May 6, 2026 5 min readBy Tim, Open Sesame Lock & Key
Every small-business owner eventually meets the same tension: fire and life-safety rules require people to get out without a key, while loss prevention requires nobody to get in — or walk out the back with your inventory. Panic hardware exists to satisfy both.
What panic hardware is
- A horizontal bar or pad across the inside of an exit door that retracts the latch with a push, no key or knowledge required.
- Exit alarms add a local siren when the door is opened, which deters casual back-door use without locking anyone in.
- Delayed-egress and electrified versions exist, but they carry code requirements and shouldn't be fitted casually.
Common mistakes we're called out to fix
- A padlock, chain, or slide bolt added to an exit door. This is the one that gets businesses cited — and it's genuinely dangerous.
- Exit hardware installed but never adjusted, so the door drags and staff prop it open.
- A rim cylinder on the outside that nobody has rekeyed since three managers ago.
Doing it properly
- Keep exits free-egress from inside, always. Control the outside face instead: a keyed rim cylinder, a key switch, or a controlled-access lever.
- Add an exit alarm where staff shortcuts are the real problem.
- Rekey the exterior cylinders whenever someone with a key leaves, and keep a written key chart so you know who holds what.
- Requirements vary by building, occupancy, and local authority — confirm specifics with your local fire marshal or code official before making changes.