If you own a commercial building and operate a business in that location you’re aware of local fire safety regulations and building codes. Whether it’s an office building, a restaurant, or a retail location, they all have to fulfill the requirement of providing an easy way to get out of the building in case of an emergency such as a fire.
According to a report provided by the National Fire Protection Association there were 100,500 nonresidential structure fires in the United States in 2013.
Panic bars, the push bars installed on doors leading outside, allow employees and/or customers get quickly and safely out of the building when disaster strikes. In the workplace OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) requires a continuous and unobstructed path of exit to a place of safety. Crash bars, as panic bars are also known, provide a quick way to escape in an emergency.
Available in a variety styles, most panic bars also come with alarms to prevent people from leaving the building unnoticed. Panic bars can be installed horizontally or vertically on a single or double door. The direction of the bar is not important but it is crucial that the exit device is installed properly and functions the way it is intended to: easy to push down in a crisis situation and to provide access to safety. In addition they also need to adhere to all national safety standards and local building codes and are required on all fire and emergency exits.
If you have a question about panic bars please call Jim Arsenault at 860-678-9797 or email him. He can install or repair panic bars at your business location. Jim is a Master Locksmith with over 30 years experience and licensed in Connecticut.
The panic bar exit devices are smart because people lose a lot of motor function when in a state of panic. I learned that in a safety course and it stuck with me. I think it is interesting that many of the doors are alarmed so people cannot sneak out.
I love that you mentioned that panic bars should be easy to push down in a crisis situation. My sister tends to have a lot of panic attacks, especially in extreme situations. We are thinking of installing a panic bar in our own home so she can feel safe and trusts her environment.
My boss was inspecting the store and he found out that one of the panic bar doors is stuck and he couldn’t open it. I totally agree with you when you said that these types of doors are essential to any business. I will recommend him to contact a commercial locksmith company so that they can come and fix it.