Panic Bars and Exit Devices: What Business Owners Should Know

Panic bar repair and replacement are easier to plan when you know how exit devices work and what to watch for. An exit device, often called a panic bar or push bar, lets someone leave a building by pushing a bar across the door instead of turning a knob or lever. That matters in an emergency, when people need to get out fast and may not be able to work a handle. From the outside, the door can stay locked or require a key, card or code.

Exit devices are common on exits in offices, stores, restaurants, schools, churches and any building where many people may need to leave at once.

Rim exit devices mount on the surface of the door and latch into a strike on the frame; they are common on single doors. Vertical rod devices latch at the top, and sometimes the bottom, of the door, and are often used on pairs of doors. Mortise exit devices are built into the door for a cleaner look and heavy use.

Exit devices can also be paired with alarms that sound when the door is opened, electric latch retraction for access control, and delayed egress hardware where codes allow it.

Exit hardware is governed by fire and life-safety codes, and requirements depend on the type of building and how many people use it. Exit doors generally must open with a single motion and without a key from the inside. Chaining, padlocking or blocking an exit is dangerous and a common violation.

If you are unsure what applies to your building, your local fire marshal or code official is the authority. We install and service exit devices with those requirements in mind and can explain the options for your doors.

Watch for a bar that sticks or has to be pushed hard, a door that does not latch after closing, a dogged-down device that will not release, or loose and rattling hardware. Exterior exit devices take a beating from weather and traffic and benefit from periodic inspection. Fixing a sticking device early is far better than discovering it during an emergency or an inspection.