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What Is Exit Hardware?

Exit hardware — also called panic hardware or exit devices — refers to the door hardware mechanisms that allow occupants to quickly exit a building in an emergency by pushing on a horizontal bar or touchpad. Exit hardware is a life-safety product governed by building codes, fire codes, and accessibility standards. Getting it wrong isn't just a compliance issue — it can be a life-safety failure.

This guide covers everything architects, contractors, facility managers, and building owners need to know about specifying, selecting, and installing exit hardware correctly.

Panic Hardware vs. Exit Hardware: What's the Difference?

These terms are often used interchangeably, but there is a technical distinction:

• Panic Hardware refers specifically to devices tested and listed to ANSI/BHMA A156.3 for use on doors where panic egress is required — typically assembly occupancies (theaters, stadiums, churches) where large crowds must exit quickly.
• Exit Hardware is a broader term that includes panic hardware plus fire exit hardware, which is additionally tested to UL 305 for use on fire-rated door assemblies.

In practice, most commercial projects require fire exit hardware because the egress doors are also fire-rated. Always verify the fire rating of your door assembly before specifying hardware.

When Is Exit Hardware Required by Code?

Exit hardware is required by the International Building Code (IBC) and NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code) in the following occupancy types:

• Assembly occupancies (Group A) — any space with an occupant load of 50 or more, including restaurants, theaters, houses of worship, and event spaces
• Educational occupancies (Group E) — schools, daycare centers, and similar facilities
• High-hazard occupancies (Group H) — facilities handling hazardous materials
• Institutional occupancies (Group I) — hospitals, detention facilities, and assisted living (with specific exceptions)

Some jurisdictions also require exit hardware on certain business (Group B) and mercantile (Group M) occupancies based on occupant load. Always verify with your local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

Types of Exit Devices

Rim Exit Devices

The most common type. The latch bolt mounts on the face of the door and engages a strike on the door frame. Rim devices are used on single doors and the active leaf of pairs. They are the easiest to install and the most widely specified.

Best for: Single doors, active leaf of pairs, standard commercial applications.

Mortise Exit Devices

Combines a mortise lock body with a panic bar actuator. The mortise lock is recessed into the door edge, providing deadbolt, latchbolt, and sometimes auxiliary latch functions in a single unit. Mortise exit devices offer the highest security and are common in high-security or high-traffic applications.

Best for: High-security applications, doors requiring deadbolt function, upscale commercial projects.

Vertical Rod Exit Devices

Uses rods that extend vertically from the device to strike points at the top and bottom of the door. Available in surface vertical rod (SVR) and concealed vertical rod (CVR) configurations. CVR devices have the rods routed through the interior of the door for a cleaner appearance.

Best for: Pairs of doors without a center mullion, doors where a rim strike is not practical.

Concealed Vertical Rod (CVR) Exit Devices

The rods are concealed within the door, providing a clean aesthetic. Requires a door prepared for CVR hardware. More expensive and more complex to install than surface vertical rod devices.

Best for: Architectural projects where aesthetics matter, glass doors, aluminum storefront doors.

Touchpad Exit Devices

Instead of a crossbar, these use a smaller touchpad actuator. They meet panic hardware requirements while providing a more modern, low-profile appearance. Popular in office buildings, hotels, and retail environments.

Best for: Modern commercial interiors, applications where a full crossbar is not desired.

Fire Exit Hardware: What Makes It Different?

Fire exit hardware must meet two standards simultaneously:

1. ANSI/BHMA A156.3 — panic hardware performance standard
2. UL 305 — fire exit hardware listing, which requires the device to remain latched and functional during a fire

Fire exit hardware is required on any fire-rated door assembly that also requires panic egress. The hardware must be listed for the specific fire rating of the door (20-minute, 45-minute, 60-minute, 90-minute, or 3-hour).

Critical rule: You cannot use standard panic hardware on a fire-rated door. It must be specifically listed as fire exit hardware. Mixing these up is one of the most common — and most dangerous — specification errors in commercial construction.

ADA Requirements for Exit Hardware

Exit hardware must comply with ADA Standards for Accessible Design (2010 ADA Standards, Section 404.2.7):

• Hardware must be operable with one hand
• No tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist required
• Operating force must not exceed 5 lbs for interior doors (15 lbs for exterior doors in some jurisdictions)
• Hardware must be mounted between 34" and 48" above the finished floor

Standard crossbar panic hardware meets ADA requirements because it can be operated by pushing with any part of the body. Touchpad devices also comply. Knob-operated exit devices do not comply and should not be specified on accessible routes.

Dogging: What It Is and When It's Allowed

Dogging is the ability to hold the latch retracted so the door operates as a push/pull door without actuating the panic bar. This is useful in high-traffic areas during business hours.

Important: Dogging is NOT permitted on fire exit hardware. Fire-rated exit devices must always keep the latch engaged to maintain the integrity of the fire-rated assembly. Specifying a dogging function on a fire door is a code violation.

On non-fire-rated doors, dogging can be achieved with a hex key (standard dogging) or electrically (electric dogging), which allows the door to be remotely controlled.

Electric Options for Exit Hardware

Modern exit hardware is available with a range of electrical functions for access control integration:

• Electric latch retraction (ELR) — electrically retracts the latch for free egress or access control
• Electric dogging — remotely holds the latch retracted
• Request-to-exit (REX) sensor — triggers an access control signal when the bar is pushed, allowing the door to be monitored
• Alarm — sounds an audible alarm when the door is opened, used on emergency-only exits

Top Exit Hardware Brands

The commercial door hardware industry has several trusted manufacturers of exit devices:

• Von Duprin — the original inventor of the panic bar (1908) and still the industry standard. The 99 Series and 98 Series are among the most specified exit devices in the US.
• Sargent — known for high-quality mortise exit devices and a wide range of trim options.
• Corbin Russwin — strong in institutional and healthcare markets.
• Yale — the Yale 7000 Series is widely used in commercial and institutional applications.
• Detex — specializes in alarm exit devices and perimeter security hardware.
• Precision Hardware — value-oriented option for standard commercial applications.

How to Specify Exit Hardware: A Step-by-Step Checklist

1. Determine the occupancy type and occupant load to confirm whether exit hardware is required by code.
2. Verify the fire rating of the door assembly — if fire-rated, you need fire exit hardware (UL 305 listed).
3. Determine the door configuration — single door, pair without mullion, pair with mullion — to select the correct device type (rim, mortise, vertical rod).
4. Confirm ADA requirements for the opening.
5. Determine if electrical functions are needed for access control integration.
6. Select the trim (lever, knob, pull) for the exterior side of the door.
7. Verify the finish matches the rest of the door hardware specification.
8. Confirm the device is listed for the door's fire rating if applicable.

Common Exit Hardware Mistakes to Avoid

• Using panic hardware (not fire exit hardware) on a fire-rated door
• Specifying dogging on a fire-rated opening
• Selecting the wrong device type for the door configuration
• Forgetting to specify the exterior trim (the exit device only controls egress — you still need trim for entry)
• Not verifying the device is listed for the correct fire rating
• Ignoring ADA requirements on accessible routes

Shop Exit Hardware at Park Avenue Locks

Park Avenue Locks carries a comprehensive selection of commercial exit devices from Von Duprin, Yale, Sargent, and other leading manufacturers. Whether you're specifying fire exit hardware for a school, panic hardware for a restaurant, or an electric exit device for an access-controlled opening, our team can help you get the specification right.

Browse our exit hardware selection or contact us for project-specific guidance and code compliance support.