Unequal Pair of Doors with Fixed Leaf

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Author Message John Hunter Senior Member Username: johnhunter Post Number: 148 Registered: 12-2005 Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 - 04:44 pm:    We have a project where the team wants to have what is best described as an unequal leaf pair of doors - one leaf at 3'-0" and the other at 1'-8". The 1'-8" leaf is to be fixed at the strike side of the 3'-0" leaf. I believe that I've seen this in the past, but cannot for the life of me remember the technical term. That said, the assembly will go into a standard interior aluminum frame, so it's my inclination to fit the "fixed" leaf with pivots & manual flush bolts top and bottom to keep the hardware as unobtrusive as possible. Appreciate any thoughts and wisdom anyone has to share. Ronald L. Geren, FCSI, AIA, CCS, CCCA, SCIP Senior Member Username: specman Post Number: 1452 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 - 04:59 pm:    I think they're called a "leaf and a half" Ron Geren, FCSI, AIA, CCS, CCCA, SCIP www.specsandcodes.com Brian Payne, AIA Senior Member Username: brian_payne Post Number: 85 Registered: 01-2014 Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 - 05:02 pm:    They are also sometimes called Hospital Doors. George A. Everding, FCSI, CCS, CCCA, AIA Senior Member Username: geverding Post Number: 855 Registered: 11-2004 Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 - 05:14 pm:    Unequal pairs pose several problems in the hardware world, and I'm out of the biz too long to be the expert here. Try Lori Greene. Here's one article on her website: http://idighardware.com/2010/12/unequal-pairs/ (and by the way, she links to Ron Geren in the article) Search "unequal pair" and you'll find other posts on Lori's site. The crux of the problem is using manual flush bolts, the logical solution for the fixed leaf but possibly no longer code compliant. If I remember correctly, there are limited places code allowed manual flush bolts after 2009, but perhaps that has changed in subsequent editions. Another issue was in a means of egress, especially with panic hardware. The tendency was to want to put the panic on the active leaf, and nothing on the fixed leaf, but that too was against code. Lori and (apparently Ron too) are the experts on this. Let us know what you find out. J. Peter Jordan Senior Member Username: jpjordan Post Number: 968 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 - 05:15 pm:    This is not uncommon where a wider opening is occasionally required. I would verify code requirements regarding flush bolts. It is my understanding that these are no longer legal in most instances. J. Peter Jordan, FCSI, AIA, CCS, LEED AP, SCIP Ronald L. Geren, FCSI, AIA, CCS, CCCA, SCIP Senior Member Username: specman Post Number: 1453 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 - 05:44 pm:    Flush bolts are okay for the inactive half-leaf. Corridors are sometimes wider than necessary for egress purposes. Any doors across or leading into these corridors may only need to be single-leaf doors for egress purposes. However, it may be convenient to have openings that allow the maximum use of the corridor width. We've used them in dorms to allow moving of furnishings, boxes, etc. during move-in/move-out days. Ron Geren, FCSI, AIA, CCS, CCCA, SCIP www.specsandcodes.com George A. Everding, FCSI, CCS, CCCA, AIA Senior Member Username: geverding Post Number: 856 Registered: 11-2004 Posted on Tuesday, June 13, 2017 - 05:55 pm:    Thanks Ron. And typically that leaf is plain - a flush leaf with no hardware other than the hinges and the bolts. No pulls, pushes, dummy knobs, glass lights, etc. The idea is to avoid any appearance that the inactive leaf is active in an emergency. (I've been told that college students are sometimes less than fully alert, but this is possibly an urban legend) John Hunter Senior Member Username: johnhunter Post Number: 149 Registered: 12-2005 Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 - 09:36 am:    Thanks to all. These openings are typically into offices or small conference rooms - never on an egress path. The 3'-0" leaf is adequate for access/ egress and the inactive leaf won't have any hardware other than the hinges & flush bolts. If The inactive leaf could be permanetly fixed if I could figure out how to fasten it invisibly, which I suppose would make it an extremely inactive leaf. Ronald J. Ray, RA, CCS, CCCA, CSI, AIA Senior Member Username: rjray Post Number: 153 Registered: 04-2004 Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 - 09:45 am:    These types of openings are also common on laboratories. Common hardware for the inactive leaf is hinges, self-latching flush bolts, and silencers or smoke gaskets. Ronald L. Geren, FCSI, AIA, CCS, CCCA, SCIP Senior Member Username: specman Post Number: 1454 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 - 10:14 am:    John: If the door is an entrance into an office or conference room, then it's always on an egress path. Egress paths start in every room and end at the public way. Ron Geren, FCSI, AIA, CCS, CCCA, SCIP www.specsandcodes.com ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 1078 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 - 10:19 am:    Ron, even if it's on an egress path, if the size of the opening of the single leaf meets Code egress requirements can't you still have an inactive leaf as long as there is no visible hardware on it? Ronald L. Geren, FCSI, AIA, CCS, CCCA, SCIP Senior Member Username: specman Post Number: 1455 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 - 10:42 am:    Ken, yes you can, provided the active leaf provides the minimum width required for egress. I was just pointing out that nearly every door in a building is an egress door. Ron Geren, FCSI, AIA, CCS, CCCA, SCIP www.specsandcodes.com ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 1079 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 - 10:58 am:    You do know that you sound like a spec writer when you do that. Ronald L. Geren, FCSI, AIA, CCS, CCCA, SCIP Senior Member Username: specman Post Number: 1456 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 - 11:20 am:    More like a code consultant than a specifier. Ron Geren, FCSI, AIA, CCS, CCCA, SCIP www.specsandcodes.com J. Peter Jordan Senior Member Username: jpjordan Post Number: 969 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 - 11:24 am:    Whether or not you can have a truly inactive leaf will depend on the interpretation of your local code officials (including the fire marshal). If it looks like a door (hinges, dummy lockset, etc.) and doesn't operate, it may not be allowed along the path of egress. J. Peter Jordan, FCSI, AIA, CCS, LEED AP, SCIP Ronald L. Geren, FCSI, AIA, CCS, CCCA, SCIP Senior Member Username: specman Post Number: 1457 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 - 12:21 pm:    Section 1010.1.1 (2015 IBC) provides the only direction in regard to multiple leaf doorways with no mullions: "...Where this section requires a minimum clear width of 32 inches (813 mm) and a door opening includes two door leaves without a mullion, one leaf shall provide a clear opening width of 32 inches (813 mm)..." Section 1010.1.9.4 (2015 IBC), Exceptions 3, 4, and 5, state what is permitted on an inactive leaf of a door. The code allows bolt locks, but does not permit doorknobs, panic hardware, or other similar operating hardware. Ron Geren, FCSI, AIA, CCS, CCCA, SCIP www.specsandcodes.com