Panic Bars & Exit Devices
Panic Bar and Exit Device Installation and Repair in Longwood, FL
Fire and building codes expect certain exit doors to open with a single push, with no key, no code, and no special knowledge. That is the job of a panic bar. When a crowd needs to leave a building quickly, nobody has time to turn a knob or find a key, so the door has to release the moment someone presses against it. Lion Locksmith & Security installs, repairs, and replaces panic bars and exit devices for businesses in Longwood and throughout Seminole County. Panic bars and exit devices are one of our core services, and our owner is a second-generation locksmith who handles every job himself.
Panic Bar and Exit Device Services
View of the inside of an exit device head assembly we repaired for a local commercial client.
- Panic bar installation on new and existing commercial doors
- Exit device repair when a push bar sticks, will not latch, or will not release
- Replacement of worn or damaged panic hardware
- Battery-powered exit alarms that sound when someone opens a door
Exit alarms are a good fit for back doors and secondary exits that should only be used in an emergency. The alarm alerts management to unauthorized exits while the door still lets people out. We install battery-powered alarm units, so no wiring is needed.
Types of Exit Devices and Where Each One Fits
A rim exit device is the most common type, with a surface-mounted latch at the edge of the door that catches a strike on the frame. A vertical rod exit device latches at the top of the door, and sometimes the bottom, which makes it a common choice for pairs of doors where there is no center post. A mortise exit device uses a lock body set into the edge of the door for a cleaner look and heavy-duty use. Fire exit hardware is a version of these devices labeled for use on fire-rated doors. The right choice depends on the door, the frame, and how the opening is used.
Which Doors Need Panic Hardware
Not every commercial door needs a panic bar. The requirement depends on how the building is used and on how many people the space is designed to hold. Codes call these the occupancy type and the occupant load. Assembly spaces such as restaurants and event halls, schools, and some day care facilities are the most common places where panic hardware is required on exit doors. Your local fire official decides what your specific building needs, and we install hardware that fits those requirements.
Code Basics for Safe Exits
Panic hardware is mounted between 34 and 48 inches above the floor so anyone can reach it. The force needed to release the latch cannot be more than 15 pounds. When a fire-rated door has panic hardware, it must be fire exit hardware, and that hardware cannot be held in the unlatched position the way some standard panic bars can. These rules come from the life safety and building codes your local fire official enforces. A door that misses any of them can be flagged during an inspection.
Keeping Exit Doors Closing and Latching
A panic bar only works when the door closes and latches every time. Central Florida wind can catch an exit door, throw it wide, and wear out the closer, which leaves the door hanging open or failing to latch. We also install and adjust commercial door closers and handle commercial door repair and alignment, so the whole opening works together. We are bonded, insured, and background-checked, and exit hardware we install comes with a one-year warranty on parts and labor.
Get Your Exit Doors Working Right
We install and repair panic hardware in Longwood, Casselberry, Altamonte Springs, Winter Springs, Oviedo, Lake Mary, and Sanford, along with Volusia and Lake counties. Send us photos of the door, the current hardware, and the frame so we can identify what you have. Contact us for a free estimate on your exit doors, and we can talk it through in English or Spanish.
Panic Bar and Exit Device FAQs
Is an exit device the same as panic hardware?
The terms are used almost interchangeably. Panic hardware is the code term for an exit device that releases the latch when someone pushes on the bar or pad. Fire exit hardware is panic hardware that is also labeled for use on fire-rated doors.
Is a crash bar the same as a panic bar?
Yes. Crash bar, push bar, panic bar, and exit bar all describe the same kind of device. Each one releases the latch when someone pushes against it, so the door opens in one motion.
Do all exterior doors need panic hardware?
No. Codes require panic hardware based on the occupancy type and the number of people the space is designed to hold. The building code generally requires it in assembly and educational spaces with an occupant load of 50 or more, while NFPA 101 sets the threshold at 100 or more for those occupancies. Check with your local fire official, because the code your jurisdiction adopts controls the answer, and the National Fire Protection Association publishes NFPA 101 if you want to read the requirements yourself.
Does a fire door need a panic bar?
A fire door that serves an area requiring panic hardware needs fire exit hardware, which is a panic device labeled for fire-rated doors. Fire exit hardware must latch every time the door closes, so its latch cannot be held retracted with a dogging key. A standard panic bar cannot be used in place of fire exit hardware on a fire-rated door.
How do you fix a push bar door that will not latch?
The usual causes are a misaligned door, a worn latch, a loose strike, or a door closer that lacks the force to close the door fully. Tightening the hardware or adjusting the strike sometimes solves it. When the problem comes back, the door or closer usually needs attention along with the exit device.
Can you install a panic bar on a double door?
Double doors can take panic hardware. Pairs usually use vertical rod exit devices, or a removable center post with rim devices on each leaf. The right setup depends on the frame, the door construction, and whether both doors need to open, so send us photos of the opening and we will tell you what it needs.
How much does panic bar installation cost?
The price depends on the type of exit device, the door, and whether you need an alarm or fire exit hardware. A rim device on a single door costs less than a vertical rod device on a pair of doors. Call us for a quote on your exit doors.
Do you install exit devices in Winter Springs?
Yes. Businesses in Winter Springs are a short drive from our Longwood base. We also work with businesses in nearby communities north of Orlando. Share the address and a few photos of the door to get started.