No matter how careful you are and how well you plan ahead, emergency situations are bound to happen. That's why it's crucial to have safe escape routes from your building, which includes ensuring you have manual doors at your emergency exits. It's okay to have electric or automatic doors, but they need to be easy to open manually in a pinch. The most common door mechanism to accomplish this is called a panic bar. This brief guide breaks down their utility and how they benefit your building.

How They Work

Panic bars are horizontal metal bars the extend the length of the door. They replace the standard door knob and handle you're used to with an easy-to-use, foolproof bar that can be used quickly by anyone in any situation. The mechanism they work with is simple: By depressing the panic bar, the user activates the device and unlatches the door, which always opens out, in the direction of egress. 

What Benefits They Offer

Panic bars were designed to simplify the process of opening a door and remove any requirements for manual dexterity. Manual doors with panic bars only need a few pounds of pressure to unlatch and begin opening. This design is life-saving during emergencies, but it also makes life easier for children, the elderly, and the disabled. These doors are ADA compliant, allowing for secure and efficient access to exits. 

From a business standpoint, they can also make your life easier. They are a simple way to allow high volumes of traffic through busy exits, alleviating congestion and making your space more manageable. Installing these manual doors may also save you money on your insurance premiums, since your building will be safer with them. 

How Many You Need

The number of doors with panic bars your building requires will vary based on a number of factors. It's best to work with a professional to ensure that you're meeting local, state, and federal minimums for safety equipment throughout your building. Some things to take into consideration are the industry you work in, the expected and maximum occupancy of your space, and the specific layout of your building. If in doubt, you can never go wrong by installing a panic bar.

If you're looking for help installing your new manual doors, reach out to Southern Ohio Door Controls in Cleves, OH, and serving all of KY. These commercial door experts can install, service, and repair all your doors, and they even offer 24/7 emergency service. Learn more about their manual doors online, and call (513) 353-4793 for their Cleves office and (502) 241-1119 for their Crestwood, KY, office.