Exit hardware includes both panic devices and alarmed exit locks. Panic devices, sometimes referred to as ‘crash bars,’ are used in medium and high traffic areas to allow full latching of the door without hindering egress (exiting). The ease of egress afforded by panic devices has made them the product of choice for areas where people congregate.
Panic hardware is available in a crossbar type and a touch bar type. The most noticeable is the crossbar type. For many years, these were the only type of exit device available. They consist of a round or oval ‘crossbar’ which is held away from the surface of the door by two lever arms and device cases.
The other type of exit device is the touch bar design. This device does not project from the door, but actually touches the door across the full width of the device.
The advantage of the touch bar design is that it is more aesthetically pleasing, generally slimmer in design, and the area which you would depress to exit is usually larger than that of the crossbar design.
On the other hand, and with exceptions, the crossbar type device is almost always made of heavier materials and can usually withstand more abuse than the touch bar devices.
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