Panic Bar Installation
in Valley Village

Is a panic bar actually required by code on our door?

It depends on what the space is and how many people use it. Assembly and educational occupancies, and most doors above a certain occupant load, require panic hardware for egress; a small shop's back door often does not. The fastest answer is the line your fire inspector wrote, those numbers tell us exactly what's mandatory. Send us a photo of the write-up and the door and we'll tell you straight whether you need a device and which type.

What's the difference between a fire-rated bar and a standard one?

A fire-rated exit device latches automatically and cannot be dogged down, meaning you can't hold it unlatched, so a rated door stays a fire barrier when closed. A standard panic bar can usually be dogged so the door pushes open freely during business hours. If your door is part of a fire-rated assembly, only the rated, non-dogging device is legal. We confirm which assembly you have before we quote, since putting the wrong one on a rated door will fail inspection.

Can the panic bar set off an alarm when someone uses it?

Yes. We install exit bars with a built-in battery alarm, typically around 100 decibels, that sounds when the door is pushed. It's common on rear exits and stockroom doors in Valley Village storefronts where you need a legal way out but want to know if someone slips through. It arms with a key cylinder on the bar, and the door still opens instantly when pushed, the alarm just announces it.

Will a panic bar fit our existing door?

Almost always, but the fit decides the hardware. Aluminum storefront doors, the hollow-metal rear doors common in 91607 buildings, and older wood doors each take a different mounting style and sometimes a different device length. Single doors are straightforward; double doors and ones with vertical rods need the rod set matched to the door height. Text us measurements or a photo before we come out and we'll confirm the device fits and bring the right one.