An Intro to Exit Devices

Where they come from, how they function, and where they're going

If you walk into virtually any high-traffic or commercial-use building, you’ve probably seen and used an exit device—at your local sports stadium, the fast-food business closest to your house, and probably even the building where you work. But what are exit devices, and how did they come to be so ubiquitous?

What is an exit device?

An exit device — sometimes called a panic device or a crash bar — is a type of mechanical door hardware that is used on high-traffic doors that need to provide building occupants with a safe and swift exit. These devices are mounted on the interior of an outswing door, and are operated with minimal force applied to the device’s crossbar or push rail that extends at least halfway across the door’s width. According to life safety code, an exit device must always release the door without prior knowledge of how to operate the device. Any horizontal force on the crossbar or push rail will release the door.

The names panic bar and crash bar were coined to indicate how people, when panicked in a mass evacuation due to an emergency, crashed into the doors to exit.
Commercial building code requirements dictate that safe and easy egress must always be possible in any building area or room where 50 or more people may be gathered. As such, the defining feature of an exit device is that it allows the door to swing out in the direction of the building exit in case of emergency. These devices must always be free to operate from the inside of the area, but they can also be locked to prevent access from the outside.

The History of Exit Devices

In the early 20th century, there were several tragedies that resulted in massive loss of life due to fire or panic crushes in buildings without safe exits—the Iroquois fire of 1903, the Collinwood school fire of 1908, and the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911, to name a few.

In each of these cases, many deaths were the result of a crush that developed in the panic that ensued as victims frantically tried to get out of buildings. In some cases, there were simply not enough doors, but oftentimes, doors were locked from the outside or opened inward, unable to open because of the surge of people.

After the 1911 shirt factory fire, the owner and operator of the building was arrested, put on trial, and convicted for not providing adequate protection for his employees. He was heavily fined and sent to prison. His defense argued that there were no laws defining the degree of protection he had to provide for his workers.
Although the factory owner was still found guilty, his trial set in motion the development of the first fire exit device and the first building codes that would require improved safety measures for buildings. The requirement for safe egress from buildings remains a fundamental concept of today’s codes.

Where are exit devices required?

Local building codes govern where exit devices must be used.

The rules that identify what types of buildings must use exit devices come from the International Building Code® – a model code developed by the International Code Council® and revised every three years.

The Building Code is then made law in state and local jurisdictions along with any local amendments they choose to include. The code will dictate not only when and where an exit device must be used, but also whether additional locks are allowed or not allowed on the opening.

What is the difference between “panic” and “fire exit” hardware?

The International Building Code differentiates between panic hardware and fire exit hardware by the ‘dogging,” or the ability of the device to hold the latch in retracted position. Typically located on exterior, non-fire rated openings, panic hardware can be dogged to minimize the wear and sound that comes with frequent latching and unlatching during daily use—whereas fire rated doors must not have a dogging mechanism.

When the code requires a fire-rated opening and an exit device, fire exit hardware must be installed, ensuring the fire door always latches when it closes to prevent the spread of smoke and flames in the event of a fire. The code requires devices listed as fire exit hardware to have passed the requirements of UL 10C Standard for Safety Positive Pressure Fire Tests of Door Assemblies.

The code also requires both panic and fire exit hardware be listed to UL 305 Standard for Safety - Panic Hardware. Working with experienced specification consultants will ensure the devices specified for your project are properly listed with UL or Warnock-Hersey for their intended application.

What’s next for exit devices?

As commercial facilities modernize, so does the hardware that outfits them. The technology for exit devices has evolved fairly slowly since its conception – but the next generation of exit devices from Corbin Russwin and SARGENT are innovating in leaps and bounds.

Featuring the high strength, security, and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the Corbin Russwin and SARGENT next generation devices minimize catch points, modernize the dogging mechanism, and improve lock status indicator visibility—all while offering elegant aesthetics for each egress point.

With innovation as a driving force in the development process, these exit devices were designed with the future in mind. Among new features such as the high visibility status indicators, users will find robust delayed egress functionality and enhanced motorized electric latch retraction features that are now available for FEMA-certified devices. The new devices also feature additional 5 lb. pressure release options for rim, mortise, and vertical rod device types to comply with California building codes.

Interested in learning more about the next generation of exit devices? {exit_device}