Exit Hardware On Glass Doors?

Is the issue finding the right hardware to mount on glass doors? I think so, but I wasn't sure from your post.

Is the opening frameless glass? Like butt-ajoined or Herculite?

Is there existing panic hardware/exit devices hung on the door?

Additional Shots of door hardware

Sorry I thought I had attached the photos, they just didn't upload first time.

Anyways see attched photos.

I perform this exercise every three months or so. I have seen nothing UL rated an AHJ will accept in the US. I did see one from a Russian company a few months ago that I thought was pretty neat, but he has no plans to market it here in the US. Sorry dude. Unless this is planned from the build-out, there are no answers I know of.

That door is a nightmare!!! :(

So much glass, so many patchblocks, but literally zero options for traditional electrified locks.

Do you know if there are any hardware options to retrofit the door leverset to an exit paddle? I cannot easily see what type of door hardware is already installed, but maybe you can retrofit free egress mechanically and use the RCI cushion-lok? I'd also call CR Laurence to see if they have an option here.

For all, this is a classic issue with electronic access. We cover it in our Glass Doors and Access Control note, that also includes one of my favorite youtube clips of all time that bluntly shows off why maglocks are a terrible choice in the application:

That is not stupid question at all. In general, it is legal, but is entirely at the discretion of the AHJ. The door unlocking upon activation of a fire alarm is a separate issue. It must. Your best course of action is to ask your local AHJ what he wants. He will be the one that approves the work.

For the most part I have seen your description approved, but certainly not always. Not by a long shot. I have also seen local codes that require a smoke detector wired in to the system on one side of the door, and I have seen local codes that require a smoke on both sides.

In addition to the REX motion, generally speaking, you must also install a REQ device, a button, that will manually unlock the door if pushed. It directly interrupts lock power at the button.

Pretty vague I know, but so are the codes. Access codes vary greatly sometimes.

I would suggest that you check out the CR Laurence product line. They make numerous products specifically for tempered glass doors such as these, including the Blumcraft series of exit devices which can be electrified internally or used with a header mounted electric strike.

Hopefully, some combination of product can be made to fit the cutouts on your door, otherwise you are probably looking at door replacement. I think that all holes in the glass have to be made in the glass before the tempering process - trying to cut or drill the door afterwards can make it shatter.

So, this is maybe a crazy idea, but it just might work. Since the door already is modified to accept a cylindrical lockset, what if they replace what's there with a wireless set? Something like the Allegion NDE is fairly unobtrusive (though I don't recall if they work with third party ACS or not).

At worst, you could modify the backing plate/trim of what's there to support a larger lockset, something like the Schlage AD400 or a Sargent Aperio set.

IMHO, OP isn't concerned about the fitting of the strike to the door, rather he needs someway to interface with the strike to allow free egress:

RCI does make a 3360 Cushion LOK that can be fitted to Glass Doors like this but my issue with the lock is there is no mechanism for free Egress from one side.

Are these other strikes being mentioned conceptually somehow different than the RCI, or are they just less messy? I'm asking because I don't know.

Salto makes some nice glass door hardware that's compatible with a bunch of access control systems through their OEM brand called Salto Sallis. I don't know if it would fit correctly onto your glass door but I have seen many of these installed and they work extremely well - the advantage being that the REX, Reader, lock, door position sensor, etc are all built-in to the same wireless and battery powered lock.

The wireless Sallis router is integrated with some access control systems (ICT (that we distribute), Genetec, Brivo, Honeywell and more: I found these from a quick 2 minute web search).

this is the hardware: http://www.saltosystems.com/en/product-range/product/73/xs4-escutcheons/

- look under the Glass Door heading

I can't see the header but since there is no framing on the top of the door there isn't a lot of options. We have used epoxy and glued the armature to the glass and hung the mag lock off header with a bracket. Install a REX motion and a pneumatic push to exit button within 5 feet of the door. Use a power supply with a fire alarm interface and you are done.

The one thing the customer is not willing to consider because of overall associated costs is maglocks (with permit costs, engineered stamp drawings for permits, addition of Fire Alarm Pull stations, tie-in to Fire Alarm System, Override Keyswitch, all associated cabling in conduit, etc.) Because this would be first maglock in this building costs can easily start at $10K and go up from there.

So what we were looking at was trying to source some kind of patch fittings similar to the RCI CushionLOK but with egress hardware on the inside to allow free egress.

Our AHJ would treat any king of electrified lock that is dependant on REXs (buttons or motion) for egress the same as a Maglock (release activated by a circuit) which is why the RCI CushionLOK is not an option for this application.

Anyways, I thank everyone for their valuable input.

I just got another one of these today. The only issue with mine is the frame at the top slips down onto the door to within 3/4". So I have a 3" frame at the top, but the door goes nearly to the top of the frame. Not enough room for the bolt. I would rather their be nothing. I can feel this coming now. Try and drill close for the bolt and shatter the glass.