Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 22-08-2025 Origin: Site
When it comes to securing a commercial building, the focus is often on preventing unauthorized entry. However, ensuring safe and swift exit during an emergency is just as critical. This is where exit devices come in. These specialized door hardware components are essential for safety, security, and code compliance in public and commercial spaces.
Understanding the different types of exit devices available is the first step toward choosing the right solution for your building. This guide will walk you through the most common types of exit devices, their applications, and what you need to consider before making a purchase.
Exit devices, also known as panic bars or crash bars, are mechanical door-opening mechanisms that unlatch a door when a person pushes on the bar. Their primary function is to allow for fast and unencumbered egress during an emergency, such as a fire, without requiring prior knowledge of how the hardware works. A simple push is all it takes.
These devices are mandated by building codes in many commercial and public facilities, including schools, hospitals, theaters, and large office buildings, especially for doors that are part of a designated fire exit or egress path.
Exit devices can be categorized based on their design and mounting style. The three primary types you'll encounter are the touch bar, cross bar, and integral styles. Let's look at each one.
The touch bar is the most prevalent type of exit device used today. It features a flat bar or pad that extends across a significant portion of the door's width. When pressure is applied to any part of the bar, it retracts the latch, allowing the door to open.
· How it works: The mechanism is housed within the bar itself. Pushing the bar activates an internal lever system that pulls the latch bolt from the door frame.
· Best for: High-traffic areas like shopping malls, schools, and hospitals. Their modern, streamlined appearance makes them a versatile choice for various architectural styles. They are also ADA-compliant, as they are easy to operate for individuals with disabilities.
· Variations: Touch bar devices are available in rim, mortise, and vertical rod configurations, which we will discuss in more detail later.
The cross bar style is the original design for panic hardware and is still used in specific applications. It consists of a horizontal bar that pivots when pushed, activating a release mechanism. This style is often chosen for its aesthetic, which can complement traditional or historic building designs.
· How it works: Pushing the bar causes it to swing inward and upward, which operates the latching mechanism to release the door.
· Best for: Buildings where a classic or industrial look is desired. They are also common on glass doors because their mounting points are at the edges of the door, minimizing hardware visibility on the glass itself.
· Considerations: While functional, the cross bar design can be less user-friendly than the touch bar, especially in a panic situation where people might push against the door instead of the bar.
Integral exit devices are built directly into the door's construction, offering a seamless and minimalist look. The release mechanism is often a recessed handle or lever that is integrated into the door's face, blending in with the overall design.
· How it works: The user pushes a lever or handle that is flush with the door, which retracts the latch mechanism hidden within the door's core.
· Best for: High-end architectural applications where aesthetics are a top priority. They provide a clean, unobtrusive appearance that doesn't interfere with the door's design.
· Considerations: Because they are integrated, these devices are typically supplied with the door as a complete assembly from the manufacturer. Retrofitting them onto existing doors is generally not feasible.
Beyond the style of the bar itself, exit devices are also classified by their latching mechanism. The type of latch determines how the device secures the door to the frame.
A rim exit device is the simplest and most common type. It features a latch bolt that protrudes from the device itself and engages with a strike mounted on the surface of the door frame.
· Installation: They are surface-mounted on the interior of the door, making them easy to install and retrofit.
· Application: Ideal for single doors or the active leaf of a pair of doors where one door has a surface-mounted strike. They are highly reliable and suitable for most standard exit doors.
Mortise exit devices use a mortise lock body, which is installed into a pocket cut into the edge of the door. This is similar to a standard commercial lever handle lock.
· Installation: This type requires a mortise pocket in the door, making installation more complex than a rim device. They are often specified for new doors.
· Application: Mortise devices offer a higher level of security than rim devices because the latch is protected within the door. They are often used on exterior doors or in areas where enhanced security is needed.
Vertical rod exit devices secure the door at the top and bottom of the door frame. They are used for pairs of doors where both doors need to be active for egress, without a center mullion (the vertical post between the two doors).
· Installation: These can be surface-mounted (SVR) with rods visible on the door's face or concealed (CVR) with rods hidden inside the door.
· Application: Essential for double doors that serve as a main exit, allowing for a wide, unobstructed opening when both doors are opened.
· Considerations: Vertical rod devices can sometimes require more maintenance to ensure the top and bottom latches align correctly with their strikes.
Choosing the right exit devices involves more than just picking a style. You need to consider building codes, door type, traffic levels, and security requirements. For any commercial or public building, consulting with a hardware professional or a locksmith is the best way to ensure you select a compliant and effective solution that keeps your occupants safe.
