Why Commercial Properties Needs Panic Bars

When it comes to building safety, owners and property managers have a big responsibility. Building codes, safety regulations, and other standards are mandatory for every business and building open to the public. These rules must be followed in order to ensure the physical safety of anyone that works in or comes into the building. One such regulation that is particularly important for commercial buildings when it comes to safety is the implementation of panic bars.  

Panic bars are also referred to as crash bars and are an invaluable tool when it comes to building safety. They are placed horizontally across doors that are used for emergency exits, as well as main entrances and exits in commercial buildings. Panic bars are placed horizontally across doors and work simply by pushing a bar inwards towards the door itself. The way that the bar itself works allows for quick evacuation and minimizes the possibility that the door will become jammed. Panic bars can be used in conjunction with security or fire alarms and set to sound when activated when they are placed on emergency or fire exits in a building. 

The History of Panic Bars 

International safety regulations began mandating panic bars after a series of tragic and catastrophic events happened throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s. The first major incident that led to the eventual mandate of panic bars occurred in Sunderland, England in 1883. The disaster the occurred is known as the Victoria Hall Disaster.  During the horrifying incident, 183 children perished after a stampede caused a crowd of children to rush towards one door, subsequently causing some children to fall and become crushed.  

Ultimately, the Victoria Hall Disaster incentivized Robert Briggs to create and patent the panic bolt in 1892. At the same time, new legal requirements in the United Kingdom were implemented that called for a minimum number of outward opening doors in a given building in addition to other safety standards. 

The United States was slower to catch up to the United Kingdom when it came to using panic bars. It would not be until two devastating disasters later that the United States would begin to follow a new set of safety regulations, some of which directly involving panic bars. The first incident in the United States that led to this change happened in Chicago and is known as the Iroquois Theatre Fire. In December of 1903, an overcrowded audience was thrown into a panic when a curtain lit fire after a presumed electrical short-circuit. To make matter worse, the theater had only one exit. As patrons began hurrying out of their seats and towards a singular exit, 602 individuals died from being trampled by the crowd. The accident goes down United States history as both the deadliest theater fire and deadliest single-building fire known to date. 

The second incident that ultimately influenced panic bar regulation in the United States occurred in Collinwood, Illinois. The Collinwood school fire in 1908 left 172 students, one emergency rescuer, and two teachers dead after a fire caused students and facility to flee towards one of two of the building’s only exits, resulting in a stampede. A bottleneck effect occurred at the exits, making it impossible for everyone to exit the building safely. It was after this incident that national attention and outcry forced lawmakers to reevaluate commercial building safety codes. 

How Panic Bars Save Lives 

Panic bars are necessary in emergencies, especially if multiple people are trying to exit all at the same time. Stampedes often occur due to build up that occurs around a door during an evacuation. Panic bars help prevent crowding around doorways during an evacuation, and thus help eliminate the chance that people will become injured or crushed. During fire evacuations, panic bars are especially necessary. History gives us plenty of reasons why panic bars and other building safety measures are so critical and necessary. Countless lives have been saved since panic bars first became mandatory. You do not want to skip out on panic bar installations and other safety measures that go along with them.  

If you are in charge of a commercial building, it is up to you to make sure that anyone inside of the building is able to evacuate quickly and safely in the event of a fire or other emergency. If you have any questions about your building and what specific safety regulations apply to your business, be sure to contact a local locksmith in your area. An expert locksmith can take a look at your building, determine what installations or adjustments need to be made, and ultimately help make sure your business passes and local inspections. Do not skip out on utilizing panic bars wherever necessary to help protect your employees and customers. 

Receive Professional Installations for Your Business Today 

If you are a business owner, the last thing you would want to do is skip out on installing panic bars in your building. Panic bars save lives and are mandatory for businesses all around the world for this reason. If a natural disaster, an intruder, or other emergency occurs and many people need to evacuate the building quickly, panic bars assist in safe evacuation. Do not neglect panic bars and their importance in any business. Contact an expert in your area today that has experience with business locksmithing tasks and panic bar installations. 

Lilburn Pro Locksmith LLC in Atlanta, Georgia is the top locksmith that businesses in the area rely on when it comes to panic bar installations, security upgrades, lock replacements, and other business locksmithing needs. Panic bars are an important component when it comes to making sure that your employees and clients are safe when inside your business. Do not skip out on panic bars or other important safety measures. Lilburn Pro Locksmith LLC can help make sure your building is up to code and will pass any necessary safety inspections. Schedule your installations appointment with one of our expert locksmiths today! 

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