Fire Door Assemblies: Top 10 Deficiencies
According to the Door Security & Safety Foundation, the 10 most commonly observed deficiencies found on swinging fire doors with builders hardware are:
1. Painted or missing fire door labels
2. Poor clearance dimensions around the perimeter of the door in the closed position
3. Kick down door holders
4. Auxiliary hardware items that interfere with the intended function of the door (barrel bolts and dead bolts, etc.)
5. Fire doors blocked to stay in the open position
6. Area surrounding the fire door assembly blocked by furniture, equipment and/or boxes
7. Broken, defective or missing hardware items (latch bolts and/or strike plated, closer arms, cover plates, etc.)
8. Fire exit hardware installed on doors that are not labeled for use with fire exit hardware
9. Missing or incorrect fasteners
10. Bottom flush bolts that do not project 1/2" into the strike
For more information, contact the Door Security & Safety Foundation at telephone 703-766-7039, Web Site: www.doorsecuritysafety.org
New for 2015 at the L.A. Auto Show
For the 2015 model year, all Cadillac vehicles are keyless start. The last model, the Escalade, went keyless for the 2015 model year. Additionally, the 2015 ATS Coupe is configured to remotely start the engine using your Smartphone with the OnStar® RemoteLink mobile app.
Remaining General Motors SUV's and full sized pickups including the 2015 Tahoe, Suburban, Silverado, Sierra and Yukon models will also be available with keyless start.
Hyundai stopped short of going keyless across the models, still offering keyed ignitions on the 2015 Accent and Elantra. Honda will be offering keyless ignition on some of the Fit models. The 2015 HR-V Crossover ignition options have not been decided, according to a Honda representative at the L.A. Auto Show.
The 2015 Nissan Frontier at the show was equipped with a twist start keyless ignition lock.
The 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C was at the Los Angeles Auto Show. This mechanical ignition lock coupe uses the DE00001-DE11210 code series, which has four depths and eight spaces.
Spacing .1023" cut-to-cut
01- .098" 2- .201" 3- .303"
4- .406" 5- .508" 6- .610"
7- .713" 8- .815"
Depths .0315" increment
1- .166" 2- .135"
3- .103" 4- .072"
The two-track sidewinder lock mechanism appears to be using the Ilco SIP22EHP-SI and the Jet FT70-ETK-C3, a shoulder stop key blank.
2015 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana Update
The 2015 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana are using the 10-cut two track sidewinder key. The code series is V0001-V5716. This is the same code series as used by the full sized Sierra and Silverado pickups and the sport utility vehicles.
However, the Express and Savana key blanks are equipped with the Circle Plus (+) transponder. The full sized pickups and SUV key blanks are equipped with the Circle Plus (+) Extended transponders. The circle plus extended transponder is not backwards-compatible to the circle plus transponder.
At this time, 2015 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana key blanks are only available from HATA, HAT4898 (GM logo); Jet Hardware, B121-PHT and dealerships, Part Number 23234898 (GM logo).
Note: The Ilco key blank, B119-PT is a circle plus extended transponder and not compatible with the 2015 Express and Savana.
Lithium Batteries
The good news is that lithium batteries have a higher charge density resulting in a longer life. The bad news is as they lose power, they quickly die. For this reason it is not a good idea to use lithium batteries in a standalone access control lock as there is almost no warning between operational and non-operational power.
Mul-T-Lock Code-It
The Mul-T-Lock Code-It is an electromechanical cylindrical lock with the keypad built into the exterior lever. The lock installs into a standard 161 door prep fitting into 1-3/8" up to 3-1/8" thick doors.
Designed for indoor applications, the Code-It can be programmed with four to six digit user codes. Up to nine user codes can be programmed.
The Code-It has two operating modes. The automatic locking mode locks the door just by closing. The manual mode locks the door with a press of the inside levers' button.
It is powered by two CR2 3V lithium batteries. A pair of batteries provide up to 100,000 entries.
For more information, contact your local locksmith distributor or Mul-T-Lock at www.mul-t-lockusa.com.
End of The Mitsubishi Mirage
The Mitsubishi Mirage ended production at the end of the 2015 model year. From 1993 through 2015, the Mitsubishi Mirage key code series is 30010-32009.
The spaces and depths are:
Spaces
Shoulder stop key cut-to-cut: .083"
01: .098" 02: .181" 03: .264"
04:.346" 05: .429" 06: .512"
07: .594" 08- .677"
Depths
Depths Increment: 0157"
01: 312" 02:.295" 03: .280"
04: .264" 05: .248"
The transponder based key blank numbers for the 2014-2015 Mirage models are:
- HATA: HAT-1364 (3 button remote)
- JMA: TP12MIT-8D.P
- Keyline:MT8SU-TK100 (clone)
- Ilco: MIT17A-PT
- Ilco: EK3P-MIT17 (Clone)
- Test Key: X224/MIT3
Changes Ahead?
When pushing or pulling open a hinged door or gate, the ADA limits the opening force to five (5) pounds maximum for non-fire rated doors. The five pound limit only applies to opening the door; it does not apply to the force required to retract or disengage the latching mechanism that secures the door or gate in the closed position. States are now beginning to consider the amount of force required to release the latching mechanism no matter the lock. California Building Code (CBC) enhancements for 2014 established a five-pound maximum force for operating the latching mechanism for schools K-12 specifically.
This limitation does not take into consideration existing standards with higher force allowances.
However, for locksmiths in the State of California, you may want to consider CBC 2013 Sec. 11B-309.4.
UL 294 Standard, 6th Edition
The 6th Edition of the UL 294 standard for access control units is a major update to the Certification Standard. The Standard requires engineering design changes to power supplies. The effective date of UL 294 6th edition is December 2, 2015.
Warranties Extended
Keyline USA has increased the warranty, up to 24 months, for free on the Electronic and Mechanical Key Cutting Machines and the 884 Decryptor Ultegra.
For more information, contact Keyline USA at Web Site: www.keyline-usa.com
Car-Opening Techniques: 2006-2014 Mazda MX5 Miata
This month we will offer car-opening tool manufacturer's recommended techniques for opening the 2006-2014 Mazda MX5 Miata. This two-door convertible sports car is equipped with bicycle-style cable inside the door. Probing within the door cavities will not unlock the locking mechanism.
Important: When attacking the inside door release handle or the lock/unlock buttons, cover the tool's tip with electrical tape to prevent marring. It is also a good idea to using some diluted dish soap to prevent damage to the weather stripping.
Use the following methods to unlock the 2006-2014 Mazda MX5 Miata:
Use the High Tech Tools Flexible Long Reach Tool 78SG to unlock the passenger door locking mechanism. Insert a wedge between the glass and the convertible top. Insert the glass wedge above the wedge. Insert the 78SG tool through the opening along the upper rear edge of the window glass. Slide the tool into the passenger compartment and hook the passenger door lock-unlock rocker. Carefully pull back on the tool to unlock the door locking mechanism. Open the door.
Use the Pro-Lok AO-42 “Long Reach Tool,” the AO42SL Tool Sleeve, a wedge and an inflatable wedge to unlock the passenger door locking mechanism. Begin by inserting the wedge 5 inches beneath the top of the rear edge of the glass. Inflate the wedge. Insert the AO42SL Sleeve at the top edge of the glass to protect it. Insert the "L" end of the AO-42 car-opening tool through the sleeve into the passenger compartment with the tip facing down. Reach the tool 26 inches into the passenger compartment until the tip of the tool contacts the manual lock-unlock rocker on the passenger’s door arm rest. Rotate the tip of the tool to the 3 o'clock position. Pull on the car-opening tool to flip the rocker backwards, unlocking the door locking mechanism. Open the door.
Use the Slide Lock Frameless Window Tool™ or the Dual Reach Tool and a wedge to unlock the passenger door locking mechanism. Insert the wedge a few inches below the top rear corner along the rear edge of the front passenger door window. Insert the Frameless Window Tool between the wedge and the top rear corner of the front door frame. Slide the tool into the passenger compartment, down along the glass finally reaching the inside door handle. Manipulate the tool until the tip is wrapped around the inside door handle. Carefully pull on the tool to unlock the door locking mechanism and open the door.
Use the Steck Manufacturing BigEasy “Glo” and a wedge to unlock the passenger door locking mechanism. Begin by inserting the wedge or inflatable wedge into the top corner of the door. Once the door has been wedged out, insert the BigEasy tool into the passenger compartment. Manipulate the tool to position the 90-degree bend tip against the lock-unlock rocker. Lever the tool over the inside manual door lock-unlock rocker. Carefully pull back on the inside manual door lock-unlock rocker to unlock the locking mechanism in order to open the door.
Use the Tech-Train Productions TT-1025 car-opening tool and two wedges to unlock the passenger door locking mechanism. Insert the two wedges near the inside door handle, 8 inches apart leaving sufficient room to insert the car-opening tool. Carefully insert the TT-1025 tool into the opening created by the wedges with the upper bend towards the front of the vehicle. Lower the tool until the upper bend is beneath the base of the window glass. Rotate the tool counterclockwise slightly until the bend is on the inside of the glass. Carefully raise the TT-1025 until you can just see the bend within the weather stripping. Stop immediately and remove the wedges. Failure to remove the wedges before raising the car-opening tool into the passenger compartment can result in a broken window.
Carefully raise the TT-1025 until the tip is within the passenger compartment. Manipulate the tool until the tip is against the inside lock control rocker. Use the tip of the tool to unlock the locking mechanism. Open the door.
The direction to rotate the door lock plug to the unlocked position is clockwise.
For more information, contact your local locksmith distributor or following car-opening tool manufacturers:
Access Tools (High Tech): Telephone 800-323-8324 Website: www. AccessToolsUSA.com
Pro-Lok: Telephone: 714-633-0681. Website: www.pro-lok.com
Slide Lock Tool Co. Inc.: Telephone: 800-336-8812 . Website: www.z-tool.com
Steck Manufacturing, 800-227-8325 Web site, www.steckmfg.com
Lockmasters Inc. (Tech-Train): Telephone 800-654-0637 Website: www.lockmasters.com
We are interested in printing opening methods from other car opening tool manufacturers. Contact Jerry Levine, Telephone: 818-700-0640. E-mail: [email protected].
