Panic Bar Not Working? Repair or Replace, Code Basics and Who Fixes Exit Devices in Toronto
KDL Locksmith installs and repairs panic bars and exit devices on commercial doors across Toronto and the GTA. Call 416-303-0255 if a push bar won't open the door, won't latch, sticks, or has come loose. Most panic bars can be repaired. The cause is often a worn latch, a bent vertical rod or a door that has dropped out of line, not a dead device.
Below: who fixes panic bars, when a repair is enough and when to replace, why an exit device stops opening or locking, the code basics every building owner should know, and what to check before you call.
Exit door not working right now? Call 416-303-0255, or request service online.
Who fixes panic bars in Toronto?
Panic bars (also called push bars, crash bars or exit devices) are fixed by commercial locksmiths and door hardware technicians. KDL Locksmith repairs, replaces and installs them on commercial and multi-unit buildings across Toronto and the GTA. We're a family business, in the trade since 1988, licensed and insured.
We work on the common types you'll find on GTA exit doors:
Rim exit devices: the latch sits at the end of the bar and catches a strike on the frame. The most common type on single steel doors.
Surface vertical rod devices: rods run up and down the face of the door to latches at the top and bottom. Common on double doors.
Concealed vertical rod devices: the same idea with the rods hidden inside the door, often on aluminum storefront doors.
Mortise exit devices: the latch is a lock body set into the edge of the door.
Outside trim and cylinders: the lever, pull or key cylinder on the outside that lets people in when the door is locked.
If you can, tell us the make printed on the bar or end cap and send a photo. It often tells us which part is needed before we arrive. If the outside key needs to be harder to copy, we can fit high-security cylinders; KDL is an authorized Mul-T-Lock and Medeco dealer.
Can a panic bar be repaired instead of replaced?
Usually, yes. A "broken" panic bar often needs an adjustment or a single part. Repair is the right call when:
The latch doesn't line up with the strike because the door has sagged or the hinges are loose
A vertical rod is out of adjustment, so the top or bottom latch drags or doesn't catch
A spring, latch, strike or outside trim part is worn or broken, and parts are still made for that model
The device is loose on the door because screws or through-bolts have worked free
The dogging feature (which holds the latch retracted) is stuck or the dogging key is lost
Replacement makes more sense when:
The model is discontinued and the part you need isn't available
The bar or the device body is cracked, bent or worn out, or it has been repaired again and again
It no longer latches or releases reliably, even after adjustment
The device is on a fire-rated door and isn't labelled for fire doors, or its label is missing
The door's use has changed, for example a door that now needs access control or a different outside function
We'll tell you which one it is, and why, before any work starts.
Why won't my exit device open the door?
When you push the bar and the door stays shut, the cause is usually one of these:
Latch and strike out of line: a sagging door, loose hinges or a shifted frame makes the latch bind on the strike.
Pressure on the latch: wind, building air pressure, a closer that is set too strong or a weatherstrip that is too tight pushes the door against the latch so it can't retract.
Vertical rod problems: on rod devices, one latch retracts but the other hangs up, so the door stays held at the top or bottom.
Worn or broken internal parts: a failed spring or linkage means the bar moves but the latch barely moves.
Electrified hardware: if the door is tied into access control, a power, wiring, mag lock or electric strike fault can look like a broken bar.
Pull the door toward you slightly and push the bar again. If it releases, pressure on the latch is the likely cause. If the frame or door is damaged, see how damaged door frames are repaired. If it's electrified, see our access control and electric strike work.
Why doesn't my exit door lock when it closes?
A panic bar should latch on its own every time the door closes. When it doesn't, check these first:
The device is dogged: someone has used the hex key or cylinder to hold the latch back, so the door can be pulled open from outside without a key. Undog it with the key, or call us if the key is lost or the dogging is stuck.
The door doesn't close all the way: a weak, leaking or badly adjusted closer stops the door short of the latch. See door closer repair or replacement, and our guide to door closers and the code.
The latch misses the strike: the door has dropped, or the strike has moved.
The outside trim is set to "always open": some trims can be keyed to stay unlocked.
An exit door that won't lock at closing time is a security problem. An exit door that won't open is a safety problem. Either one is worth a call.
Panic hardware and the code in Ontario: the basics
This is a short overview, not legal advice. For your building, check with your designer, your fire inspector or your local fire department.
Exit doors must open from the inside without a key. Ontario's Building Code requires exit doors to open from the inside without a key, special device or special knowledge. Never chain, padlock or bar a required exit.
Some exits need panic hardware. The Building Code requires panic hardware on certain exit doors, mainly in assembly occupancies such as restaurants, schools and places of worship above a set occupant load, and in some high-hazard industrial spaces. Whether a given door needs it depends on the building's use and occupancy.
Fire doors need fire exit hardware. On a fire-rated door, the device must be labelled for fire doors, and the door must close and latch every time. Fire exit hardware has no mechanical dogging, because the door has to latch during a fire.
Owners keep it working. Ontario's Fire Code puts the job of keeping exit doors and fire doors working on the building owner. Fire inspectors can check that exit doors open, close and latch.
Standards for the hardware. Exit devices are commonly made to the ANSI/BHMA A156.3 standard, and panic hardware and fire exit hardware are tested and listed for those uses by a lab such as UL or ULC.
When we repair or replace exit hardware, the door should still open, close and latch the way its code requires. If you're unsure whether a door needs panic hardware, ask the person who signs off on your building's fire safety plan.
What to check before you call
Is it dogged? Look for a small hex hole or key cylinder on the bar. If the latch stays in, the device may be dogged.
Does the door close fully? Let it close on its own. If it stops short or bounces, the closer or the frame is the problem.
Look at the latch and strike: check for rubbing marks, paint, bent metal or loose screws.
Rods: on double doors, check whether the top or bottom latch is hanging up.
Power: if the door is on access control, check whether the reader and the rest of the system still work.
Don't remove, wedge or tape an exit device to "fix" it for now. That can leave a required exit unsafe. If the door can't be secured or can't be opened, call 416-303-0255.
For property managers and condo boards
KDL Locksmith offers service agreements for property managers and condo boards. We look after exit devices together with door closers, master key systems and access control, so one company covers the hardware on every door in the building. Read more about our commercial lock repair and installation in Toronto, or see our commercial work.
Frequently asked questions
Can panic bars be repaired instead of replaced?
Usually, yes. Most panic bar problems are alignment, a worn latch, a loose device or a vertical rod that needs adjusting. Replacement makes sense when the model is discontinued, the device is damaged or worn out, or it isn't labelled for the fire door it's on.
Who fixes and installs panic bars in Toronto?
A commercial locksmith or door hardware technician. KDL Locksmith installs and repairs panic bars and exit devices across Toronto and the GTA from 2060 Steeles Ave W, Unit 4, Vaughan. Call 416-303-0255.
Why does my exit device not open the door?
The most common causes are a latch binding on the strike because the door has sagged, pressure from a closer or weatherstrip pushing on the latch, a vertical rod that is out of adjustment, or a worn spring inside the device. On electrified doors, check the access control power and wiring as well.
Why doesn't my commercial door lock automatically when it closes?
The panic bar may be dogged (held unlatched with a key), the closer may not be pulling the door fully shut, or the latch may be missing the strike. Undog the device, watch the door close, and call a locksmith if it still doesn't latch.
What's the difference between panic hardware and fire exit hardware?
Both let people leave by pushing a bar. Fire exit hardware is also labelled for use on fire-rated doors and has no mechanical dogging, so the door always latches and helps stop fire and smoke. Ordinary panic hardware shouldn't be used on a fire-rated door.
Need a panic bar or exit device repaired, replaced or installed? Call KDL Locksmith at 416-303-0255, or request service online.
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