Testing the Kick-Stop

Continuing down the terrazzo corridor, I stopped at the heavy fire door leading to the stairs. Mounted near the bottom corner of the steel frame was a spring-loaded kick-stop. I crouched to examine the pivot pin holding the metal arm in its bracket. Resting both palms against the angled lever, I pushed down until the internal catch engaged with a sharp metallic clack, locking the ribbed rubber pad firmly against the floor. One quick tap on the release tab sent the spring snapping right back up to its resting slot.