Question about Tools used to open closed but unlocked doors

[CaptHook]

Mounting a kickplate on the inside of door, just high enough to avoid dragging the floor would be your best option....... it will take up the gap when closed, and not allow the tool to enter. Go with stainless, and it will be attractive, harder to defeat if they try to punch it, and you will not be in conflict with the ADA in any way.
Chuck

[Hak]

Kickplates aren't supposed to go past the bottom of the door.

You could put a flap at the bottom of the door. I forget the name of it, but it's some rubber flap completely covers the gap between the door and the floor. It's original use is to prevent bugs, dirt, rain/snow, and cold weather from getting in.

[CaptHook]

People arent supposed to break into other peoples rooms either. Chances are they already have the kickplates installed, they would just need to lower them.
Weather stripping would more than likly allow the tool to still be able to be pushed through, and a threshold would be against ADA compliance.
Chuck

[alias]

I haven't heard any reasons why my idea wouldn't work. It doesn't interfere with the operation of the door or handle in any way (so no issues with ADA) - it simply blocks the tools access to the handle from underneath.

Can anyone discount my idea or does the drawing leave so much to be desired that noone can see what I'm getting at? Here's a 5 minute 'Gimped' isometric view...



With the skirt in place (and adjusted to an appropriate positon) I simply can't see how you'd alter the tool to get it to engage the handle and still have sufficient leverage to provide enough downforce to pull it (assuming you could even get to the handle).

Anyone?

[CaptHook]

Ok Ill bite..... Chances are good that they are not using a "store bought" tool, its homemade. Chances are its a student etc that has access to the room under normal situations who will be able to see the "defeat" in question and be able to make a new tool to overcome it. This is an engineering school/classrooms. Best way to block this attack is a physical block at the bottom of the door, the kick plate would be easiest and cheapest if they already have them installed in the normal position.
Chuck

[toomush2drink]

Ok i think i have it, get a piece of metal the width of the door, angle iron would be good but make the 90 degree bend about 120. You can attach this to the bottom of the door with a pivot in the middle of the bend and fit a small rod on each end of it that goes through the door and stops against the door frame. Now just make it spring loaded to the up position and what should happen is that when you close the door the rod stops against the door frame and as the door completely closes the rod tilts the angle iron over so that it covers the gap between the floor and the door.It cannot be forced as the rods at each end are resting against the door frame (through 2 holes in the door) and requires the door to open for it to lift up on its spring.As the door is opened it always lifts up thus clearing the floor and it should conform with fire regs. This could be made so easily and you could even market it ,i believe, to prevent this sort of crime. It really is a whole bunch of thoughts and ideas that have been mentioned in this thread. If anyone can draw it (assuming you understand what on earth im going on about ) that would be cool.

[MrB]

I understand your description perfectly. One problem I see is that the device would scuff and damage the floor or carpet where the door closes. There would probably need to be some kind of flat metal plate on the floor across the entrance to resist this damage.

[D_Shane]

Hmmm. You could hide inside and wait.. Wait until the tool is almost to the door knob ... then yank like hell. Open the door and use the tool as a switch. It should have quite a bit of whipping action and some very nice welts should result.... OOhhh and video tape it so we can watch too.

[Jarod]

lol, i think a combo job could be made, have the track for the handle, as well as a shield type thing, if i get any idead i'll post them

[Hak]

Hmmm. You could hide inside and wait.. Wait until the tool is almost to the door knob ... then yank like hell. Open the door and use the tool as a switch. It should have quite a bit of whipping action and some very nice welts should result.... OOhhh and video tape it so we can watch too.

lol

[freakyclown]

Ok they are obviously using a metal tool here, so install a small metal "fringe" under the door that does not hinder the tool passing through (but will gently touch it, metal foil strips would be fine) then then wire up a largish battery to the handle the circuit to be completed by the tool touching the fringe and the handle frying the user of the tool (but unlikely to get ever get anyone using the door in normal operation, as they wouldnt be touching the foil strips).

It all depends on how much you want to stop them...and how far your willing to go.

[Hak]

lol thats a funny idea

But, if you fry them, they'll just sue you for being injured while breaking into the place

[Jarod]

how about an electromagnet, but they might not be using iron?

[Jow]

how about simple cctv or camera of some sort to identify the intruder?

[TheProfessor]

perhaps something like this will help the problem a bit



the picture is sideways, but if you rotate it 90 degrees you will see what im saying, the handle points downward, this will help thwart an under the door device.