Panic Bar Installation in Lower Merion, PA

A pair of doors may need to open together to provide a wide passage.

In Lower Merion, we install panic bars for business entrances and exits where a push from inside needs to release the opening. A paired opening has more to consider than a single one: each side may need its own device, and the way the two sides meet affects how they close and stay secured. We choose a setup for how you use the opening, including whether both sides need their own push devices or one side stays secured when not in use.

Keeping an exit locked from outside does not have to mean locking people in. You may want an outside handle operated by a key, or no outside entry at all. We explain how those choices affect access while keeping the push to exit function in mind. If an exit in Lower Merion sticks or drags, its condition matters when choosing hardware. Adding a device alone may not correct a side that rubs or fails to close, so we take that problem into account when considering the setup.

We start by looking at the door, its frame, and how it closes.

We also check the door material and the space available for the exit device. If the door sticks or drags, we look at whether that movement could keep the device from latching or releasing properly. A door that does not move freely may need repair before installation. On a pair of doors, we look at how the two leaves meet and which ones need to open from inside.

Before starting, we explain the hardware choices and how each one affects entry from outside. You may want no outside handle, or a handle that lets you enter with a key while keeping the door locked to others. We also go over any existing hardware that needs to be removed or replaced. After installation, we check the operation with you: the door should latch when closed and open with a push from inside. We also check that it stays locked from outside and test the key if you chose keyed entry.

After installation, keep the path on both sides of the doors clear of boxes, mats and other objects.

If your pair is set up to open together, try the push release from inside and watch that both doors move freely and close into place. Check the outside handle and key as well, so you know the entrance still works the way you intended. Avoid propping either door open or tying the pair together.

Watch for dragging, a push bar that feels loose, or a door that no longer closes securely. Call us if either door sticks, the pair no longer moves as intended, or the outside key becomes hard to use. Do not force the doors or try to adjust the hardware yourself. A door that drags can keep the latch from engaging, even when it looks closed.