Commercial service
Panic bars and exit devices in Ottawa
A panic bar opens from inside under any circumstances, including in the dark by someone who has never used it.
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Typical arrival in Ottawa
Quoted
Typical starting price
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Insured and bonded, 12+ years
How it works
A panic bar opens from inside under any circumstances, including in the dark by someone who has never used it. Consequently it is life-safety hardware rather than convenience hardware. Urban Locksmith supplies, fits and services exit devices across Ottawa.
- Step 1
Door assessed
Single or double, rated or not.
- Step 2
Rating confirmed
Fire doors need fire-rated devices.
- Step 3
Device fitted
Rim, mortise or vertical rod as required.
- Step 4
Tested under load
Single motion release, every time.
What an exit device must do
It must release with a single motion, using body weight if necessary, without prior knowledge. Consequently anything requiring a twist, a key or a second action fails the test. Furthermore, the device must work when the building is dark and crowded. Therefore chaining, padlocking or disabling an exit device is both dangerous and a serious compliance failure.
Rim, mortise and vertical rod
Rim devices mount on the door face and suit single doors. Meanwhile mortise devices sit inside the door edge for a cleaner look and heavier duty. By contrast, vertical rod devices latch top and bottom, which suits double doors with no centre mullion. Consequently the door configuration decides the type rather than budget.
Typical starting price
Quoted
Usually, provided the door and frame suit the device type.
Fire rating changes the rules
Fire-rated doors need fire-rated exit devices, and the assembly must stay certified. Consequently you cannot fit a non-rated device to a rated door, and dogging the latch open is not permitted on fire doors. Furthermore, modifications can void the rating entirely. Therefore Urban Locksmith works within the certification rather than around it.
Servicing before it fails
Exit devices take heavy use and eventually drift out of alignment. Consequently latches stop engaging, or the bar develops travel before it releases. Moreover a door that does not latch is not secure even though it looks shut. Therefore an annual check is worth booking, because a failed exit device is either a security problem or a safety one.
Questions about panic bars and exit devices
Can we lock a panic bar from outside?
Yes, with an outside trim. However, it must always release from inside.
Can we chain an exit door at night?
No. That is dangerous and a compliance failure.
What is dogging?
Holding the latch retracted for trading hours. However, it is not permitted on fire doors.
Do panic bars need servicing?
Yes. An annual check catches alignment drift before it fails.
Can you fit one to an existing door?
Usually, provided the door and frame suit the device type.
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Where we cover
Across Ottawa and every community within an hour’s drive — 47 areas in total, from downtown out to Kanata, Barrhaven, Carleton Place, Kemptville and Rockland. You get an honest arrival window on the phone rather than a number chosen to win the booking.