What Type Door Panic Bar Hardware Do I Require?A panic door bar or exit device looks much like a crossbar. The device is fixed somewhere midway in the length of the door, horizontally. To activate the release lock of a door fitted with this device, the release bar has to be pressed. Once this is done and the release lock is activated by the retraction of the latch bolt, the door can be swung open, allowing people to enter. This is an easy safety device for public utilities. Among all the kinds of panic exit hardware used, the panic bar is the most common. Most of these exit hardware bars have the activation area of the release mechanism extending for not less than across half of the door. These panic bars have a dogging device inbuilt in them, which makes the release bar remain locked down. At this position, the latch bolt is drawn in and the door is useable as a push pin door. External key operation is optional. Being the most common among the panic exit hardware these doors can be seen at all public places. Stores, cafes, restaurants, movie theaters, concert halls, restrooms, galleries, malls, schools universities, laboratories, offices and all governmental buildings Â- you name it and you'll find doors with panic bar hardware. However, if you need to install a panic bar and are not quite sure as to what kind you should install, you could ask yourself a few relevant questions that might help you decide. These are: Is the device to be installed on a double or a single door? Is your door made of wood or hollow metal? Has glass been used anywhere in the door? Is your door made of aluminum with glass used at certain places? Where does the door lead? What is the size of your door? Is the door a fire door or a normal door? Usually all fire exits are marked and would need a fire device, just like doors leading into a hallway or corridor. However, the last point would require you to seek the opinion of your official building inspector and your local fire marshal. If your door is a fire exit, any normal panic device would not suffice. In fact, regular panic hardware cannot be used on fire doors. Standard panic devices have dogging mechanisms, which defeats the whole purpose of the latching feature in the panic hardware. This happens because the dogging device prevents the door from latching positively, when it remains closed. Fire door assemblies should never be fitted regular panic devices, which have dogging devices. There are a quite a few reasons for this. Fire doors should remain closed and positively latched always, as they protect exit corridors, staircases and the other areas of a building, preventing the fire and smoke from spreading. Also the swinging doors must close and latch themselves, after every use. Builders should be careful enough to use only the recommended and approved panic bar hardware for fire doors. |