Panic doors are a style of security door that has been around for a long time. They first went into production in the early 1900s and have made their way to just about every fast-food establishment, grocery store back door, and more. You may be curious about how to lock and unlock panic doors. Here is some information that will help you achieve that if you need to:
Why Did Panic Bars Come From?
The concept of the panic bar originated in 1911 in response to a crisis that involved people dying inside buildings. They were dying in fires because the design of the inward-opening doors somehow prevented them from exiting the building to save their lives. The panic bar manufacturer wanted to make it much easier for people to protect themselves, and that’s what the panic bar accomplished.
Why You Need to Keep You Panic Bar Unlocked
Keeping the panic bar unlocked is essential for safety reasons and because of certain mandates. Specific mandates state that panic doors should be easily opened with nothing but horizontal force on the crossbar. The idea is to have it so that people can exit the building quickly without needing extensive knowledge of doors and their mechanisms. Simplicity is the key here, and it saves lives in this case.
How Do You Lock and Unlock a Panic Bar?
Unlocking a push bar door is the easiest thing you can do. It does not require experience or education. The door has a flat bar attached to the inside. Pushing on that flat bar will cause it to retract the latch mechanism and unlock the door. You can then use the door for a quick exit in the case of an emergency. Safety codes and regulations mandate that the release mechanism be activated in the push bar.
There is a way to lock the panic door with a unique key. This key is a hex-shaped key. You can also use a mortise cylinder key to do the job. Turning the key will cause the locking mechanism to work.
The proper way to lock the door is to put the key in the hole and turn it. You must lock the door from the outside as well. Whoever locks the door should check to ensure that it is indeed locked. That’s the best way to keep the premises safe and ensure that everything is and was done properly.
There’s nothing much else to locking an unlocked door with a panic bar. The most important thing is hiring only a reliable company to install a panic door for you. Ensure that you check the business’s credentials, other work, work experience, and the like. You have the right to choose the best provider so that you can ensure that people inside your facility are safe.
You should now fully understand how panic bars work and what you’ll need to do to lock or unlock one. You can feel safe and secure if you have a door with a panic bar at your home or establishment.
Safety is an essential thing for business owners to consider when making decisions about their businesses and their properties, but it can be difficult to keep track of every little detail related to safety. Door access and security is very important to maintaining the overall safety of a commercial property, and panic bars can improve security significantly. Keep reading for some panic bar education to help you understand more about how to keep your property secure.
What are panic bars?
Most people have seen panic bars in commercial buildings on sets of swinging doors and on emergency exits. Panic bars are horizontal accessories that make emergency exits easily accessible. When a person pushes on the panic bar, it triggers a mechanism that opens up the door. Panic bars allow people inside to exit a building while keeping the door locked from the outside, which makes them very popular in commercial settings.
Panic bars are often necessary to keep commercial facilities and businesses compliant with local codes and fire regulations. Regardless of whether they are required or not, lots of business owners opt to have panic bars installed because of the benefits they offer when it comes to safety and security. Panic bars can also be installed on emergency doors to trigger fire alarms when the mechanism is activated.
Deciding whether to install a panic bar
If you’re trying to optimize the security of your business, but you aren’t sure whether it’s necessary to have a commercial locksmith install a panic bar in your building, here are a few considerations to keep in mind:
- Regulations and requirements: One of the best reasons to invest in a panic bar is because it might be required for your business. Do some research to find out if panic bars are necessary to keep your building compliant with local codes and regulations. If they are, it’s important to have them installed as soon as possible to avoid any fines or citations for non-compliance.
- Business traffic: If you have a business where a lot of people congregate, it’s a good idea to invest in panic bars for your doors. Panic bars make it much easier for patrons to exit a business without allowing anyone from outside the building to get inside, so it’s a great option for businesses that see heavy foot traffic and want to provide convenient exit points.
- Hazardous working conditions: If you have a commercial or industrial facility where there’s a risk of chemical exposure, gas leaks, fires or other emergencies, panic bars are wise investments. Installing panic bars gives employees and customers a reliable emergency exit point to keep them safe in the event of an emergency.
Call a commercial locksmith to install your panic bar
If you’re looking for a commercial locksmith to provide panic bar installation, reach out to Artie’s Lock and Key. We’ve been offering comprehensive locksmith services to the area for decades, and continue to offer the best services possible to commercial and residential customers alike. No matter what your particular needs may be, our team is here to assist you with high-quality locksmith services. Find out more about everything we have to offer by giving our team a call today.
