Panic Bars Installed and Fixed So the Exit Works Every Time
A panic bar has one job: let anyone get out with a single push, even in a hurry and in the dark. We install new exit devices and repair tired ones on commercial doors, and we agree the price before any work.
Where panic bars belong
Building and fire codes require easy exit on many commercial doors, especially in places where the public gathers: restaurants, shops above a certain size, gyms, churches, offices with a lot of people. The rule is simple to say: a person must get out without a key, without special knowledge and without effort.
Your fire inspector or your landlord will usually tell you which doors need an exit device. If you are not sure, we can look at the door and talk through the options, but the final word on code belongs to your local inspector.
Picking the right device
A rim device is the most common: one latch on the edge of the door, catching a strike on the frame. Vertical rod devices latch at the top and bottom, which suits pairs of doors without a center post. Mortise devices fit doors that already have a mortise lock pocket.
On the outside you choose what people see: nothing at all for an exit-only door, a pull handle that is always open, or a lever with a key so staff can come in. We help you pick based on how the door is actually used during a day.
Finish and weight matter as well. A light-duty bar on a door that sees hundreds of pushes a day will wear out fast, while a heavy-duty device on a rarely used side exit is more than you need. We match the grade to the traffic, and the finish to the rest of your hardware so the door looks cared for.
Repairs we see a lot
The bar pushes but the door does not open. The door closes but does not latch, so anyone could pull it open from outside. The bar is loose on the door, or rattles. The outside key stopped working. On a busy back door these problems build up slowly until one day the door simply hangs open.
Often the fix is an adjustment, a new latch or strike, or a closer that needs tuning. When the device is worn out, we replace it and test the door from both sides. A slow, steady closer and a clean latch are what keep the door both safe and secure.
Signs a panic bar needs attention
Often needed with this
Common questions
Can I lock my exit door with a chain at night?
Please do not when anyone is inside. Chaining an exit is a serious fire hazard and a common inspection failure. Tell us why you want it locked, and we will suggest hardware that keeps the door secure and still lets people out.
Can staff come in through a door with a panic bar?
Yes, with outside trim. A keyed lever or pull lets staff enter, and the bar still opens from inside with one push. It can also be paired with a keypad or card reader.
Will a panic bar fit my glass storefront door?
Usually, with a narrow stile model made for aluminum doors. We check the frame and stile width before quoting, so the device fits properly and does not damage the door.
Do you install an alarm on the exit?
No, we do not install alarm systems. We handle the exit device, its latch, its trim and the door hardware around it. If you want an alarm on the door, an alarm company can add one to the hardware we fit.