Phoenix Panic Bar Service
Valley-Wide Panic Bar Installation & Repair
Rim, mortise, and vertical rod exit devices installed, replaced, and repaired to fire and egress code.
Commercial Panic Bar Service in Phoenix
ACME Locksmith installs, replaces, and repairs panic bars across the Phoenix metro. We are a licensed, veteran-owned company (ROC #271563), in business since 1997, with four valley shops and more than 170,000 jobs completed. A panic bar, also called an exit device or crash bar, lets people leave a building in one motion, to meet building codes, while keeping the door secure from outside. We fit rim, mortise, and vertical rod devices in commercial grade 1 and grade 2, and we make sure every door meets free-egress and fire code. Not sure what your building requires? We are.
Types of Panic Bars
We match the device to your door and your code.
Rim exit devices
Surface-mounted on the inside of the door, latching to a strike on the frame. The simplest and least expensive type, common in strip malls and restaurants. Installed by a licensed locksmith, roughly $600 to $1900 depending on grade and exterior trim.
Mortise exit devices
A lock body set into a pocket in the door, more secure and tamper-resistant, common in larger buildings. Professionally installed, about $900 to $2700 depending on parts and finish.
Vertical rod exit devices
Used on double doors with no center mullion, latching at the top and bottom of the frame. Surface or concealed rod (the rods are inside of the door so they can’t be seen). The costliest to replace, about $1100 to $4100 installed.
Push Paddles
Though not a panic bar, push paddles are a low cost solution for push to exit, and can be used in place of panic bars on many doors.
Panic Hardware vs Fire Exit Hardware
Every exit device is labeled either Panic Hardware or Fire Exit Hardware, and the label has to match the door. Panic hardware can be dogged down, which holds the latch open so a busy door swings freely during business hours and the hardware wears less.
Fire exit hardware on a fire-rated door cannot be dogged, because the door must always latch when closed to hold back fire. The panic bar must carry the same fire rating as the door to meet building code.
Styles vary too: a touch bar with a flush push pad is the most common today, a cross bar presses down to release, and an integral device recesses into the door so it barely projects. We help you pick the right style and function for the opening.
What Panic Bar Service Includes
New installation
Install a code-compliant exit device on an outward-swinging door, sized and prepped for the opening, that meets city building codes.
Replacement
Swap a worn or failed device, matching the type and function so the door stays code compliant.
Panic bar repair
Fixes latches that stick, bars that bind, panic bars that don’t dog down properly, and rods out of adjustment so the door opens in one motion every time.
Exterior trim
Exterior trim is the hardware on the outside of the door. Examples: levers and pull handles.
Dogging repair
Dogging down a door involves turning an internal screw that holds the panic bar in place, just as if it had been pushed open. This keeps the door open, free to swing, at all times, useful for customer-entry doors. Dogging setups can fail over time.
Non-fire devices to stay unlatched during business hours but fire rated doors cannot.
Replacement Dog down keys
Dog down keys (dogging wrenches) are the keys that insert into the panic bar to turn the screw that will hold the panic bar in during business hours.
A typical value-priced panic bar replacement in Phoenix runs about $600 to $1100 installed. Higher grades, decorative finishes, fire-rated devices, and exterior trim add cost. We urge you to skip the ultra-cheap imports, the liability and short lifespan are not worth the savings, and you always get the price before any work starts.
Why Panic Bars Exist
Exit devices were created after disasters like the 1903 Iroquois Theater fire, where over 600 people died in part because complicated door locks trapped them inside. The goal is a door so simple you could crash into it and still get out, while staying locked from the outside.
If your panic bars do not allow free egress, you may be liable for any injuries in an emergency. Anything added to a door that defeats single-motion exit is both dangerous and a code violation, so always confirm replacement parts meet current code.
Serving the Phoenix Valley
We serve the entire Phoenix Valley from four shops: Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Gilbert, with mobile service across the metro.
What Phoenix Businesses Say
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I had such a wonderful experience with ACME!
Mike and Matt were a dream team, and they had the door to my business operating like new in no time. They were both incredibly informative, explaining the -
Thanks so much! I had a great experience with Ryan. He went the extra mile to fix my jammed lock and make sure the door to my business was secure. He was very knowledgeable and considerate with his advice. Great customer service when
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Very knowledgeable , budget-friendly and efficient service! Locksmith arrived within a couple hours of my inquiry to rekey two locks for my business. Big Mike was wonderful to work with; I'm another fan of the Big Mike Fan Club. … More
Need a Panic Bar Installed or Repaired?
Code-compliant exit devices for Phoenix businesses. Call or schedule today.
