Panic Bar / Exit Device For Your Business / Office Doors
Buildings used for commercial properties require specific safety measures such as installing panic hardware. All doors which are intended to function as emergency exit doors must have crash bars. Panic hardware for commercial doors is also sometimes referred to as a crash bar, exit device, panic device, or push bar. It is a form of a lever tumbler lock used to unlock a door during an emergency when swift evacuation is necessary. The panic hardware consists of a spring-loaded metal bar fixed horizontally to the inside of an outward-opening door. When the lever is pushed, it activates a mechanism that unlatches the door which allows occupants to exit the building swiftly, accounting for potential large crowds of people exiting quickly without having to waste life-saving time locating a key.
Panic Bars May Be The Law
State laws and local regulations vary, so if you own a business, you may or may not be required to use panic bars. However, it is always the best step to understand all of your security options. For security reasons, panic hardware for commercial doors is designed so that they cannot be opened from the outside, but a door handle may be mounted on the other side of the door to allow the bar to be locked so that the door can be opened from either side.
Safety Is More Than Securing Building From A Break-In
When we think about locks and security, we usually think about keeping would-be crooks, or those who are looking to cause harm, out. But, what if there is a fire or another emergency that requires everyone in the building to exit as quickly and as safely as possible? That’s when panic hardware comes into play. When a large group of people needs to leave quickly through one door opening, it rapidly produces a log-jam of people who are most likely in a panic and just want to get out. Because of this, the panic bar needs to operate smoothly so as not to create more danger in crowds of people pushing, trampling, and piling into each other.
Panic Hardware Options
Choose from a wide variety of panic bar options. Some panic bar options include an alarm to alert everyone inside that they need to get out or to notify authority personnel that a resident is exiting the building. In the cases of nursing homes with dementia patients, hospitals, or retirement homes that have apartment style living, museums, or country clubs with high in and out traffic during typical, non-emergency business days, panic bars are designed to be quieter to keep noise to a minimum. Decide whether or not you want alarm additions, glass door options, crossbars, and silencing mechanisms.
Safety Doesn’t Have To Come At A High Cost
Like any other safety device or lock, panic bars range in price but are affordable. When you are ready to install a panic bar, it pays to shop around and get the best device for the best price. Be sure to ask about the warranty or any guarantees as well as estimated maintenance expenses. Often, you can save on costs by hiring a local locksmith to install the panic bars rather than a contractor. And, be sure to ask about volume discounts if you are installing several panic hardware devices.
Hire an expert for exit device service
If you own a commercial property or are wanting to install exit devices that allow people to leave the premises quickly and safely, panic hardware for commercial doors is the solution. Professional commercial locksmith technicians who deal with locks and keys and understand the requirements for commercial properties are the ones to talk to before purchasing panic hardware for your commercial doors. Don’t just talk to a commercial locks salesman, speak with a local locksmith who works with locks for commercial properties, installs, and services them. Ask for recommendations before you make your final decision.