How to Choose The Right Single Door Exit Device for Your Commercial Buildings?

When seconds matter during an emergency, the right exit hardware can save lives. Whether you're a building manager, architect, contractor, or safety officer, understanding single door exit devices is essential for creating safe, compliant spaces. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through everything from how panic bars work to choosing the perfect exit device for your specific application. Keep reading to learn more and make an informed decision for safety, performance, and code compliance.

What Is A Single Door Exit Device?

Many of us only notice a single door panic bar during an emergency. A single door exit device is designed so that anyone inside a building can push the bar and open the door instantly. This is especially critical in stressful situations such as smoke, fire, or crowded environments. A high quality panic bar for single door installation allows people to exit quickly without delay or confusion.

A single door panic bar is specialized hardware mounted on a single-leaf door that allows occupants to exit quickly by simply pushing against a horizontal bar. No turning knobs, no fumbling with locks, no complex operations. Just push and go. This intuitive design works even when someone is carrying boxes, has limited hand strength, or is experiencing the confusion that comes with emergencies.

1. How Does A Single Door Panic Bar Work In Real Situations?

A single door push bar or single door crash bar runs across the inside of the door. When someone presses the bar, the latch retracts immediately and the door opens outward. There is no twisting or gripping required.

The beauty of this design is that it requires no twisting, pinching, or precise hand placement. A person carrying an injured colleague can bump the bar with their hip. Someone with arthritis doesn't need grip strength. A child can operate it as easily as an adult. This universal accessibility is exactly why codes require these devices in public spaces.

Modern single-door push bar mechanisms are engineered to respond to minimal pressure, usually around 15 pounds of force or less, ensuring that even in the worst conditions, the door will open reliably. The latch retracts instantly, the door swings outward (in the direction of egress), and occupants can escape to safety.

Exploring The Main Types Of Single Door Exit Devices

There are several types of single door panic hardware, each suitable for different door structures and performance requirements. Below we explain the most common models and where they are used.

1. Rim Exit Devices Designed For Single Doors

A single door rim exit device is the most widely used design. It is installed on the surface of the door with a latch that connects into the door frame. This type of rim exit device for single door setups is ideal for commercial single door exit device applications, single metal door rim exit device installations, single wooden door panic bar installations, high traffic exit paths

Camax manufactures stainless steel 304 rim exit devices with strong durability and smooth operation. Our touch bar exit devices are certified to ANSI/BHMA A156.3 Grade 1 and UL10C 3 hour fire rating, making them suitable as a fire-rated single door exit device. Both half-length and full-length bar designs are available. Our cross-bar exit devices also meet EN1125, EN1634 1 and EN12211 standards, giving confidence in performance and safety.

2. Mortise Exit Devices Built For Single Doors

A single door mortise exit device has the locking mechanism fitted into the door rather than on its surface. This offers a clean architectural look and strong security performance. Camax mortise panic hardware is designed for interior and steel fire doors, offering stable and safe operation in demanding environments.

These systems are often selected for higher specification commercial projects where appearance and function are equally important.

3. Surface And Concealed Vertical Rod Exit Devices For Single Doors

Another type is the single door vertical rod exit device. These provide top and bottom latching, which increases door stability and security. Camax offers both surface-mounted vertical rod exit devices and concealed vertical rod exit devices depending on project design.

This solution is often chosen when fire code requires two-point latching or where tall doors need extra structural stability.

4. Fire-Rated And Non-Fire-Rated Exit Devices

A single door fire exit hardware installation must meet very specific performance standards. Fire-rated panic bars do not use mechanical dogging, because fire doors must always remain positively latched. Non-fire-rated devices are typically used on general exit doors where fire certification is not required.

Camax manufactures both fire-rated and non-fire-rated single leaf emergency exit door hardware to meet the full spectrum of project requirements, ensuring you have the right device for every application in your building.

5. Electrified Exit Devices For Single Doors

Electrified exit devices integrate electronic components with traditional panic hardware to create intelligent access control points that never compromise life safety. These can operate with alarms, delayed egress, electric dogging, powered latch retraction and system monitoring.

These advanced BS EN 1125 single door exit device solutions maintain full panic functionality at all times. Anyone inside can always exit by pressing the panic bar. However, entry from outside can be electronically controlled, monitored, and logged through integration with access control systems.

How To Select The Right Single Door Exit Device?

Building owners and contractors often ask questions such as how do I choose the right single door exit device for my shop or what type of exit device do I need for a single fire door. The best choice depends on several important factors.

Door material including metal, wood or narrow stile glass

Fire rating requirements for a single fire door panic bar

Traffic and durability level such as BHMA Grade 1

Security needs including single door exit device with exterior trim or single door exit device with exterior handle and lock

Door opening size such as what size single door exit device is needed for a 36-inch door

Certification standards including UL, CE, EN1125, ANSI and BHMA

Budget versus long term reliability

A professional approach ensures that your commercial single door exit device is safe, compliant and long-lasting.

Camax Hardware: A Trusted Manufacturer Of Single Door Exit Devices

Camax Hardware produces a complete range of single door exit device products for global commercial and industrial applications. Our panic bars and single door fire exit hardware are tested to ANSI, BHMA, UL and CE standards to support international compliance and peace of mind.

Our range includes rim exit devices, mortise exit devices and vertical rod panic hardware designed with durable structure, smooth performance and consistent quality. With strong OEM and ODM capabilities, Camax supports brands, distributors and project contractors in developing reliable single door panic bar hardware solutions for schools, hospitals, residential developments, office complexes and industrial sites.

If you are searching for a dependable partner for UL-listed single door panic hardware or grade 1 single door rim exit device manufacturing, our engineering team is here to help you from product selection through to project delivery.

Contact Camax Hardware to Manufacture Your Single Door Exit Devices

A well-designed and certified single door exit device is not only a safety requirement but also a key part of responsible building design. These systems protect lives, support orderly evacuation, meet building code obligations and provide reassurance to everyone inside your facility.

If you need reliable single leaf emergency exit door hardware or specialist guidance on BS EN1125 single door exit device or EN1125 single door panic bar solutions, Camax Hardware is ready to support you with certified quality, OEM and ODM services and professional technical assistance.

For commercial door project support or quotations, feel free to reach out to Camax Hardware.