Emergency exits must allow people to leave a commercial building quickly and safely. Panic bars, also known as exit devices or crash bars, are designed to release a door when pressure is applied to the horizontal bar.

New York Commercial Locksmith installs, repairs, replaces, and adjusts commercial panic bars for offices, stores, restaurants, schools, apartment buildings, warehouses, event spaces, and other facilities.

How Panic Hardware Works

A panic bar spans part or most of the interior side of an exit door. When someone pushes the bar, the latch retracts and the door opens in the direction of exit.

This design eliminates the need to turn a knob, locate a key, or enter a code during an emergency. It is especially useful in buildings where many people may need to leave at the same time.

Exit devices are available in several configurations, including rim devices, mortise devices, vertical rod systems, alarmed exit devices, and models designed for fire-rated doors.

Signs an Exit Device Needs Repair

Panic hardware should release smoothly and allow the door to close and latch afterward. Service may be needed when:

• The bar is difficult to push
• The latch remains retracted
• The door will not latch
• The device feels loose
• The outside trim does not operate
• The alarm does not function correctly
• The door drags against the frame
• Vertical rods fail to engage
• The door can be pulled open while locked

Because the panic bar works together with the hinges, closer, frame, and strike, the visible device may not be the only source of the problem.

Repairing Panic Bars

Our technicians inspect the full door assembly before making repairs. Depending on the issue, we may adjust the latch, tighten the device, replace internal components, repair outside trim, align the strike, service vertical rods, or correct door positioning.

The door closer may also require adjustment so the entrance closes at the proper speed and latches securely.

Panic Bar Replacement and Installation

Replacement may be appropriate when the device is badly worn, damaged, obsolete, repeatedly failing, or incompatible with the door.

New hardware must be selected according to the door style, traffic level, exit requirements, and any fire-rating considerations.

New York Commercial Locksmith can help keep commercial exit doors secure from the outside while maintaining dependable egress from inside the building.