Panic Bars and Fire Codes: Is Your Houston Business Compliant?

I walked into a restaurant in Montrose last week to rekey a lock, and I saw something that made me nervous.

On the back exit door, there was a double-sided deadbolt.

I asked the owner, "What happens if there is a fire in the kitchen?" He said, "We have the key hanging right there on the wall."

That is illegal. And if the Fire Marshal sees it, he will fine you or shut you down.

The Rule: Single Motion Egress

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Houston fire codes are clear: You must be able to exit a commercial building with one single motion.

You cannot:

• Twist a deadbolt.
• Turn a knob and unlock a latch.
• Look for a key.

You must be able to just PUSH and leave.

This is where Panic Bars (or Exit Devices) come in.

"But I Don't Want People Breaking In!"

This is the conflict. You want safety (Fire Code), but you also want security (Burglars).

If you leave the back door unlocked for safety, thieves can walk in. If you lock it with a deadbolt, you violate fire code.

The Solution:

1. Panic Bar with Exterior Trim: From the inside, you push the bar to leave. Always unlocked. From the outside, it is locked. You need a key to get in.
2. Alarmed Exit Devices (Detex): If someone pushes the bar to leave (like an employee stealing trash bags of steaks), a 100-decibel alarm goes off.
3. Vertical Rod Systems: These latch at the top and bottom of the door frame, making them much harder to pry open than a standard latch.

Don't Wait for the Inspection

I have seen businesses scramble 24 hours before an inspection, paying emergency rates to get panic bars installed.

Do a walk-through of your business today. Go to every "Exit" door.

• Can you open it with one hand?
• Do you need a key?
• Do you have to turn two different locks?

If you answered "No" or "Yes" to the wrong questions, call me.

We install Von Duprin, Falcon, and Detex systems that keep the Fire Marshal happy and the burglars out.