No matter what line of work or industry your Norcross, Georgia local
business is involved in, if you have more than 10-15 people on your
commercial property at any given time, you should strongly consider
investing in panic bars for all exit doors. Most buildings are governed
by fire codes that require the implementation of these panic bars or
similar exit hardware and that it be kept in good working order. This
isn’t just a formality. There are many critical factors that make
panic bars essential for commercial properties.
If you’re not familiar with this type of exit hardware or you only know
the basics, read on to learn why panic bars are vital for your
business.
A Brief Introduction to Panic Bars
Panic bars (also known as push bars or crash bars, depending on who
you talk to) are a form of exit device that affixes to a commercial door
and allows people inside to open the door by pressing down on the bar.
Panic bars are horizontal bars that are installed on the interior of a
door across the center. They contain a spring mechanism behind the bar
so that when the bar itself has pressure applied to it, the door opens.
This allows for a quick exit from a building without any limitations,
not only increasing the safety of your commercial property but also
allowing for greater accessibility for those with physical limitations.
Those extra few seconds panic bars allow versus door knobs may not seem
like much, but they add up quickly during an emergency.
Different models of panic bars can also have different features. All
panic bars have the ability to be locked in the on position so that the
door stays open, which can be utilized during high-traffic times for a
business. Care must be taken during windy conditions when the door is
locked in the open position to prevent it from whipping open or shut and
causing damage or injury. Some panic bars have alarm systems affixed to
them, while others have the capacity to be connected to a building’s
access control system, to alert security if the door is breeched.
The Tragic History Behind Panic Bars
Panic bars work
so well not just because of the physical aspect in which they operate,
but also the psychology behind humans in a crisis. When faced with an
emergency that requires people to quickly evacuate a building, they
immediately will head to the exits. They need to see that other people
are able to get out of the building without any impediment, or they may
begin to panic faster. Panic bars allow a line of people to quickly
move, decreasing anxiety and panic. If people see that exit from a
building is slow or that there are obstructions preventing others from
leaving, they may panic. This is a natural tendency that is built into
our basic instincts as animals, and not everyone can override this.
During a situation such as this, stampedes can occur as many people
rush to the exit. This is how people can become crushed or trampled
during an emergency, which has happened countless times, even in recent
years. Panic bars greatly reduce the risk of this happening and
therefore are a highly worthy investment.
Read more on: Why Panic Bars are Vital for Businesses
