Importance of Panic Bars for Businesses

Panic bars, also known as crash bars, are mechanisms installed on commercial exit doors that allow them to be opened quickly as needed during an emergency situation.

Panic bars operate by opening the door outward when pushed. It attaches to the door itself and functions as a part of it. Some panic bars that are installed on emergency exits or fire doors have an alarm system attached that is designed to set off the alarm if the door is opened. Panic bars can be installed easily and quickly on most types of commercial exit doors. Various models are available to suit the needs and goals of different businesses, but most consist of a wide, horizontal metal bar that is placed on the inner handle of a door and operates via a spring mechanism.

Reasons Why Panic Bars Are Important

1. To Comply With Building Safety Regulations

All businesses have to be under the compliance of safety and fire codes in their area. This includes making sure that the people inside your building, whether employees or customers, can quickly get outside in case of an emergency. Panic bars can help comply with safety regulations for your commercial property. If your building code requires you to have emergency exits, panic bars are a cost-effective, easy choice that has proven to greatly reduce the risk of injury in the case of emergencies. 

2. To Prevent Panic

When an emergency occurs, it’s important for the people inside of your building to be able to get out as fast as possible. This is true not only due to the nature of the emergency itself, but also because of the psychological response triggered by emergencies in human beings. A bottleneck at any of the exits can cause a panic, leading to injury or worse. Even the calmest and most rational person can’t always control this natural instinct. While this may seem farfetched, these tragedies happened many times before these safety codes were enacted to prevent them.

3. To Guard Fire Exits

Fire exits can be equipped with panic bars that are attached to an alarm system which will sound in case of the exit being breached. This can be a valuable tool in case of unauthorized use of the fire door, as well as to alert other people to an emergency when it happens. Sometimes people can accidentally try to use fire exits, especially if there aren’t clear signs. A panic bar in these cases can act as a deterrent, especially when it is clearly posted that an alarm will sound when the door is used.

4. To Lower Insurance Rates

Anyone who owns a business knows the costs that go into building and maintaining it. With everyone on a budget these days, it’s wise to investigate ways to cut costs that are not detrimental to your business. While panic bars requires a small investment up front, by having them installed by a professional locksmith company, most insurance companies will lower your rates. That’s because panic bars are considered a safety feature, and insurance companies reward increased safety measures. Other safety and security features that can help reduce your monthly insurance payments include smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, alarm systems, and child locks on any windows. Contact your insurance company or review your policy for more information.

5. To Prevent Injury and Save Lives

Panic bars have become so widespread not only because of their easy installation, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use, but because panic bars have been proven to prevent injury and even death during emergencies. When an emergency alert is announced, people immediately head for the nearest exits. If there are people ahead of them, they need to be able to see that everyone is getting out smoothly and without being impeded. This is an important psychological factor, because if there is any blocking or obstruction and too many people begin gathering at the exit, it can trigger panic which may lead to a stampede. People can get trampled or crushed during a stampede of this nature, especially if there are many people trying to get out of a single exit. Panic bars allow for the free movement of the door in such situations to allow everyone to get outside swiftly.

All businesses with many employees or that see customers should have every exit outfitted with a panic bar to assist in case of emergency. It’s best to check your building’s fire code to determine what measures need to be in place for you to comply with local laws. Being prepared for an emergency situation will make the potential outcome far more likely to be positive in the event that such an emergency ever does occur.