Plan ahead Commercial · Ajax
Panic & Exit Hardware
A padlock went on the stockroom's back door years ago for security and nobody has thought about it since, until the walkthrough this week pointed out that the same door is the room's only other way out.
Call now · open 24/7(289) 275-3289In plain words
Electrified exit hardware adds a layer without changing the basic behaviour of the door: a person inside can still leave under one motion of the hand, every time. A request-to-exit switch tells an access-control panel that the pushpad or crossbar was actuated, usually paired with a door-position contact so the panel can also tell a normal exit from a forced or propped door. Electric latch retraction lets a fire-rated opening behave like a push-pull door for staff, provided it relatches automatically on a fire-alarm signal, since that kind of door never carries a mechanical dogging function. An alarm module sounds when the device is used.
How the visit goesThe daycare wants the yard gate and the classroom door alarmed so a staff member hears the moment it opens, without turning either into something a child could be shut behind.
Panic & Exit Hardware · Ajax
How the visit goes
- 1
Accessibility and reach at the door
The assessment also looks at who has to operate the door: mounting height, the force needed to release the touchpad or crossbar, and whether the outside trim's lever or pull suits someone with limited grip or reach. A door that meets a code minimum can still be awkward for the people who use it every day, so this check asks not only what is required but what will work well for the staff and visitors who pass through the opening.
- 2
Labelling, signage and the dogging key
Any signage the opening needs, such as a label identifying the door as an exit or noting an alarm, is fitted alongside the hardware rather than left for later. Where the device carries a dogging function on a standard opening, the key or keyed cylinder for it is handed to whoever the building's management names as responsible, along with an explanation of when dogging is appropriate; on any door that sits in a fire separation, mechanical dogging is left off the device entirely and is never installed as a management choice.
- 3
Entry that stays separate from exit, permanently
The building keeps full control over who enters through the trim on the outside of the door, independent of what happens on the inside. A lost key, a staff change or a new access-control card affects only the entry side; the exit side keeps working exactly as it did on installation day. That separation is the point of the whole installation, and it is worth remembering when any future change is proposed for that door, so entry security is never solved by touching the inside crossbar.
In the van
- Request-to-exit switch
- Signage and labels
- Astragal and mullion hardware
- Installation template and jig
- Force gauge
What affects the quote
- 1
Number of keys or dogging cylinders
Cutting keys for the outside trim and providing a dogging key or keyed dogging cylinder for the device is counted individually, the same way any keyed hardware is.
- 2
Signage and labelling
Any exit signage or alarm labelling the opening needs is a small addition on its own, but it is named in the quote rather than assumed to already exist on the door.
- 3
Outside trim selected
A plain pull is the simplest outside trim. A lever with a key cylinder, or a trim matched to other hardware finishes in the building, involves more parts and more fitting time.
Same fees day, night or weekend.
Panic & Exit Hardware: questions
How is panic hardware different from fire exit hardware?
Panic hardware and fire exit hardware share the same push-to-release action, but fire exit hardware is additionally tested and listed for use on a fire-rated door assembly. That extra listing matters because a fire door has to keep an active latch bolt at all times; it cannot carry a mechanical dogging function the way ordinary panic hardware sometimes can, so the two are not interchangeable on a rated opening.
Who is responsible for keeping the hardware compliant?
The building owner or the party the owner assigns, often a facilities manager, is responsible for keeping exit hardware in working order and for the fire door assembly testing that goes with it. A locksmith installs and services the hardware and can keep records on the owner's behalf, but the ongoing duty to maintain the assembly sits with whoever holds the building.
Can the door be alarmed without making it hard to open?
Yes. An exit alarm module sounds when the device is used, which tells staff a door meant to stay closed has been opened, but it does not add any resistance to the push that releases the latch. The alarm is a notification layer on top of hardware that still opens under one motion, which is why it suits stockroom, dock or perimeter doors where entry through that opening should be rare.
Panic & Exit Hardware near you
Durham, Ontario
Ajax information
- Town
- Ajax, Durham, Ontario
- In business
- 29 years
- Hours
- Open 24/7 · nights, weekends and holidays, same fees
- Phone
- (289) 275-3289
- Visits
- On-site assessment preferred. Request a visit or call.
What the census means at the door
23%
Newer homes. About 23% of homes in Ajax were built in 1980 or earlier, according to the 2021 Census.
New homes frequently come with strikes held by short screws into soft framing. Replacing them with longer screws that reach the stud is inexpensive work that adds real strength, and it is one of the first things a locksmith checks in a newer area.
65%
Mostly houses. Single-detached houses make up about 65% of homes in Ajax (2021 Census).
Families in houses hand keys to children, cleaners, dog walkers and neighbours. A locksmith can set up a keypad on the side door for the household and keep the front door on a conventional key, so access matches how the family actually comes and goes.
Nearby
Open 24/7
Request a visit
A padlock went on the stockroom's back door years ago for security and nobody has thought about it since, until the walkthrough this week pointed out that the same door is the room's only other way…
Call now · open 24/7(289) 275-3289- On-site assessment preferred
- Same fees day, night or weekend
- 29 years in business