Why does the fire department require a panic bar/push bar for the exit doors?

As a commercial business owner or a facility manager you need to know and follow the requirements of fire department. Depending on the type of business and the number of occupants and the hazard level of the workplace. Fire departments constantly updates their existing requirements and adds new fire code requirements that the businesses should know about. Their main purpose is to prepare the building to emergency situations such as fire evacuations. The fire department knows exactly how people act in case of an emergency and they have experienced many cases where lives could have been saved if by simply using a more appropriate door handle.

Why are panic bars required instead of a typical door handle or a knob?

In order to answer this questions let’s imagine a situation where a building with 100 people inside have to evacuate due to a large fire. First of all there are going to be at most three exit doors in a typical building of this size. Assuming the fire will block at least one of the doors we will be left with only two doors to exit from. Now imagine the panic and the adrenaline rush those people would be going through in case of such an emergency. Everyone will pile up in front of the exit door and people would be pushing to get out and the in front of the door trying to turn the doorknob will not be able open the door right away due to people pushing him. It seems like a simple task to turn a doorknob, however with all that pushing around and adrenaline rush it is not an easy task. In emergency cases every second matters and can be the difference between life and death so a doorknob on an exit door for a highly populated place is not a good solution.

How are panic bars safer than a doorknob or handle?

Panic bars are better than door knobs and door handles in two significant ways. Panic bars are extremely durable especially compared to the typical door handles and knobs. Panic bars are specifically made for heavy traffic buildings and they can handle use and abuse. They are also designed so that the whole bar covers the door edge to edge. This is one of the biggest reasons why panic bars are required because in cases of emergency the door will open with a simple push on any part of the panic bar. Going back to the example above if the person is getting pushed then it will not affect his or her ability to push open the door since the panic bar covers the door from edge to edge.

How do you know if your building has to install panic bars on exit doors?

The best way to find out exact fire department requirements on exit doors you should call your city’s building requirements department. Here are the general requirements for a panic bar installation on exit doors so if your business fits one of the following then you might be required to use a panic bar.

1. Educational occupancies that have more than 50 people
2. Assembly and Event centers (Ex: Church, Restaurants) with more than 50 people
3. Any high hazard occupancies might be required to have panic bars regardless of the occupant size.

How can you get a panic bar installed?You can contact a local commercial locksmith to get a panic bar professionally installed. A locksmith can make the fresh cuts on your door and then install a panic bar according to the code from the fire department. If you want to purchase your own panic bar it is important that you check with Underwriters Laboratories in order to make sure the panic bar you are purchasing is approved by them. Underwriters Laboratories does a great job at testing the durability and safety of equipment such as panic bars to ensure that the customers are receiving what is being advertised to them.