Practical Advice Regarding Glass Exit Doors and Thumbturns

Sometimes, I receive a call from a customer who wants to have an additional swing-bolt lock installed on the front door of their business.  Of course, there is always a lighted exit sign above the door which identifies this door as an emergency exit.

You cannot put two locks on a door that is designated as an emergency exit.  Why?  Because, in the event of an emergency, the emergency exit door must be able to be opened with one motion.  If there are two locks on the door, an person leaving the building will have to use two motions to leave the building.  This, as you can see, could be problematic.  Imagine, for example, that a disgruntled employee starts shooting after closing time.  Having to unlock two locks could mean the difference between life or death for a person trying to escape such a situation.  Imagine that a door does have two locks and that one is unlocked and the other locked.  In an emergency situation, a person trying to leave the building will unlock the locked lock and lock the other.

You must have thumb turn on the inside of your door if the door is a glass door using the Adams-Rite deadbolt.  In the event of an emergency, the person leaving the building can unlock the door in one motion.  However, the thumb turn is not intended to be used in banks, for the reason that bank robbers can conveniently lock the doors behind them.  Also, it seems to me, a person who runs a business alone should be exempt from the thumb turn requirement.  It could happen that a person wanting to commit a crime could easily enter, lock the door behind him, and proceed with his crime.

Although codes exist for good reasons, it is simply absurd for the local governing authorities to uphold codes if there are valid reasons why a code should, and must be, ignored.  In the event you have question on one of these issues, call your governing authority (perhaps your local fire marshal), tell him about your concerns, and ask him or her to waive the rule.  But, if he or she rules in your favor, be sure to get it in writing.

Thumb Turn In Commercial Glass Door Will Not Turn

Notice the photo on the left. This is a thumb turn made by U.S. Lock. Notice also that you can see holes on the top. Also imagine that dirt dobbers make nests in your hollow aluminum door and that, as the door is used, debris falls into the holes and jams the lock. Be sure to always ask for a thumb turn that has a cap on the cylinder holes. Sometimes, however, the thumb turn quits and dirt dobbers are not the problem. If your thumb turn is hard to turn, and you feel a grind, you can do these things. (Also note it is threaded and has a set screw channel.)

1. Look at the thumb turn on the inside of the door. Spray WD-40 around the actual thumb piece so the oil will penetrate into the thumb turn. Be sure to have a paper towel ready. (If you feel grit, read below, unscrew the turn all of the way out and flush it with WD-40.)
2. If the thumb turn still grinds, loosen the three screws holding on the lock plate on the edge of the door. Now, where you see the thumb turn, imagine it as if it were a clock. At 9 o'clock, or 6 o'clock, on the edge of the door where you see the lock body, you will see a small, countersunk set screw. Unloosen it two or three turns only. Make sure the thumb turn is in the open position. That means, when you turn the thumb turn, you will feel it grab slightly with a spring and ball bearing. This holds the turn in open position. The turn itself will be pointing to 6 and 12 o'clock. If you do not feel the bearing, then turn the thumb turn 180 degrees, or just reverse it. (The lock cannot be removed if it is not in open because a lock cam is trying to activate the lock and hangs down into the lock, barring any attempt to remove it.)
3. With the set screw loosened, grab the outer body of the thumb turn and turn it counter clockwise, unloosening it, one complete turn.  If you cannot move it, simply unloosen the two lock screws on the edge of the door that hold the bolt in. Tighten the set screw, tighten the lock screws, test the thumb turn. If this doesn't work, go to a better hardware store and buy a new turn. Locksmith's buy these for $6.00 and install them for $75 to $125.