First - What's more common RTE or RTX? Up till this thread I had
always seen it as RTX...
Another solution to the RTX appears to be using electrified
hardware... The university I'm at uses Sargent 80-series with a 55/56
prefix and some 10-line levers
(
http://www.sargentlock.com/products/electro/product_group.php)...
They behave exactly like a regular "panic bar" or lever handle...
Hitting the panic bar triggers the RTX and mechanically releases the
lock [i.e. if the access control system failed the door hardware would
still function] (Its quite interesting with a bank of doors to watch
all of the panic bars momentarially "suck in" when you push one down
and then pop back out.)
With a very very very few exceptions every "outside" door on campus is
card-controlled, as well all of the computer lab doors, and all is
controlled as part of the building automation system (For example:
Mon-Fri at 6:45 AM the A/C kicks on, the hallway lighting goes from
"minimal" to "full", and all of the doors automagically unlock; at
10:00 PM (earlier on some computer labs/special classrooms) the
hallway lighting goes back to minimal, the A/C is shut down, and the
doors are all automagically re-locked).
My favorite part is there is no special knowledge required: When you
want to leave, you just push on the door. No RTX button, no RTX
motion, just press the bar and walk out.
In fact, I'd be willing to bet that greater than 50% of our
faculty/staff/students don't even realize that the doors lock and
unlock themselves.
"Frank Olson" <(use the form in my sig line)
[email protected]> wrote in
message news: said:
on
it?
I'm always cautious when it comes to using motion sensors to activate an
exit door. In some situations (like a glassed in elevator lobby in a
parkade) you may not want the door to open as soon as you step off the
elevator (or come through the exit stairs). There may be "undesireable"
looking individuals hanging around and walking into that environment (or
opening the lobby door) may not be a good thing to do. In situations like
this I prefer recommending the use of a large "Push to Exit" button (that's
illuminated when the door's locked for the evening). This puts the control
of the door back into the hands of the tenant (or legitimate visitor) and
not some "brainless" piece of hardware. I can count on two fingers the
number of projects we've serviced that have PIR's controlling the exit
function and they're public Governement buildings...
Mind you, it's important you check with your local AHJ to ensure what you
are going to use meets the local building code and ordinances. In some
situations (where the potential for personal injury or attack may be a real
cause for concern) they're more than willing to give you a break. An
"equivalency letter" is not always easy to get and is provided on individual
circumstance (at least in Vancouver)..
