Another challenge for you...

[Phentex]

someone will probably have a solution right away but we are stumped. :)

We have glass doors with metal frames at the office (pediatrics). There is an awning of sorts but as the day goes on, the sun ends up reaching the doors and windows and the metal parts get extremely HOT. We are afraid a child will get burned. They always push on the doors (usually the glass part which does not get as hot). Is there something we can attach to the metal frames that will prevent this? Foam? fabric? Of course we would like it to look decent but the main concern is safety.

Thoughts?

[Warpy]

1. I looked, and you're in Hotlanta, not Phoenix.

The metal on your doors will get hot enough to "ouch!" a kid and make him cry but not hot enough to cause even a first degree burn. It's a good lesson for little kids that some things are not meant to be touched. All kids have to experiment with their worlds, and this is one of those times.

While gluing fake fur or carpet samples to the frame would prevent the kids from finding out metal in the sun gets hot, I'm not sure it would do the kid a service in the long term and I am sure it would look weird as hell.

Hurts that don't do damage are instructive and prevent the kid from pushing a limit to the dangerous point.

[Phentex]

2. These are special needs kids...

many of them can't speak or show expression at all. Their worlds are very different from yours and mine. I don't want to add any discomfort to their lives. It's a lesson they can't comprehend.

I know how hot they get just when I've been trying to clean the glass around them and accidentally touch them myself. Yes, taught me quick to clean them in the morning, lol!

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

3. You have seen tinted windows in car glass.

You can buy that stuff to do your own car windows or the windows in your house. Comes in colors black,gray,green, silver like aluminum color. The stuff is made to stick to glass but it will adhere to aluminum. It cuts those sun rays and it may work. Your obstacle is to get the stuff to stick permanent. Try experimenting a little,try it in some hot obscure corner.It's just a thought. Lowe's and home depot carry the stuff.I did one of my trucks with that stuff to keep people from looking in, it kept the truck cooler inside during the hot months.
All I cared about was keeping crooks from seeing my tools in a window astro van.The cool part was cool too !

[safeinOhio]

4. If the metal is black

you can paint it white and it will reflect much of the heat.