Today Investigates: Shady Locksmiths Preying On The Vulnerable

Today Investigates: Shady Locksmiths Preying On The Vulnerable In a lengthy segment on the Today Show, eight locksmiths were called by a producer posing as a customer who had locked herself out of her home. Before the segment, a legitimate and licensed local locksmith had installed a Kwikset deadbolt that could be picked in under a minute by a qualified locksmith. He estimated that the job should cost about $100. Four of the eight turned out to be scammers, charging excessive fees and/or damaging or destroying the deadbolt lock. Rather than picking it, they drilled it out or attacked with a crowbar. One guy even removed the entire doorknob with a wrench. Charges went as high as $600. These locksmiths were selected from Internet ads promising 24-hour emergency service. It turned out that many of them listed fake addresses and were, in fact, telephone banks dispatching unlicensed workers posing as locksmiths. The national news show also showed listing after listing of scammer locksmiths online. At the end of the segment, the Today show reporter and their legitimate locksmith suggested that consumers get the business card and phone number of a local, licensed locksmith ahead of time and program that number into their phones in case of emergency. www.gsa-x09-lkmlocksmithhawaii.com Watch the video at: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/45320607#45320607

Locksmith's are Very Dynamic!

A LOCKSMITH's TRADE & SKILLS ARE DYNAMIC! www.hawaiicommercialdoorrepair.com 808-943-1425 My Thoughts on Being a locksmith......... No one aspires to become a LOCKSMITH? It's considered a secret trade passed down to generations! Father to Son. (THEY ALSO HAVE MANY COURSES) Being a LOCKSMITH is very rewarding and to me it's one of the most interesting things anyone can do. People who like a challenge as a problem solver and who think like a detective, doctor, salesperson, teacher and mechanic are a perfect fit for this craft. Locksmiths do it all! We are machinists, masons, carpenters, electricians, and more all rolled into one. Jack of all trades, master at none some may say? READ THIS CAREFULLY. THIS IS NOT THE CASE! The Locksmith is a renaissance craftsman/women, who uses all skill sets combined which makes it one of the most unique skilled labor careers available. They are critical thinkers and they don't just cut keys! Consumers are often unaware of the diverse training and the hours of commitment a locksmith dedicates to professional development. It is a never ending growth experience that is for lack of a better term - SEXY! Think about it! Your a lockpicker, a safecracker....all these cool things, but there is so much more. Locksmiths also provide the consumer with quality security hardware for homes, businesses, institutions, government facilities and they even work on cars! They are security hardware specialists. Compared to a boring and robotic 9-5 job, being a locksmith is sexy because each day brings something new and interesting. The Locksmith provides a solution to the consumer in ways no big box store can do! Hire a Professional Locksmiths and tell them you want to see something SEXY! www.hawaiicommercialdoorrepair.com 808-943-1425

A LOCKSMITH's TRADE & SKILLS ARE DYNAMIC! www.hawaiicommercialdoorrepair.com 808-943-1425 My Thoughts on Being a locksmith......... No one aspires to become a LOCKSMITH? It's considered a secret trade passed down to generations! Father to Son. (THEY ALSO HAVE MANY COURSES) Being a LOCKSMITH is very rewarding and to me it's one of the most interesting things anyone can do. People who like a challenge as a problem solver and who think like a detective, doctor, salesperson, teacher and mechanic are a perfect fit for this craft. Locksmiths do it all! We are machinists, masons, carpenters, electricians, and more all rolled into one. Jack of all trades, master at none some may say? READ THIS CAREFULLY. THIS IS NOT THE CASE! The Locksmith is a renaissance craftsman/women, who uses all skill sets combined which makes it one of the most unique skilled labor careers available. They are critical thinkers and they don't just cut keys! Consumers are often unaware of the diverse training and the hours of commitment a locksmith dedicates to professional development. It is a never ending growth experience that is for lack of a better term - SEXY! Think about it! Your a lockpicker, a safecracker....all these cool things, but there is so much more. Locksmiths also provide the consumer with quality security hardware for homes, businesses, institutions, government facilities and they even work on cars! They are security hardware specialists. Compared to a boring and robotic 9-5 job, being a locksmith is sexy because each day brings something new and interesting. The Locksmith provides a solution to the consumer in ways no big box store can do! Hire a Professional Locksmiths and tell them you want to see something SEXY! www.hawaiicommercialdoorrepair.com 808-943-1425

Locksmith Scammer Companies are Full Blown Criminal Felons!

Locksmith Scammers are Full Blown Criminal Felons
 www.gsa-x09-lkmlocksmithshawaii.com 808-943-1425 The information provided is real and factual. Recently doing my own research & Investigations I discovered a lot things by simply using Google. I found a LOT of locations listed for a LOT of locksmith company names belonging to one "company or individual", but no shops were actually found. I found a phone number of 646-315-8883 which was on a website back linked from the ALOA Security Professionals Association Inc. (ALOA SPAI) Find-A-Locksmith directory for a licensed member named Liad Messenger a Certified Registered Locksmith (CRL) from a company called Locksmith NYC? The CRL certification is issued by ALOA SPAI. Below are several more company names using that number and they all have different names and locations. So what's the big deal? Considering that ALOA SPAI has continually sold a narrative that such things are considered inappropriate activity or possibly scammer activity, which is the reasoning why licensing is needed, it would appear to be hypocritical for them to have a member with so many names and no locations, etc. Their member also possesses a state issued license, Therefore, the excuse that licensing will stop this activity makes the entire argument invalid and can no longer be used, discussed, or sold to the media or state and local legislatures. Essentially, we would have to say now that "there are no scammers, only good locksmiths and bad locksmiths. Should we as an industry understand that this is the new normal? I also just uncovered that Liad Messinger CRL also operates a Lead Generation/Call Center company named L&L Lead Service at 14545 Friar St.Van Nuys, CA. The million dollar question is why does a lead generation company need to have so many different names and numbers? Why not simply promote your brand with a single identity and contact number. We may never know the answer, but in fairness, the question must be asked.
 www.gsa-x09-lkmlocksmithshawaii.com 808-943-1425

Consumer Awareness tips for JHACO HOSPITAL INSPECTIONS..

Consumer Awareness tips for JHACO HOSPITAL INSPECTIONS.. www.hawaiifiredoors.com 808-943-1425 One of the jobs of the Joint Committee on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JHACO) is to audit hospitals throughout the United States to ensure they are in compliance. One of their concerns is how narcotics, pharmaceuticals, "sharps" (needles/scalpels), etc., are secured in rooms, refrigerators, carts or cabinets. However, JHACO does not specify how to secure the containers of these compounds. For example, under Security of Medication, effective August 3, 2005, under the Frequently Asked Questions web page of the JHACO web site, the following two questions are answered and I quote: "Q: How does Joint Commission define "secure" in relation to medication stored in the pharmacy, patient units, operating rooms, and crash carts? A: Stock medications stored in the Pharmacy and in patient care areas must be either locked or under constant surveillance. The same holds true for the operating room including anesthesia carts - when an anesthesia cart is unattended and not under constant surveillance, it must be locked or stored in a locked room. The same requirement applies to floor medication carts and crash carts and any prepackaged surgical or treatment packs that may contain medication." Under Bedside Medications, also effective August 3, 2005, "Q: Can medications for patient self-administration be stored at the patient's bedside? A: Yes, but only if the medication is stored under lock and key or secured in a way to assure that the patient and authorized staff can access the medication but others cannot." JHACO may not specify how to secure; however, the group has teeth. A hospital can be cited for not locking up or for not having access control. No one other than an authorized individual should have access to a narcotics cabinet. If the facility does not resolve a situation in a timely fashion, it could lose accreditation or even federal funding. Please contact us for Compliance codes or issues and Inspections! www.hawaiifiredoors.com 808-943-1425

War Stories "The Locksmith in Honolulu" www.hawaiifiredoors.com 808-943-1425 Often called the "second oldest profession," according to the research done by ALOA. Locksmithing has been around since Biblical times. For centuries since, locksmiths have been getting people into or out of predicaments that are often routine, but can also be emotional, scary, funny or just plain memorable. "People don't call me because everything's OK? "People call me because they're fighting with their spouse and they want to keep them out of the house. Most times my clients are not happy when they call me, but when I pack up and leave and have done my job, they're always happy I've been there." While at the job site I try to stay out of domestic disputes, but the nature of a locksmith's job often lands them in the crossfire. I remembers a client in Pearl City who wanted a deadbolt on her bedroom to stave off an abusive boyfriend who was living there, according to what she told me "I get all the tools out and the tarp and all of a sudden this guy comes out of nowhere -- a big, 300 Samoan -pound guy -- and says 'Brah You no putting no locks on my door,'" I remember.. "His wife & him get into this big argument and he calls the cops." I went and sat on the tailgate on my truck until the police told me to go ahead and continue with the lock installation. On Another occasion I was changing the locks on a Waimanalo home for a woman going through a divorce. "I was re-keying all the locks and all of a sudden her husband comes screeching around the corner saying 'I'm going to call the police! I'm looking around wondering if this guy was talking to me? When I realizes he was...... "I said, 'Hey, I'm just doing my job.'" Protecting the women you love!! Because I have done so many jobs for warring couples, I asked her which method of payment was she intending to use? "I was concerned this gentleman (her Husband) was going to withdraw the money out of their bank account if she issued me a check? I've seen it all, I'm telling you! That's when she calmly walked over to me and whispered.. I've got a separate account and he doesn't know about it.' I once got a call recently from a woman who said she had locked herself out of her safe in Manoa "When I showed up she said 'Hurry up, my husband's coming home in half an hour, "And he has my stuff in his safe." When this type of behavior happens... It's usually due to a bitter "DIVORCE". So at which time I stopped trying to open the safe, and told her she needed to get her attorney involved if she wanted this safe opened by me. I have even changed locks for hoarders afraid someone is going to break in and steal all their stuff, Ridiculous Paranoia! This house was in deep in the Kalihi Valley. It's awful, the smell was so bad! This lady already had eight or 10 locks. There were piles of dog (poop) all over the carpeting. They were just sitting there watching TV and knitting, and I'm stepping over the piles like land mines." Some times the call aren't on the level and not easy to detect, "You get the pranksters," "Like, 'My wife is handcuffed to the bed and can you come and look at it?' I instruct them to call HPD Or 'I dropped my keys down the toilet.' Then I tell them to call a plumber." How about this one..... I can't find the hole to where the key fits? This was A dude... I didn't know what to say? When any guy has trouble finding the hole......It's a problem I can't fix!!! The Life of Affordable Locksmith & Sons www.hawaiifiredoors.com 808-943-1425

The Scammer Locksmith's are Criminals in Hawaii!

The Scammer Locksmith's are Criminals in Hawaii! www.gsa-x09-lkmlocksmithhawaii.com As an independent Private locally on family business of Locksmiths here on Oahu Hawaii I really appreciate a small town News Reporter Chad Silber for being the ONLY news reporter in the United States that has reported accurately about what is known as "locksmith scammers." This young cub, nailed his recent news report by clearly identifying that locksmiths are not engaged in scamming the consumers. His news headline reads - "Criminals Acting as Locksmiths to Steal from Victims." There was no fluff reporting or blatant activist style reporting which as we have seen elsewhere. Here in Honolulu I have been advocating for a very long time for the hardworking locksmiths while other locksmith's & associations subversively supported and aided in the misinformation in order to force failed and unwanted licensing on the industry in order to restrain trade and eliminate competition. Hawaii is characterized as a major producer of coffee, and pineapples and coconuts. Chad certainly delivered the goods! The only coconut I saw was the subliminal reference of showing the Yellow Page disclaimer notice 2 times that reads - "State or local law may require locksmiths to be licensed. If you have any questions regarding licensure, please contact your locksmith licensing authority." Since there is no such thing in Hawaii why show it unless it is yet another attempt to make a false impression? I think us local certified honest Locksmith's can see through the false sense of security offered by licensing. Either way it appears that maybe the news media is starting to hear my voice or have started reading my blog? Realizing the fact that many of them have been misled by those with a licensing agenda. This agenda has been proven to be a con job, flawed and a failure that has only harmed the industry. The locksmith industry does not want it, but a minority group with special interests does and falsely claim it will stop those posing as locksmith. It doesn't and has not. In Fact the Scammers have paid Locksmiths absorbent fees to get sponsored in a Bonified Locksmith Association just to get a legal license to rob consumers! Very SAD! The Life of a Locksmith in Hawaii www.gsa-x09-lkmlocksmithhawaii.com

A LOCKSMITH's TRADE & SKILLS ARE DYNAMIC!

www.hawaiicommercialdoorrepair.com 808-943-1425 My Thoughts on Being a locksmith......... No one aspires to become a LOCKSMITH? It's considered a secret trade passed down to generations! Father to Son. (THEY ALSO HAVE MANY COURSES) Being a LOCKSMITH is very rewarding and to me it's one of the most interesting things anyone can do. People who like a challenge as a problem solver and who think like a detective, doctor, salesperson, teacher and mechanic are a perfect fit for this craft. Locksmiths do it all! We are machinists, masons, carpenters, electricians, and more all rolled into one. Jack of all trades, master at none some may say? READ THIS CAREFULLY. THIS IS NOT THE CASE! The Locksmith is a renaissance craftsman/women, who uses all skill sets combined which makes it one of the most unique skilled labor careers available. They are critical thinkers and they don't just cut keys! Consumers are often unaware of the diverse training and the hours of commitment a locksmith dedicates to professional development. It is a never ending growth experience that is for lack of a better term - SEXY! Think about it! Your a lockpicker, a safecracker....all these cool things, but there is so much more. Locksmiths also provide the consumer with quality security hardware for homes, businesses, institutions, government facilities and they even work on cars! They are security hardware specialists. Compared to a boring and robotic 9-5 job, being a locksmith is sexy because each day brings something new and interesting. The Locksmith provides a solution to the consumer in ways no big box store can do! Hire a Professional Locksmiths and tell them you want to see something SEXY! www.hawaiicommercialdoorrepair.com 808-943-142

Not So easy Money!

During my 27 years of locksmithing days I occasionally worked for property managers here in Hawaii when they were exercising an eviction. Foreclosure was a term I never heard until recently, but the routine was the same when a tenant did not pay their rent. After the owner got court permission, a work force of several men would descend on the apartment and they would physically break into the apartment or home. Furniture and possessions were removed and a large sticker was affixed to the door indicating that it was illegal to enter. It was my job to secure the property usually Board up all the windows and install a good hasp and padlock on the door. There was no effort to be neat. The whole idea was to visually indicate to the former tenant that they were not longer on the premises. Although it was a sad event each time, the tenants had been repeatedly warned and the owners were completely within their rights. While tenant evictions were few and far between, foreclosures now number in the millions with possibly more residential and commercial properties still forecast to be involved in the next few years. Some locksmiths have discovered good profit by unlocking doors on foreclosure property and changing lock combinations. A more genteel system than the broken jambs I once saw on a regular basis. At the same time, a locksmith kneeling down and picking a lock is in a defenseless position if there is an angry inhabitant behind the door. This was the case in Miami a few weeks ago when a policeman stood by as a locksmith worked to unlock a door to a condominium apartment. The eviction ended in tragedy as the apartment dweller finally unlocked the door from inside and fired several shots at the Locksmith & the Sheriff. Tragically the locksmith was killed and the Sheriff then returned fire and wounded the assailant. Various news stories describe the killed man as a locksmith, but he was more than that! He was a Daddy, Brother, Son, Husband, Grandad! Regardless of whether the person killed was a practicing locksmith or not, the same situation could occur each time a legitimate locksmith is called on a similar foreclosure situation to unlock a door. In my locksmith career I was called hundreds of times during every hour of the day and night for lockouts of all kinds. Growing up in the mean streets of NYC in the 60's - 70's educated me to be alert from all angles or PARANOIA to protect! Either I was overly fortunate or extremely cautious, but there were times when I was 'unavailable' whenever the situation seemed out of the ordinary. So I choose not to take the chance! The life of a Locksmith! www.gsa-x09-lkmlocksmithhawaii.com

Consumer Awareness Tips: Fire Doors-Metal Hollow Doors etc. Commercial Security Hardware: It All Starts With The Door

Consumer Awareness Tips: Fire Doors-Metal Hollow Doors etc. Commercial Security Hardware: It All Starts With The Door www.hawaiifiredoors.com 808-943-1425 Commercial security hardware is a wide ranging topic. Non-electrified security hardware includes Grade 1 level doors and mechanical hardware. Commercial grade door hardware includes locks, exit devices, closers, thresholds, coordinators, mullions, plates, pulls, and hinges. Before we begin with the hardware attached to the door and jamb, any good discussion should begin with the door itself. In addition to the standard hollow metal doors, solid wood doors and aluminum stile doors, there are customized doors designed to provide different levels of security. These include fire labeled doors (20 minutes to 3 hours), bullet resistant doors, corrosive materials doors, sound deadening doors, lead lined doors and “Student Proof Doors.” Doors and jambs come in a variety of styles, materials and strengths. Stamped metal doors appear to be wood, having a higher fire rating than a comparable solid wood doors. Metal doors can be ordered with a face sheet of 20, 18, 16, 14 and 12 gauge thickness. The thicker the gauge, the heavier the door. The core material can be honeycomb, polystyrene, polyurethane or mineral fiber to name a few. Depending upon hardware to be installed onto the door, reinforcement will usually be added to provide additional support for hardware such as a door closer. www.hawaiifiredoors.com 808-943-1425

Consumer Awarenes Tips for Hawaii Schools Safety: SECURITY INTRUDER CLASSROOM LOCKS

Consumer Awarenes Tips for Hawaii Schools Safety: SECURITY INTRUDER CLASSROOM LOCKS www.hawaiifiredoors.com 808-943-1425 LETS PROTECT OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL!!!!! Over the past decade, tragic events in our schools have mandated higher standards than the ones in use over the past 100 years. Several years ago the industry introduced a new series of Classroom functions using the words “Security Intruder Locks.” These locks are only offered in Grade 1. Several manufacturers offer both the Grade 1 heavy duty and Extra Heavy Duty Institutional Hardware. In addition, some manufacturers offer slightly modified versions of the Security Intruder functions that may or may not carry an ANSI rating. Not all manufacturers in this category make all the functions. Therefore when keying systems are a factor, in order to apply a specific function that is not made by the primary product in the building, a secondary keying system may have to be installed. It is extremely important for everyone involved in any school project to study and maintain this information for service and installation. www.hawaiifiredoors.com 808-943-1425

Consumer Awareness Tips: Life Safety Issues with Exit Doors in Hawaii

Consumer Awareness Tips: Life Safety Issues with Exit Doors in Hawaii www.hawaiiifiredoors.com 808943-1425 Today's locksmiths are governed by basic life safety codes. Just about every state, city, and local ordinance has adopted its own interpretations of the many regulatory agencies and associations. The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA.) is the authority of fire, electrical, and building safety. It was established in 1896 as an advocate of fire protection and life safety. The codes and standards established by NFPA are a consensus of trade and professional organizations. Basic life safety codes cover over 80 trades and all aspects of building construction. The NFPA has had sufficient influence as to affect a Uniform Fire Code™ that is primarily considered the model and is used by state, city, and local ordinances when designing their own codes and regulations. Fortunately for locksmiths, the concern can be narrowed to door, locks and egress. This article discusses the basic concepts of the life safety codes relating to exit doors that locksmiths need to adhere to regardless of where they work. Occupancy affects which locks will be used. Occupancy relates to the purpose in which the building or part of a building is used or intended to be used. Occupancies are classified into groups that reflect the common purpose. One type of occupancy group covers: hotels, apartment houses and residences or other places where persons dwell. Another occupancy group covers: offices, businesses; and places where service-type transactions occur. Still another occupancy group covers: retail stores; and places where goods, wares, and merchandise are displayed and sold. There are other occupancy groups that cover places of assembly, places with special hazards, places where products are manufactured, etc. Exit doors must open from the inside without special knowledge or effort. Exit doors are those doors intended to be used to egress out of a building or part of a building. Exit doors must be maintained in an operable condition. If the door is part of a fire assembly, the door must be maintained in accordance to the fire assembly requirements. Figure 1 shows a door that is part of a fire assembly, where the fire gasket needs to be replaced. Exit doors are required to be openable from the inside without a key or without any special knowledge or effort. No key-operation from inside means no double-cylinder deadbolts. This includes surface-mounted key-operated bolts. Special knowledge or effort can be subjective. It is often left up to the local ordinance or Local Authority Having Jurisdiction (LAHJ) to make a determination. One example is the use of "secret locks" in a bank environment. This is a lock that is mounted to a half-height gate to separate the teller area from the public area. There is a button on the bottom of the lock that is "secret" and must be pushed in to operate the latch. These gates are oftentimes between the tellers and the exit doors. Some inspectors have had them removed, citing special knowledge, and some have required special signage alerting anyone in the area as to the "secret." Sometimes the special knowledge or effort requirement can affect the industry to such a level that a new type of device is created. A few decades ago, defense contractors in California were cited for non-compliant hardware on SCIF (Secured Compartmentalized Information Facility) doors. A SCIF is a "closed area" where a defense contractor can perform the "customer's" services in a controlled and secured manner. www.hawaiiifiredoors.com 808943-1425

Importance of Annual Fire Door Inspections

As locksmiths, we are ideally suited to offer fire door inspections. We spend most of our lives looking at and servicing openings and door hardware in order to protect life and property. We not only install product, but also service existing hardware, knowing when to repair and when the product is no longer serviceable. We have been hearing about the requirement for annual fire door inspections since the NFPA 80 2007 edition, Standard for Doors and Other Opening Protectives and the NFPA 101 2009 Life Safety Code became widely read. The pertinent section of the NFPA 80 requires that annual testing of fire door assemblies shall be performed by individuals with knowledge and understanding of the operation components of the type of door being subjected to testing. Recording and keeping proper records are part of the process. Until this past year, such inspections were more of a recommendation than a requirement. However, many states including California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland have already either adopted the IBC and IFC 2009, or have adopted the NFPA 80, 2007 edition. Washington State and Utah have begun the process of adopting the requirement. Adoption of these codes and standards makes mandatory the enforcement of annual fire door assembly inspections. Other states are in the planning stages to adopt this requirement. Some states have adopted the IFC (International Fire Code), which references the NFPA 80 requirement. Other states, such as Hawaii, have adopted NFPA 1, Fire Standard. Even though these are two different codes, NFPA 1 also requires annual fire door inspections since it references the requirement of NFPA 80, 2007 Edition. For a full list of states that have adopted the requirement, visit the International Code Council’s web site for an interactive map. The ICC web site address is: http://www.iccsafe.org/gr/Pages/adoptions.aspx. At this time, two recognized organizations provide education regarding fire door inspections. They are the Door Hardware Institute (DHI) and the International Fire Door Inspector Association (IFDIA). Both are involved in education and “best practices” development to bring about a system whereby annual fire door inspections are conducted by professionally trained personnel with an understanding of the scope of work. Although the IFDIA and the DHI both offer professional services and training, there are very specific preconditions each has regarding enrollment and training. According to available information, DHI requires that anyone wishing to be a Fire Door Assembly Inspector (FDAI) must meet DHI educational and professional standards that include four prerequisite classes. Architectural Hardware Consultant (AHC), Certified Door Consultant (CDC), Electrified Hardware Consultants (EHCs) and Architectural Openings Consultants (AOCs) are automatically eligible to enroll in the FDAI class without having to complete prerequisites.

Hawaii Fire Doors.com ( SPREADING ALOHA & FIRE SAFETY) in Hawaii

FIRE DOORS HawaiiFiredoors.com educates its customers as to the critical role of the Fire Doors in the Passive Fire Protection System. We discuss with our customers the fact that fire doors have the greatest potential for failure due to the high frequency that fire doors are used on a day-to-day basis (school and hospital corridors). For this reason concurrence in regulatory compliance has been established by (a) The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), (b) The International Code Council (ICC), (c) The Joint Commission [Healthcare], which requires the inspection of Fire Doors. Hawaiifiredoors.com recognizes NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®, and NFPA 80, Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives®. Hawaiifiredoors.com- Fire Door Assembly Inspection Program not only ensures the facility’s fire rated doors operate properly, but also ensures that ALL components associated with the Fire Door Assembly are inspected as well. This inspection includes the validation of the frame, hinges, bolts, locks, exit hardware as well as other components. Hawaiiforedoors.com understands that Fire door and frame labeling is a crucial requirement to keeping your building compliant. That is why Hawaiifiredoors Intertek Labs & QAI Laboratories have developed a partnership to ensure that any questionable door or frame is properly labeled. Hawaiifiredoors.com Fire Door Inspection Services include, at a minimum: Inspect the Door & Door Frame Perform an Operational test on the Door – (Swing Test; Close Test; Latch Test; Electric Door Release; Door Bottom Drag; Door Frame Rub; Door Edge Overlap; Coordinator Malfunction) Inspection of Hinge Assemblies Inspection of Door Bolts & Locks Inspect all Fire Exit Hardware Inspect and Verify – (Thresholds/Saddle; Clearance, Astragal and Gaskets, Kick-Down Door Holder, Wedge and Door Stop, Protection Plate, Signage properly installed) DOCUMENTATION AVAILABILITY 24 HOURS A DAY Hawaiifiredoors.com consistently brings real time virtual documentation to its customers. Facility managers are provided with a unique username, whereby the Fire Door Inspection can be viewed live 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week. In addition to the virtual report, Hawawaiifiredoors.com will provide each customer with a SUMMARY REPORT depicting the location of each door with a separate bar coded ID, individual and percentage PASS/FAIL information, component status and major repairs needed (if applicable) Hawaiifiredoors.com (Affordable Locksmith & Son LLC) is your LIFE SAFETY PARTNER with years of valuable experience and knowledge that is unsurpassed in the industry. Let Hawaiifiredoors.com offer your facility a “value added long-term maintenance program and/or package program” (to inspect a portion of your facility’s fire/smoke dampers or perform a Firestop survey, while performing your fire door inspection.) Our motto is “We Spread Aloha & Stop The Spread of Fire! www.hawaiifiredoors.com 808-943-1425

Sizing Up Fire Rated Doors And Fire Rated Hardware

Consumer Awareness Tips:Sizing Up Fire Doors and Rated Hardware for Honolulu Hawaii www.hawaiifiredoors.com 808-943-1425 Whenever we as Certiifed locksmiths are involved with new construction, door and locking hardware is specified by knowledgeable sources such as: architects, architectural hardware consults, or other agents of the architect. Most of the time, the proper hardware has been specified for the fire rated openings. It's the responsibility of the Certified locksmiths to understand all components of steel fire doors. All hardware mounted to fire doors must be properly rated. When in doubt, the Certified locksmith should always consult available resources from the Steel Door Institute, the door manufacturer and the local authority having jurisdiction (LAHJ). Never degrade fire protection integrity. The majority of retrofit and installation requests do not involve new construction; and usually are ordered by customers responding to LAHJ inspections or other complaints. While the customer is always king, it is important to note that in these instances, the customer may not always be right. Customers are not knowledgeable sources, especially in regards to fire rated openings and the fire door hardware callouts, which can often misinterpret the LAHJ requests. Regarding orders motivated by non-inspection complaints, the customer may be reacting from outside sources, remarks by employees, associates, and/or patrons. For instance, a complaint to a facility manager might be that doors are being opened too quickly and persons are being hurt by flying doors. A suggestion is made to install window lites and the locksmith is called out to do so. This is when it is extremely important that the locksmith has a full understanding of the proper hardware that can be mounted onto doors and frames in fire rated openings. It is tough when the locksmith has to say no to the customer when requests are in conflict with code. The alternative requires the locksmith to accept liability if cited or if catastrophe occurs. In the case of window lites, there may be alternatives such as wire and glass lite assemblies, smaller and less aesthetic than the customer requests but accommodate the code(s). Fire Rated Doors Besides serving as regular doors, fire rated doors must also provide egress during the fire, keep the fire from spreading, and protect people and property. Fire rated doors are available in a variety of materials including wood and metal. Metal fire rated doors can have a much higher fire rating than a wood door. The fire protection rating of fire rated doors is for the most part relative to the rating of the wall onto which it is mounted. In most case the doors will be 75 percent of the fire protection of the wall. The hardware mounted to these types of doors must be equally (or better) rated. For this reason locksmiths must know how to recognize a fire rated opening and the rating of the door in order to provide proper hardware with similar ratings. Fire Door Labels Every fire-rated door leaves the factory with a fire label securely attached to the door. The fire rated door label must indicate the time (hours or minutes) rating and either: the latch throw for single-point locks; or a notation: "Fire door to be equipped with fire hardware". Labels may indicate the temperature rise. Fire door labels are made from metal or mylar. The fire protection rating of the door is imprinted on the door label along with a serialized number. The fire protection rating is specified in time (hours or minutes) and may be followed by an industry standard letter classification. Door labels are not to be removed or painted over. Only a factory or UL representative may remove or apply a door label. However, remember that painters do not know this regulation. The door label shown in Figure 1 also includes a specification relating to the minimum latch throw that is needed to match the fire protection of the door. The label is the only means to validate the rating of the door. When missing or obscured, the rating may not be able to be validated. If the Fire Rated Label has been removed or reinstalled by any other individual who is not "FACTORY CERTIFIED" it will VOID the Fire Rating on the entire ASSEMBLY! www.hawaiifiredoors.com 808-943-1425

Consumer Awareness Tips : Life Saving Fire Rated Doors In Hawaii

Consumer Awareness Tips; Life Saving Fire Rated Doors In Hawaii www.hawaiifiredoors.com808-943-1425 Even in modern times, being the messenger about code requirements does not make you popular. Frequently when I share observations with clients I get replies like: “That doesn’t apply to us; we’re grandfathered” or “The Fire Marshal has been through here many times and never mentioned that.” My favorite client reply is: “The Fire Marshal just left; he threw the book at us and if you don’t come over right away and get us into compliance we’re going to get shut down. HELP!” Locksmiths are there to support the intent of the law and we must accept that ultimately the LAHJ will prevail. When I need expert guidance, I call my attorney Ken . The following is his advice. “Any type of security device, equipment, system or service, and I include lock work, will subject the professional installer to exposure when the security device is perceived to fail and loss occurs. Keeping track of the myriad of trade practices, manufacturer’s specification, UL and other regulatory agency requirements, building codes and of course AHJ requirements can be challenging. But violation of statutory requirements carries the most severe consequences because it may subject you to absolute liability or establish negligence per se.” “In a perfect world I would suggest knowing the requirements and insisting on strict LAHJ compliance. When customers, for budgetary or other reasons, insist on what you believe to be substandard installation, and you don’t want to lose the business, you must document the deficiencies and have the customer sign off. The disclaimer needs to be clear, thorough and precise. It should include indemnification for all claims. It should, in fact, be drafted with the goal of forcing even the most insistent customer to permit you to install a legal compliant system so both you, and the customer, can be best protected against the loss the equipment is designed to detect or protect against.” For more information, visit www.KirschenbaumEsq.com . Since fire doors are essential elements of passive fire protection in buildings, the more you know about them the better you will serve and protect your clients. Fire barriers play an integral role in managing a fire by interrupting the spread of smoke, toxic gasses, and flames. Passive fire protection is different from Active Fire Protection such as fire suppression systems (sprinklers) and fire detection systems (smoke detectors). The Fire Door, the basic component of passive fire protection is an assembly or door system comprised of the door, the frame and the hardware. Fire Doors serve four main purposes: 1) They are a door; 2) They are an emergency egress; 3) They are a fire and smoke barrier 4) They protect life and property. Fire doors must be certified by recognized testing laboratories (such as UL) and must have the laboratory’s certification label. There are situations where even if a door has a label, it may not be fulfilling its intended purpose as a fire door www.hawaiifiredoors.com808-943-1425