Buying guide
Exit devices and panic hardware: what you need to specify
An exit device is specified by device type, the door width it has to fit, whether the opening is fire rated, and the trim on the outside.
The short answer
Exit devices and panic hardware
An exit device is specified by device type, the door width it has to fit, whether the opening is fire rated, and the trim on the outside. Fire rated openings additionally cannot have dogging.
How to choose
What actually decides the part number
Rim versus other typesA rim device latches into a strike on the frame and is the simplest and most common. Vertical rod and mortise types exist for pairs and for specific frame conditions.
Panic versus fire exit hardwarePanic hardware may have dogging, which holds the latch retracted so the door pushes freely. Fire exit hardware may not, because the door has to latch every time. They look similar and are not interchangeable.
Device lengthDevices are made for a range of door widths. A device sized for the wrong width will not mount correctly.
TrimThe outside is either blank, a night latch pull, or lever trim. Lever trim is what makes an exit door usable from outside with a key.
When it is requiredPanic hardware is required on doors serving Group A assembly or Group E educational spaces at occupant load 50 or more, and on Group H high hazard at any occupant load. The trigger is the calculated occupant load of the space the door serves, not how many people use that door.
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You do not need a part number. Send a photo of the hardware and the door it sits on, plus the ship-to zip code, and we will identify it and quote it the same business day.