Panic Bar Installation in Reading, PA

A rear door used for deliveries may also be an exit that needs to open with a push from inside.

In Reading, we install panic bars that give you that way out while allowing the outside to stay locked. You can also choose an exterior handle operated by a key, so authorized people have a way back in. The right setup depends on how you use the entrance and whether you need access from both sides.

For a pair of doors, the choice of exit hardware depends on which leaves need to open and how they meet when closed. We can help you sort out a setup for your Reading business rather than treating the pair like a single door. If an exit sticks or drags, keep the path clear and avoid forcing it. New hardware alone may not correct the problem, so the sticking or dragging may need separate repair for the exit to work as intended.

At a rear door used for deliveries, we first look at how the opening fits and whether it sticks, drags or closes securely.

We check the existing hardware and the space available for a panic bar, including anything that might get in the way of a cart or stacked goods. If you have a pair of doors, we look at how the two leaves meet and which one you use for deliveries. A sticking or dragging leaf may need attention before an exit device will work as intended.

Before starting, we explain the installation and the choices for entry from outside. You may want the exterior to stay locked, or you may prefer an outside handle operated with a key. Either choice should leave the inside push action usable without a key. For a pair, we explain how the selected arrangement affects use of both openings and access for deliveries. After installation, we check the push action, closing and latching with you, along with any keyed entry you chose. You can see how the opening works from both sides.

If your exit is meant to stay locked from outside, check that the outside handle does not open it without a key.

From inside, a push on the bar should release the door without a key or special effort. Keep a key with you when checking from outside so you do not lock yourself out. Avoid propping the door open, which leaves the entrance unsecured.

Keep the path to the exit clear, and watch for sticking, dragging, or an opening that does not close fully. Call us if the push action feels stiff, the exit does not latch, or the outside handle opens without a key when it should be locked. Those changes may affect both access and security. Avoid forcing the exit, and use lubricant only if the device instructions recommend it.