!

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22 09, 2013

Back-2-Basics: Lock Functions

By |2013-09-29T19:10:24-04:00September 22nd, 2013|Back-2-Basics, Locks & Keys|17 Comments

When a hardware consultant writes a specification, it’s common practice to sit down and discuss the project with the architect, at least for the more complicated jobs.  The topic of lock functions seems to arise at almost all of those meetings – usually someone in the room needs a refresher on how the basic functions work.  In fact, when I was teaching our specwriter apprentices a few weeks ago I said, “Don’t ask the architect if he or she wants a storeroom function lock, ask if the door should always require a key to enter.”  A manufacturer’s catalog may show 50 different lock functions (or more!) and it’s difficult or impossible to remember how each function works.

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18 09, 2013

WW: Push-Pull-Panic

By |2013-09-29T19:11:32-04:00September 18th, 2013|Means of Egress, Panic Hardware, Wordless Wednesday|9 Comments

Cory Yamaguchi of Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies sent me this photo of an egress door he saw on an outing to the local dairy farm with his family.  I'm picturing a farm that hosts lots of visitors, not the type where the cow:human ratio is 100:1.  In addition to the creative application of pull handles, there are loops up at the top (one looks like it's missing) if they need a little extra security.  If you're just tuning in, this is not code-compliant.

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13 09, 2013

Codes are a Minimum

By |2013-09-29T19:11:48-04:00September 13th, 2013|Accessibility|2 Comments

When we apply the building codes and accessibility standards, it's important to remember that codes establish the minimum acceptable level of safety / accessibility.  The video below is a candid illustration of a door that is code-compliant, but still doesn't provide access for all (if you have trouble with the embedded video, click here to go to the article and video on KOIN.com).

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12 09, 2013

CONSTRUCT: Help me decide!

By |2013-09-12T01:57:13-04:00September 12th, 2013|General Info|5 Comments

On September 24th I'll be heading down to Nashville for the CONSTRUCT show, and I need some help with a decision!  We had planned to offer 2 different classes Wednesday and Thursday of that week, but the schedule was printed with the same topic (codes!) for both sessions.  So help me decide...would you prefer 2 code classes as the schedule shows, or should we stick with 1 on codes, 1 on access control and advertise the schedule change on-site?

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6 09, 2013

Reader Photos

By |2016-07-25T18:02:56-04:00September 6th, 2013|Beautiful Doors, Door Closers, FDAI, Fire Doors, Hinges & Pivots, Locks & Keys, Means of Egress, Panic Hardware, Reader Photos|9 Comments

Thank you to everyone who has sent me photos of doors they've seen in their travels (or while laying on the couch).  Kelly Chimilar from Allmar Inc. noticed these doors with an obvious egress problem while watching Thursday Night Football.  If you don't know what the problem is, I will hold a special online study session for you after work tonight.  ;)

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2 09, 2013

Changes to A156.19 – 2013

By |2013-09-29T19:13:40-04:00September 2nd, 2013|Accessibility, Automatic Operators|4 Comments

A couple of months ago I wrote an article for Doors & Hardware, which appears in the September issue.  As always, I triple-checked my sources, and confirmed that 2007 was the most current edition of A156.19 - American National Standard For Power Assist and Low Energy Power Operated Doors.  Well, today a notification regarding the brand new 2013 edition showed up in my inbox!  Luckily, there are not a lot of changes that would impact the article.

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30 08, 2013

Hursley House – Hampshire, England

By |2013-09-01T09:02:14-04:00August 30th, 2013|Beautiful Doors, Locks & Keys, Road Trips|0 Comments

Twelve years ago I was new to the town where I currently live, and I knew almost nobody.  It was hard to meet people back then - I had no kids and my husband and I both worked in other towns.  My family and a bunch of my friends were still back in Vermont, where I started my career with a door and hardware distributor.  My coworkers at Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies (yes, I have worked at IR for almost 19 years!!) were wonderful, but they were busy with their families (I used to babysit their kids and take care of their pets).  I remember signing up for classes just to try to find some friends - cooking, roller blading, line dancing...you name it.  Are you getting the picture?  I was desperate to connect with someone I had something in common with.

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28 08, 2013

WW: No power? No problem!

By |2013-09-01T09:02:43-04:00August 28th, 2013|Electrified Hardware, Fire Doors, Wordless Wednesday|1 Comment

When I'm teaching about the code-compliant ways to hold open a fire door, I always say that my preference is to use a wall-mounted magnetic holder because there are no moving parts, and not much can go wrong if it's installed correctly.  But if there's no power to the magnetic holder, it won't hold the door open.  And if the door won't stay open, someone will always come along with a creative solution.

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26 08, 2013

Casa del Mayorazgo de Canal – San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

By |2013-09-01T09:03:06-04:00August 26th, 2013|Beautiful Doors|7 Comments

The most ornate pair of doors that I saw in San Miguel was the entrance to la Casa del Mayorazgo de Canal.  The historic home was once owned by the de la Canal family, one of the richest families in New Spain.  This building is now occupied by a bank, as well as la Casa de Cultura de Banamex (Banamex Cultural Center) which houses a collection of historic paintings and hosts special art exhibitions.

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19 08, 2013

The Ballad of Carl Prinzler

By |2017-02-15T21:29:09-05:00August 19th, 2013|Panic Hardware|7 Comments

Do you know who Carl Prinzler was?  Does the name ring a bell?  Carl worked in the door hardware industry back in the early 20th century, and was instrumental in developing the first exit device along with his employer, Vonnegut Hardware Company and his neighbor, Henry DuPont.  Recently Peter Wilson of Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies came across a poem by Misha Burnett called The Ballad of Carl Prinzler, and sent me the link.  I couldn't imagine who (besides me) would write a poem about Carl Prinzler, so I emailed Misha.  He is a university locksmith and while taking a poetry class he also attended a Von Duprin training class and learned about the invention of the first panic hardware after the tragic fire at the Iroquois Theater, which inspired him to write the Ballad of Carl Prinzler.

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15 08, 2013

La Parroquia de San Miguel Arcangel

By |2013-09-01T09:04:31-04:00August 15th, 2013|Beautiful Doors, Road Trips|2 Comments

For some of you, this story will confirm my nerdiness.  I'm ok with that.  My trip to San Miguel de Allende is almost over - we're flying home on Saturday.  I have hundreds of door photos to sort through, and I will post some in the coming weeks.  But there was one pair of doors that I had not been able to photograph properly - the doors of La Parroquia, the beautiful church on the south side of el Jardin, which is the garden at the heart of San Miguel.  I have visited the church MANY times during my stay, at all times of the day and night, hoping to find the doors closed.  I've asked several people what time the doors open in the morning, but so far, no luck.  I couldn't go home without photographing the doors of the unofficial symbol of SMA, right?

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2 08, 2013

Impact of Citizen Involvement

By |2017-09-29T13:37:42-04:00August 2nd, 2013|FDAI, Fire Doors, News|0 Comments

I love it when people take action to rectify a code issue - especially when it's a door problem.  Two articles landed on my desk in the last few days about just that - citizens who saw a deficiency and didn't let it drop until it got some attention.  Both stories are from the UK and both involve high-rise apartment buildings - maybe Theodore Firedoor is helping to educate people about code-compliant fire doors. 

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25 07, 2013

LCN Closers in the News!

By |2013-07-25T02:14:56-04:00July 25th, 2013|Door Closers|5 Comments

At the risk of sounding like a hardware nerd, I'll admit that I think door closers are really cool.  Most of the people walking around in the world don't give them a second thought.  But on Monday, July 29th, between 9:35 and 9:45 pm EDT, LCN Closers will be profiled on The Fox Business Network in the "Manufacturing Marvels" series.  The two-minute profile will spotlight the LCN brand, its products and its commitment to quality, and hopefully make more people aware of what an important purpose door closers serve.

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12 07, 2013

WWYD? – Folding Partition Closet

By |2013-07-29T14:38:46-04:00July 12th, 2013|Sliding and Folding Doors, WWYD?|4 Comments

I have specified hardware for this application several times in the past, but when it came up again today I thought it would be a good opportunity to get some feedback from all of you and come up with the best way to handle this type of opening.  It's a storage closet for a large folding partition to divide a room.  When the folding partition is stored in the closet, both leaves of the door are in the same plane to fill the opening.  When the folding partition is out of storage and dividing the room, it still extends into the closet so the small leaf of the pair folds back against the larger leaf, to leave space for the folding partition.

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