Choosing an exit device comes down to four questions: Is the door fire-rated? Single door or pair? How much abuse will it take? And how do people enter from outside?
Fire-rated or panic-rated. If the opening is a fire door (check for a fire label on the door edge), you must use a fire-rated exit device: UL listed, with no dogging feature, so the door always re-latches. If it's a regular egress door, a panic-rated device is correct, and mechanical dogging lets you leave the latch retracted during business hours for push/pull traffic.
Single door or pair. Single doors take a rim device: surface-mounted, durable, and the easiest to install and maintain. Pairs of doors typically take vertical rod devices (surface-mounted for simplicity, concealed for appearance) that latch at the top and bottom of each leaf. On many pairs you can instead use a rim device on one leaf with a mullion between the doors, which is more robust and cheaper to maintain than vertical rods.
Grade matters. ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 is the institutional standard for schools, healthcare, and arenas, tested to a million cycles and heavy static loads. For a quiet back office door, a Grade 2 device may be acceptable, but on any high-traffic or abuse-prone opening, Grade 1 costs little more and lasts years longer. Devices like the Marks USA M9900 series are purpose-built for this duty.
Finally, pick outside trim and options: key-locked lever or pull trim for entry, cylinder dogging for controlled hold-open, alarm kits to deter unauthorized use, and electric latch retraction if the door is part of an access control system. Measure your door width (36" and 48" devices are standard and field-sized) and stile type before ordering.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a panic device and a fire-rated exit device?
Both allow instant egress, but a fire-rated device has no dogging (hold-open) feature and is UL listed for fire doors, ensuring the door stays positively latched during a fire. Panic devices can be dogged open for daytime traffic but cannot be used on fire-rated doors.
Do I need a Grade 1 exit device?
For schools, healthcare, retail entries, and any high-traffic or abuse-prone door, yes. Grade 1 is tested to roughly twice the cycles and far higher loads than Grade 2 and is the standard specified for institutional buildings.
Can I put an exit device on a pair of doors?
Yes. Use either vertical rod devices on each leaf, or a rim device with a removable mullion between the doors. The mullion approach is generally more durable and easier to maintain.
Are exit devices required by code?
Building codes generally require panic hardware on egress doors serving higher-occupancy assembly and educational spaces, and on certain electrical rooms. Your local code official makes the final determination.
Can an exit device work with my access control system?
Yes. Options like electric latch retraction, electrified trim, and request-to-exit switches integrate exit devices with card readers, keypads, and intercoms while preserving free egress.