What is a Rim Exit Device?

A rim exit device is a push bar installed on fire doors and emergency exits. Also known as a panic bar or panic hardware, it allows people to quickly evacuate a building during a crisis. Unlike other panic devices, in a rim device, the latch is built into the mechanism itself. A mortise or vertical rod exit device controls the latch, but is separate from it. Rim exit devices are a common feature in schools, hospitals, and public buildings where people may need to egress quickly for their own safety.

Features of a Rim Exit Device

Rim exit devices are generally made from stainless steel. Their heavy duty design ensures durability and reliability. Aside from their strength, they also include several critical features which enhance their safety and functionality.

• Crossbar. Extends across the length of the door. Mounted 34-48 inches above the floor, it contains the latch bolt and push pad. Push pads are designed to unlock with approximately 15 pounds of pressure, allowing everyone to activate them, including children, seniors, and disabled people.
• Fail-Safe. Every exit rim device must open from the inside with minimal effort, even if the door is locked from the outside.
• Locking Mechanism. If the door needs to handle incoming traffic, it requires an integrated lock that opens from the outside, so the maintenance staff and property manager can control access into the building.
• Adheres to Industry Standards. All exit hardware is required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If it’s fire-rated, it has to meet the guidelines laid down by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) as well. It’s the ADA that determines the maximum height and force of a touch bar. The NFPA requires that every door with a rim exit device also has a door closer, to prevent the spread of smoke and flames.
• High Visibility. Part of the reason push bars are made from polished steel is so they’re easy to see, even in low lighting.

Rim exit devices work with any door width. They’re the most common type of panic hardware on single doors. The frame is reinforced to support the strike plate, which experiences a lot of wear and tear, especially in crowded buildings. For double doors, the strike plate is usually installed in a mullion, a vertical bar between the two doors.

Exit Device Trims

Commercial doors often need to accommodate two-way traffic. In this case, business owners have several options when it comes to door hardware.

• Lever Trim. The door unlocks with an ordinary handle. Common in office buildings.
• Pull Trim. Instead of a moving latch, a simple handle lets you pull the door open. Common in retail spaces, where the door needs to be accessible at all times during business hours.
• Keyless Entry Trim. Opens with the help of an electric latch retraction device, such as a keypad or RFID reader. The door unlocks after the user enters a code or scans their fob or key card. A popular choice for high security areas.
• Dummy Trim. Installed purely for aesthetic reasons. Even though the door appears to be functional, the trim device is completely inoperable. Gives the building a uniform appearance, but doesn’t allow the door to be opened from the outside.

Exit trim devices are secured with either a cylinder or deadbolt. They can be paired with other trims or used on their own. Single or double cylinder options are available. Regardless of which you choose, the lock is always controlled by a rim exit device. So while it prevents unauthorized entry, it doesn’t stop people from leaving.

Functions

Exit trim doesn’t all function the same way. Some trims are exit only. Their exterior is blank, no handle or lever, to prevent people from entering from the outside. Other functions include:

• Classroom function. The door can be locked and unlocked from the outside using a key.
• Passage Function. The outside trim cannot lock, so the door is always operable. Used to assist the flow of traffic through interior doors.
• Storeroom Function. Locks the door by default. Once the device has been unlocked, it immediately relocks when the door closes. Allows users to open the door non-handed from the inside but prevents unauthorized persons from accessing it.
• Night Latch Function. Similar to the storeroom function, a night latch is always locked. A key is required to open the door from the outside and the bolt automatically extends as soon as the key is removed.

Dogging

“Dogging” an exit device keeps the latch retracted, so it can be opened by pushing or pulling. It’s normally used in high traffic areas, to save on wear and tear. There are two ways to “dog” a rim exit device.

• Key Dogging. The most common way to dog a door, performed with either a hex key or a cylinder key. Hex keys are the most discreet. Look for a hexagonal hole on the front of the device. Insert and turn the key when the touch pad is depressed to retract the latch. Cylinder dogging uses an ordinary key. Turning it rotates the cam on the cylinder inside the device, retracting the latch and holding it in place.
• Electrified Dogging. If your exit device is connected to an electronic or automatic entry system, you can reprogram it to retract the latch. Electrified dogging is generally more convenient than key dogging, because doors can be dogged from a central location, saving you the effort of going around and dogging each one individually.

If you have dummy trim, dogging is the only way the door will open from the outside. Dogging is not permitted on fire-rated doors, because in the event of a fire, they must be able to latch automatically, to limit the spread of smoke and flames.

Rim Exit Device Service and Repair

Vortex Doors inspects and maintains all types of door hardware, including rim exit devices. We identify and resolve issues before they escalate, ensuring your doors remain safe and reliable at all times. Don’t let a broken door disrupt your business. Contact us and schedule an appointment today!