Have you been thinking
of adding panic bars to your commercial store or building? Maybe you are
interested in them because you’ve heard good things about them. Or, you might
be required by your fire code or property manager to have them installed.
Either way, you are in for a pleasant surprise; panic bars have many advantages
and benefits with no obvious drawbacks. Here in Racine, WI many hundreds of
local businesses and institutional locations use them with great success. Read
on and see how installing panic bars at your firm may be a good thing!
What are panic bars?
We’ve all seen and
used them; some people just didn’t know their name! Panic bars are also called
push bars, crash bars and exit devices. This is because they are horizontal,
spring loaded bars attached to back doors that allow users to push on them and
simultaneously unlock and open the door without any hassle or effort at all.
Panic bars are all over town; in fact, Racine Locksmith has
installed many of them. You can find (and use) these panic bars in movie
theaters, restaurants, retail stores, schools, hotels, churches, public
libraries, clinics, hospitals, office buildings, fine dining, fast food, car
repair shops and thousands more. They are in such use because they work and
they keep people safe and moving along without having to stop, unlock the door,
turn a knob and fight incoming traffic. If you’ll notice; panic bars are always
installed on one-way doors. This is by design. People can’t exit safely or
rapidly if they are dodging folks coming the other way. In almost all cases,
the outside of the door with the panic bar on the inside does not have a door
knob! It may have a lock on it but no handle or knob to grasp or turn. This is
so that people leaving have one easy thing to do; lean on the panic bar and
walk out the door!
Much like buying a new
car and suddenly noticing the same make and model everywhere you look, you’ll
start to notice panic bars wherever you go. This is a good thing; you’ll
appreciate this useful tool and the numerous lives it has saved over the years.
Why the word:“panic?”
Do you know why it is
illegal to yell “fire” in a crowded theater? Of course you do; people would
panic and stampede each other in an effort to get out the door…but what about
when this really happens? The problem may be a fire or a water leak. It could
be a person acting deranged or an armed assailant. Anytime people feel the need
to leave in a hurry there can be problems evacuating the premises. Panic bars
help them do this faster, easier, and with less steps involved.
Do I have to have them?
Maybe you do.
Sometimes having
panic bars installed is a requirement according to building or fire codes.
To be sure, check with your fire department, property manager, architect or
builder of your development. Each locale is different and you’ll want to be
sure.
Do panic bars ever break down?
Anything mechanical
will malfunction eventually. Panic bars are no different. They can become
jammed or stuck in the locked or unlocked position. If this happens, it may
prevent you from closing your doors for the night as it will be hard to “lock
up” with your back door unable to lock. There are some useful remedies that can
help you fix the problem yourself or you can contact your commercial
locksmith in Racine of choice and they can unlock your panic bar so that it
is usable and safe to use once more. Be sure and save your owner’s manual and
model number in case you want to do your own servicing.
Where can you buy panic bars?
You can purchase panic
bars online or in local stores. You can have your builder or local contractor
install them for you or you can buy from them, as well. Our recommendation is
that you buy from a commercial locksmith and have them do the installation and
service if, it is ever needed. Panic bars are a vital part of your building and
should be treated as an integral part of your business equipment. As such it is
worth the investment in quality materials and service and in many cases, you
can write off purchase, service, installation and care as a tax expense. Be
sure to check with your tax professional for the details and documentation
needed.
A commercial locksmith
will have better access to a greater number of panic bar brands and models, and
will be able to provide on-site installation as well as 24-hour emergency care
for it if and when it is needed.
You can also purchase
your panic bars from local home improvement stores, hardware stores and from
national chains like Lowe’s, Home Depot, Sears, and Ace Hardware. The problem
with doing all of this yourself is that you are having to shop, investigate, install and
maintain your panic bars, all on your own. As a business owner or operator,
your time is better spent actually running your company and increasing sales or
service and not doing mundane, do-it-yourself projects that you are not
specialized in.
When questions arise…
As with anything new,
questions will come up. Another drawback to adding panic bars on your own is
that you virtually have no one to answer them for you. Sure, you can ask around
but are the answers truthful and accurate? Why not use a commercial locksmith
and have fast and honest answers to your panic bar questions and problems at a
moment’s notice? For instance, you cannot install a deadbolt lock in addition
to a panic bar. Panic bars are meant to be opened quickly and easily and having
to work a deadbolt lock in addition can be against building codes and a safety
hazard. Your locksmith will be able to advise you on issues and questions like
these anytime they arise.
