Exit Doors with Panic Hardware

Any building with significant occupant load must include exit doors along its required egress paths. The defining characteristic of an egress door is that it must unlock easily and immediately: free of obstructions, chains, locked latches, or any keyed lock that would impede its use during an emergency.

The hardware that provides this behavior is the exit device (panic hardware), which allows the door to be opened from the inside by simple push of a touchpad. While the exit device provides free egress from the inside at all times, ingress from the outside is often restricted by pairing the exit device with an outside trim or keyed lever trim.

Door handing is critical on egress openings: while openings can be left-hand or right-hand as required, egress doors must never be reversible — they must always swing in the natural direction of egress travel.

When a fire rating is not required, exit doors may use a honeycomb core — required if the door will be finished with an electrostatic paint system.