WHAT LOCKSMITHS DO

So you need a new lock for your residence. Or you have found out you need to install panic bars at your commercial property. Perhaps you need a new transponder key for your vehicle. As you start to search, you are told that a locksmith would be your best bet. You have heard of a locksmith before, but you really don’t know what they do. Perhaps you think they only duplicate keys. In reality, there is a wide range of services that locksmiths can offer. There are residential, commercial and automotive help that locksmiths can provide. Here is a brief overview of what locksmiths can do for you.

What does a locksmith do?

To start, let’s explain what a locksmith is. A locksmith is a professional who works with locks. Those locks can be located on doors, cars, windows and even safes. Locksmiths can install, repair and replace locks that come in just about anything, including cars and apartment buildings. A locksmith can also assist you if you find yourself locked out of your home, safe, car or business. The profession of “locksmith” is an old one, it dates back many centuries.

So what do locksmiths do? Locksmiths are part of the skilled trades. They can install, replace, repair and adjust all types of different locks. Since locks are an elemental part of security measures, locksmiths are also security experts and are often up to date on the latest security measures available. That is why commercial businesses will call locksmiths to consult on security matters.

What types of services do locksmiths offer?

It is a common misconception that locksmiths only duplicate keys or provide lockout services. While it is true that this makes up a bulk of their business, there is actually a wide range of solutions that locksmiths can offer.

• Window and Door Locks. Locksmiths can install and repair window and door locks on your home, car and in your office. Locksmiths can supply the necessary hardware, and ensure it is properly fitted and installed
• Safe Services. If you need a safe for your home or business, please call your local locksmith for help. Locksmiths can install safes, as well as service them and unlock them (if you find yourself locked out of yours). If your safe needs repairs, a locksmith can handle that as well.
• Access Control. If you are a commercial property owner, you may have a lot of people coming in and out of your property. A locksmith can guide you through your access control options. These options include keypad access, keyless entry systems, card entry and many more.
• Auto Locksmith. Some locksmiths are trained automotive locksmiths. This means they are able to work with all makes and models of vehicles. If you find yourself locked out of your vehicle, these locksmiths can help. In addition to lockout services, they may also other help, such as if your key gets stuck in the ignition, transponder key duplication, transponder key reprogramming, and providing a new key for your vehicle if necessary.
• 24 Hour Emergency Locksmith. Another service that locksmiths offer is 24/7 emergency assistance. This means that if you are locked out, need break in repairs, or have lost your keys, you can call these locksmiths at any time for help.

If a locksmith has been called in to provide help in a commercial setting, they often become the locksmith on record at that property. In some cases, customers request the locksmith keep a copy of their keys on file in case of emergency. The locksmith may also be given security access codes to keep on file.

Security Help

Locksmiths are able to provide you with a security consultation for your home or business. As the duties become more specialized, locksmiths become more qualified to provide you with solutions to your security problems. This can be a great thing as some locksmiths provide free consultations. You can take advantage of this and ask all the questions you would like. You can even ask if it would be possible for a technician to come out to your property, so they can look around and assess the areas where increased security measures are needed.

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SIGNS BETTER SECURITY IS NEEDED

Do you need better security at your home or business? Sure, a little extra protection is always nice, but how can you tell if you really need better security? Maybe you don’t quite feel as safe as you once did. Or, an incident may have taken place in your neighborhood or commercial location which made you question whether your safety (and those of your loved ones or staff) is now compromised.

Des Plaines Locksmith remembers when times were more innocent and interaction between neighbors, family members and co-workers was much more prevalent. Nowadays, it seems that more people keep to themselves and don’t want to get involved for fear of reprisal or possible legal action if something was to go wrong. So what’s the solution? You can’t be too trusting and you certainly can’t go through life being paranoid and always looking over your shoulder!

Learn to be aware!

People with bad intentions find it easy to take advantage of folks that are seemingly unaware. If you go about your business with no clue about the persons around you or the location you may suddenly be in then you make it easy for someone to hurt you, steal from you, or otherwise take advantage of you. We’ve all seen shoppers leaving their purses unattended or wide open in the shopping cart while going to fetch a can of green beans at the other end of the grocery aisle. There are countless stories of home invasions or burglaries that took place because the resident didn’t bother to lock the door or close the window.

Whether you are here in Des Plaines, IL or anywhere else in the world you can greatly enhance your security by simply taking basic precautions like locking doors, closing drapes, keeping track of your keys, watching wallets and purses better and being more aware of the people and surroundings that you are exposed to. It’s a lot like crossing a street. When you were a child your parents taught you to stop at the crosswalk, look both ways and then proceed. Would you call that paranoid thinking or just common sense?

When at home

Whether you live in the “inner city” where crime is usually higher or in the more affluent neighborhoods of Des Plaines, IL or Greater Chicago you can be much safer by learning to lock your doors and windows whether you are home or not. Set your alarm when away for extended periods, use a lock on your garage door when on vacation and close windows, drapes and shades at night or when it’s easy to see inside during the day. Burglars and sex predators are known to “scope the joint” before making their moves to see your times of coming and going and also to discover just who lives in the home along with the overall layout of the house.

It’s also a good idea to trim trees, bushes, hedges and shrubbery so that it’s not so easy to hide behind or to spring out of when watching or being aggressive to residents. Kidnappings still take place and human trafficking is at an all-time high so it’s best to take precautions especially when children or elderly are at home.

At your business

Many of the same precautions we mentioned above also apply to being safer at your business. Of course, you can’t keep the doors locked all the time; your customers and vendors wouldn’t appreciate that at all (nor would your accountant!). You can be sure that you are aware of suspicious looking or strange acting people, unusual activity, suspicious packages or strange looking mail deliveries. Keep your cash and other valuables locked up in a safe and have your office/store locks changed regularly so that you can keep better control over keys and their distribution among your staff and clients.

Rekeys and lock upgrades

You can apply this advice both at home and at your Des Plaines, IL business. Call a full service locksmith shop and have your door locks rekeyed, change out or upgrades. Any of these options will greatly increase your security as well as give you added peace of mind without costing you a lot of money in the process.

By rekeying your door locks, you cancel the ability of all old keys to work and are able to start fresh by having new springs and pins in the locks plus a new set of keys for your family members or employees. Rekeying also allows your locksmith to remove any remaining master pins that can cause your locks to wear out sooner or to be picked easier by intruders.

Lock upgrades include adding a deadbolt for a strong second line of protection. It also can include installing high security locks that are impervious to lock picking, lock bumping, prying, smashing and even lock shooting! High security locks are not expensive but their construction and installation can greatly extend your lock protection whether they are installed at home or at your business.

Choose a locksmith

We recommend that you choose a local Des Plaines, IL locksmith BEFORE you need one. Whether you want better home security or enhanced protection for your business, having a full service, licensed, bonded and insured lock professional on call 24/7 is a good thing to have! Most people wait until AFTER they need a technician to call for one. This gives you little time to ask questions about pricing, response times, mobile assistance, 24-hour service and other pertinent facts.

All locksmiths are NOT the same and you’ll want to work with a responsive, professional crew that has the experience, skill and training necessary to handle any locksmith need or service and on a 24/7 basis, too. When you find the shop that you feel you can work with, enter their telephone number into your smart phone, tablet and any other mobile devices that are in your household. Do the same for your business managers and partners. Making these few, simple adjustments to your home and business environments can go a long way towards making you and your close associates safer and better protected.

Aricle source here: SIGNS BETTER SECURITY IS NEEDED

DEADBOLTS: HOW TO BEST SECURE YOUR HOME

Are you shopping for just the right locks for your home? You’ll soon find out that there’s a seemingly countless list of locks. We all want to keep our household safe and sound ~ a sanctuary of privacy where we can completely relax. When it comes to deciding which locks will most efficiently give you reliable security, any locksmith professional will affirm that deadbolts are a very successful, reasonably priced way to secure your place of residence. In general, locksmith professionals agree that deadbolts are the optimum locks for your home.

Residential locksmith specialists worth their salt will tell you to install deadbolts on all of your exterior doors. The reason they’re called “dead” is because they don’t have springs to operate the bolt. That is, a deadbolt is operated by hand, using a key or a thumbturn.

Here are 4 of the most well-known deadbolts:

The most popular deadbolts are: single-cylinder, double-cylinder, jimmy-proof, and lockable thumbturn.

1  The single-cylinder deadbolt is the deadbolt lock that we typically imagine when we think of a basic deadbolt. Used on a solid metal or wooden door, a key cylinder is installed on the outside, with a thumbturn on the inside to open and close it. The one downside to a single-cylinder deadbolt is that if there is any possibility for access to the inside (through a nearby window, or through the peephole), then the door could be opened by a thief using the thumbturn.

2  A double-cylinder deadbolt is one way to remedy this drawback. It has a key cylinder on the door’s inside as well as on the outside. Therefore, if the door is locked, a key is necessary for opening it from the inside. A double-cylinder deadbolt is great if your door has any glass, or if you have a window close to the door, because it prevents an intruder from breaking the glass and reaching in to unlock it; but the disadvantage is that to provide security in case of a fire, you must always keep a key inside, accessible to anyone who’s at home, so that, in case of an emergency, every person will be able to get out quickly and safely.

3  The jimmy-proof deadbolt is a surface-mount lock, which you’ll often see on double doors, and most commonly at apartment houses. A surface-mount lock means that you screw the lock into the door’s inside, rather than with an intricate drill pattern, the way a conventional deadbolt does. A jimmy-proof deadbolt is preferred by many property owners because it requires minimal door modifications. In this style of deadbolt lock, the deadbolt interlocks with the jamb bracket, preventing it from being pulled apart or from being forced open from the outside.

4  A lockable thumbturn deadbolt is a most advantageous deadbolt, one that will give you superior security and flexibility. It’s actually the perfect combination of the features of a single-cylinder and a double-cylinder deadbolt. The way it works is that it has a thumbturn on the inside, which works like a single-cylinder deadbolt; and, it can also be locked with a regular key, to keep the door from being unlocked or locked. This means that you can leave the thumbturn in an unlocked position while you are home, but it will still operate just like a single-cylinder deadbolt. When everyone is away, especially if you’ll be gone for an extended time, you can lock the thumbturn. Thus, even if a robber does gain access to your door, the deadbolt still can’t be unlocked.

There are numerous additional good deadbolt locks:

Besides the four above no-nonsense deadbolt locks, there are also five more first-rate deadbolts, which any dependable residential Des Plaines locksmith technician will likely advise you to buy: mortise, vertical, rim, keyless, and digital.

1  A mortise deadbolt lock is a traditional lock, which you install in a mortise or in a recess pocket, which is cut into the door’s edge. This makes it very difficult for a criminal to tamper with it. This lock is tough and resilient. One negative aspect is that, because you have to penetrate the door’s frame to create the hole, it could slightly weaken the structure of the door itself.

2  The vertical deadbolt is bolted on the top inside face of the door, which makes it impossible for a burglar to pry it open by sticking a bar between the door and the frame (which can be done on some horizontal deadbolts by an experienced crook).

3  A rim deadbolt is also bolted to the inside face of the door, but the benefit of this type of deadbolt is that it locks automatically behind you when you close the door. That way, you’ll never forget to lock it. Both the rim deadbolt and the vertical deadbolt involve relatively easy installation procedures. One minor point to consider regarding both the rim deadbolt and the vertical deadbolt is that they’re a bit ungainly, not quite as attractive as the standard deadbolt.

4  A keyless deadbolt mounts on the inside of the door also, but you’ll use a keypad rather than a keyhole. Instead of putting a key in, you’ll enter a passcode. You won’t ever have to worry about misplacing your key again, or stressing out over your keys being stolen. Moreover, for excellent security, you can change your code as often as you like.

5  The digital deadbolt is like a keyless deadbolt, using a keypad instead of a keyhole; but it’s different in that in order to work, a digital deadbolt requires batteries or electricity. If you get a digital deadbolt, you must make it a habit to check on the power level periodically. In case of a power failure, keep the batteries charged at all times so your property will remain secured.

To choose exactly the right deadbolts for your home’s needs, bring all your questions to a reputable local locksmith you can count on. If you live anywhere in Des Plaines, Illinois, it would be smart to hire a mobile residential locksmith professional on staff at Des Plaines Locksmith, where free consultations are available.

Aricle source here: DEADBOLTS: HOW TO BEST SECURE YOUR HOME

What You Need to Know About Commercial Safes

Many businesses these days are opting to stow away their valuables using a commercial safe. Whether you are a retailer looking for a way to safeguard your cash float, or a large corporate wanting to protect your important documents from any kind of damage, safes are always worth including in your commercial security checklist.

If you haven’t considered getting a safe for your business, we are here to provide you with everything you need to know before you get to the point of purchase. These come in various options and provide different levels of protection, so it pays to do a bit of research about each of the choices that are available for you.

With that said, let’s give you an overview of these sturdy repositories.

The many benefits of installing a commercial safe

There are obvious security advantages that come from these. A commercial safe will only permit those who know the combination to access the contents inside, giving your business more control over your valuables. More than that – keeping everything locked up and sealed away ensures no items will be at risk of getting lost at some point.

It’s always worth remembering too that thieves don’t like spending a lot of time trying to get to their desired loot. Breaking into a safe is not something your usual burglar will be willing to do, so the contents inside will likely be left unscathed if an intruder gets access to your commercial building.

Safes are also designed to endure some really tough conditions. Some models offer full fire protection, while others are designed to sustain water damage from floods. So if you’re ever in the unfortunate situation of a fire or natural disaster, your valuables should be able to survive inside.

Like we said previously, not all safes are created equal. Usually, a fire-resistant safe will not provide water protection, and vice versa. There are also different protection classifications to be wary about, as safes are usually tested and rated by specialist bodies. We highly recommend that you talk to a commercial locksmith in Des Plaines to find the right protection for the items you need to secure. On that note, we move on to our second point.

Different types of commercial safes – and the protection they provide

To make your decision-making process a lot clearer, here are some of the most popular types of commercial safe options in the loss prevention industry:

Media or data safes. These are the best choice for businesses who rely on electronic storage. Hard drives and other electronic devices are not very heat resistant, and, consequently, the information stored in these can be wiped at relatively low temperature levels. As such, data safes are designed to protect digital media from smoke and fire damage.

Deposit safes. Also known as drop safes, these are quite commonly found in retail stores and restaurants. As its name suggests, these are best suited for money and smaller documents. You can drop items into it through a hopper-like door, without needing to actually open the safe itself. Only when you enter the correct code will you be able to fully access the contents inside.

Office safes. Again, very common in industries that deal with a lot of cash. Office safes can be free-standing or they can be bolted to the floor. These actually come with quite a few benefits, including being fire-rated and drop-tested to ensure maximum resistance.

Fire-rated safes.  The name says it all – these are your best choice when the priority is to protect your assets from fire damage. Now, you need to keep in mind that, just as different safes have different classifications, there are also different categories for fire-rated safes – with safes being rated according to the amount of time they can protect their inner contents from a fire.

High security commercial safes. The most robust models available for businesses – and, quite often, the most expensive. The price is justified, though: with high security safes you get multiple types of barriers and additional locking mechanisms that prevent people from trying to break into them in any way.

In-floor commercial safes. Very popular with businesses because of the additional security they provide. These are highly inconspicuous, tucked away inside a concrete slab under the ground. Different layers of protection you get from an in-floor safe include a false floor, file divider, deadbolt and hinge block.

Installing a safe into your commercial property

Now you know what types of safes you can choose from, it’s time to get in touch with a trusted commercial lock and key professional in your vicinity. They will have access to some of the best security technologies around, and will install these for you at an affordable price. Not only that, you should expect a locksmith business who has been operating in your area for several years, and is actively involved in the industry, to know everything about these – from the pros and cons of each selection to installing and setting up the combination.

Never had to do this before? Don’t worry, we’ll help you. The first thing to do is try to get recommendations from people you trust. Keep in mind that some locksmiths tend to focus on specialist areas – so make sure to check that the companies you’ve been referred to actually offer commercial solutions.  Call them and ask how long they’ve been operating, whether they can provide a list of client references in the area, as well as your standard information about licensing, insurance and a full price quote for their commercial solutions.

If you happen to be operating in Des Plaines, Illinois, consider discussing some options with the licensed and insured team at Des Plaines Locksmith. We are more than happy to help you make the best security decision for your commercial property.

Don’t rush into hiring an expert – shop around, check their credentials and references, and read up on online reviews if need be. Never hire a locksmith without a physically traceable address and be wary of anyone who changes their price quote upon arriving on your property.

Many commercial locksmiths go beyond installing safes – they will be your port of call if any glitches happen along the way. So keep the number of your chosen company handy in case you need their help again.

Aricle source here: What You Need to Know About Commercial Safes

Your Ignition Key Is Stuck – What Do You Do Now?

It happens; ignition keys become stuck. There’s no need for panic; just follow these simple tips and you’ll soon have all under control again! One thing to keep in mind before you start urgently calling all over Des Plaines, IL, looking for help – just stay calm. Remember that you are in a very heavy metallic vehicle that moves at terrific speeds and needs to be controlled at all times. The fact that your key is stuck tight frightens many as this makes your ignition unable to function, hence; no working car! Is your car running but the key is stuck? This too causes problems as you most likely won’t be able to turn your car off. Either way, a stuck ignition key demands immediate attention so read on and see our Des Plaines Locksmith tips on how to best handle this situation.

What To Do First!

 Always remember to stay calm and not panic. Auto problems are always better solved when drivers keep a clear head and calm nerves. Now, firstly, put on your parking brake. While that won’t remove your stuck ignition key, it will keep your car from rolling forward or backward while you work on the problem.

Is your brake on? Good! Now, gently try turning your ignition key back and forth. Put some pressure on it, but not too much; you don’t want to snap it in half! See if this action dislodges the key. If yes; you are good to go! If no, let’s try something else.

This next step may sound silly, but bear with us and try it. See if your car is in PARK and not in DRIVE or NEUTRAL. While most people know this, it is very easy to simply find your car’s automatic transmission in the wrong gear. If you are busy or distracted, a wrong gear move is not that farfetched. Automatic transmissions are designed so that cars won’t release the ignition key if in the wrong gear. Check yours now.

How’s that? Did your key come out? Not yet? Try cleaning out the ignition lock cylinder. Here at Des Plaines Locksmith we recommend spraying some electrical contact cleaner on the switch. Follow this with a small spritz of lock lubricant like silicone. This helps lubricate the lock and they key might come out. One thing though; keep the car windows open if possible – the fumes can be hard to take.

If your key is still locked up, then try gently moving your steering wheel back and forth in an effort to unlock it. While you are doing this, see if the key is able to be removed.

Be sure to check to make sure that your car battery is not dead. See if your radio or windshield wipers turn on. If your battery is dead or drained, you car’s computer will not be able to read the chip in the ignition key and that alone could be your problem.

Other Causes Of A Stuck Ignition Key

 Here at Des Plaines Locksmith we always tell our customers to make sure that the right key is inserted in the ignition. Believe it or not, many folks force a key into the ignition and it’s not even the correct one. This alone causes many keys to become wedged in too tightly and difficult to remove. Some locksmiths recommend that you lightly hammer the top of the key and see if that loosens it enough to pull it out. Feel free to try this but bear in mind that if it breaks off, you not only have a stuck key, you have a broken one, too.

Every time you start your engine or insert your ignition key, you place a little wear and tear on the wheel lock cylinder. Sometimes, after much use, it simply comes to the end of its life cycle and stops working. Gripping your ignition key is often a result of this.

Have you ever heard of a worn out key? It’s happens. Many times auto keys are used for other things like opening boxes, prying open bottles, puncturing surfaces and even opening cans! Just because keys are made of metal it doesn’t mean that the key edge is not eroded by this use. If a wrong key or worn out key is used, the lock’s interior pins may not drop and the key may become stuck or not usable. In Des Plaines, IL many people turn to their car dealer to replace or program their stuck transponder key. This small task can be very time consuming as well as expensive. If your ignition key won’t come out, your car won’t run and your dealer will insist that it be towed to them. Not only is this expensive; it is also time consuming as you can find yourself waiting for the tow truck, the car dealer intake process and then your actual service work!

Why Not Call A Locksmith?

 There are many automotive locksmiths in Des Plaines, IL to choose from. You can start calling for prices and service times but it’s best to choose a shop that offers affordable rates, 24-hour emergency help and fast, responsive mobile service. Des Plaines Locksmith offers all this and more. We offer free price quotes, free consultation help and fast relief from stuck, worn out and broken off keys of all kinds. You can save money and time by using our service. Since we come to you, no towing is ever needed. All technicians are fully licensed, insured and bonded and our mobile service vehicles are always stocked with high quality key making equipment, tools and locksmith hardware so that your service job is handled professionally and expertly at all times.

If your ignition key is stuck; try the above tips and see if those help. You might just save some money and stress! If not, give Des Plaines Locksmith a call and we’ll get be on the way to you before you know it!

Aricle source here: Your Ignition Key Is Stuck – What Do You Do Now?

How to Keep Your Home Well Protected At All Times

No matter where you are moving to, you have to make sure you take the necessary precautions to ensure your home is safe. If you do not want your home to become the target of a burglar, there are certain things that you should do to avoid becoming the next victim of a home intrusion. You may actually be doing something that will attract attention to your home when you’re not at home. You may have enough on your plate already, why add the problem of experiencing a break-in to the other things you’re already dealing with. At Des Plaines Locksmith in Des Plaines, IL, we help our customers plan ahead to so that they can avoid a break-in.

If there are burglars in your area, they just might be looking for their next victim. You don’t have to make it easy for them. In fact, you should make it as difficult for them as possible. Avoid coming in and out of the house without locking the doors behind you. In fact, make sure that you shut all of the windows in your home and that they are also locked upon leaving the house. You should make this a habit, if you don’t already. The problem is that a would-be burglar may be looking at your home to see if anyone in the household has a habit that can gain them access into your home. Create habits that will make them think twice about breaking into your home. They usually want an easy way to gain entry without being detected. You can do your part in making it difficult for them to get inside your home by simply locking up the house before leaving. It might surprise you to know how many people leave a door unlocked when they are away.

Don’t Become a Target

You might be leaving your home susceptible to home intrusions without realizing it. Perhaps there are things that you are doing regularly that you may not realize are leaving you susceptible to a home invasion. Even if you know you have bad habits, such as, leaving doors unlocked, you may not understand that this is what makes you a target for a home intrusion. Our Des Plaines locksmith technicians would like for you to know the things you can do to distract a would-be burglar.

Don’t Leave Windows & Doors Unlocked – We don’t want to continue mentioning this but it is one of the main reasons your home may become the target of a would-be intruder. One of the doors that you may leave unlocked is your sliding glass door. This is the door that most people tend to leave unlocked. Windows are occasionally opened and not closed and locked. Remember when you leave your home, double check to make sure that your windows and doors are all locked.

Install an Alarm System – If you have a security alarm but do not have signage to let a burglar know, it could be making your home a target for a would be intruder. Having an alarm system does not allow a burglar the time needed to break into your home. Even if you do not use your alarm, you should still make sure you have some type of signage posted outdoors. A burglar is less likely to target your home if they know that you have a security system. Just having a sign posted somewhere can be all that they need to see to pass your home and go to the next one.

Don’t Let Mail Pile Up – If you’re away from home for an extended amount of time, allowing mail to pile up might alert a burglar to the fact that there is no one home. Mail piling up is a sign of no one being around to get the mail. Instead of allowing your mail to pile up, ask a neighbor or family member to get the mail for you. If you’re expecting packages, you should do the same thing. Ask someone to pick up the packages and keep them until you return. You can even contact the courier and ask them to hold all of your packages until you return home. Do not let mail pile up or packages to be left in the front of your home. This makes your home a target.

Put Window Coverings Up – If you do not have anything hung up at your window, others are able to see everything that you have inside. If a burglar knows what you have inside, this is all the motivation they need to try to break in and take what belongs to you. Don’t make your home a target by allowing others to see inside your home. Instead, put curtains or blinds up. A burglary is less likely to occur when the intruder doesn’t know what is inside.

If you have a garage door with windows, you should also make sure that you tint the windows or put some other type of covering up so that no one can see what you have inside. You may have valuable things stored in your garage. It is your responsibility to make sure that you protect them by keeping your home from becoming the target of an intruder.

Don’t Post Too Much on Social Media – By posting too much information about your vacation on line, you might be making your home the prime target of a burglary. When they know that you are going to be away from home for an extended amount of time, this gives them the chance to break into your home. Instead of posting your vacation plans on social media, why not consider sharing your pictures after you return home.

It is up to you to do your part to make sure that you’re home is not broken into by an intruder. By heeding the suggestions listed above, there is a good chance that you’ll be able to avoid the experience of a break-in.

Aricle source here: How to Keep Your Home Well Protected At All Times

WHY PANIC BARS ARE A MUST AT YOUR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

Do you have a public commercial building? Then it’s important to be aware that “panic hardware” is required to provide proper emergency egress and ingress. A “panic bar,” therefore, is the push bar that you must install on each exit door, to allow people to make a fast exit. There must also be an unobstructed and uninterrupted exit path to an area of safety. Doors with panic bars are often needed in malls, bars, restaurants, and other public places such as schools. It goes without saying that you won’t pass inspection if your building is not up to code. It is therefore vital that you comply with the law when it comes to protecting your facility’s occupants. You’ll be guarding the safety of every occupant ~ employee, customer, client, and visitor alike.

Obey the law.

The International Fire Code (IFC), the International Building Code (IBC), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101 Code, are the most common building and fire safety codes used in the United States. You’ll need to determine which code, and which edition of that specific code, applies to your building. Local codes in your area may also apply. Make sure you’re fully compliant.

These requirements affect doors that either latch or lock. For example, panic hardware is not required for a free-swinging door with only a push plate and pull handle. On the other hand, panic hardware is required by code for certain occupancy types:

An “educational occupancy” refers to a school for children up to twelfth grade. A building used for college classrooms is considered a “business occupancy,” and some college classrooms are even large enough to be classified as an “assembly occupancy,” which refers to a building or area where large groups gather, such as a theater or a gymnasium. The NFPA 101 Code includes a separate occupancy classification for “daycare occupancy,” where daycare is provided to children or adults. A “high-hazard occupancy” (an area containing a high level of hazardous materials) is a space that is vulnerable to explosions.

Panic hardware considerations.

Panic hardware consists of a latching device, with a touchpad or crossbar that spans across at least half the width of the door, which will release the latch when pushed. Panic hardware can also be called a “crash bar” or an “exit device”; for fire doors, it’s referred to as “fire exit hardware.” This specialized hardware is used where it’s required by code to make it possible for a large number of people to get out very quickly. It also provides increased reliability and resilience.

Whenever you install panic hardware on balanced doors, a touchpad-style device must be used, and the touchpad shouldn’t extend more than halfway across the door. Code requirements by and large prohibit the installation of any other kind of lock on a door with panic hardware, except for electromagnetic locks released by a switch or sensor. The main thing is: At all times, any person who must leave has to be able to open an exit route door from the inside ~ without having to use any keys or tools, and without any specialized knowledge.

Panic bars are manufactured to prevent entry from the opposite side of a door. On the inner side, of course they allow a speedy exit in an emergency. A panic bar that locks only from the outside is permitted on an exit discharge door. Typically, rooms containing electrical equipment must have panic hardware or fire exit hardware that allows a professional technician to escape if there is an explosion or fire.

Installed on doors that open to the outside, panic bars are available in several styles. Most come equipped with alarms that keep people who are exiting from taking a stolen item along with them, or from trying to leave without paying the bill. Constructed horizontally or vertically, all panic bar door openers operate similarly, that is, the door opens as soon as the bar is pushed. The style guidelines you must follow, and the exact number of exit doors you must have will all depend upon the height, size, and type of your building, what it’s used for, and your occupancy level.

Panic bar installations.

When an emergency happens, most people have trouble concentrating because they’ve suddenly found themselves in an extreme situation. It’s therefore crucial that you install your panic bars correctly so as to avoid any mishaps. Be sure to follow all regulations, and regularly maintain these essential doors, because properly installed panic hardware that functions smoothly will make a huge difference in life-or-death situations.

There are numerous kinds of panic hardware for you to choose from. Rim devices can be easily installed, and require very little maintenance. The panic hardware with surface vertical rods is more difficult to install, so in that case you should hire only a trustworthy locksmith professional in Des Plaines. There is also a panic bar with a concealed vertical rod, which is more expensive and also more difficult to install. Choose the right panic bar for each door, based on your building’s parameters.

Any panic bar’s push pad needs to be at least half the width of the door. When installing a panic device, follow the template included with the bar’s packaging to mark the door, to determine where to place it. The template will indicate where to drill the holes and where to mount the hardware. As a rule, the center of the panic bar’s push pad should be at the standard height of 41 inches above the floor. This standard could vary when it comes to schools and daycare facilities. When attaching the panic bar to the door, use only the screws included in the packaging; otherwise you’ll void the warranty. When you install the panic bar, test the push pad to make sure it’s functional.

Hire a professional.

In the long run, it’s best to hire a local professional. For instance, if your commercial property is located anywhere in Des Plaines, Illinois, the experienced mobile commercial specialists on staff at Des Plaines Locksmith will be glad to assist you. Wherever you are, hire a security professional who is exceedingly qualified to answer your questions and help you choose the right panic bars for all of your building’s evacuation doors.

Aricle source here: WHY PANIC BARS ARE A MUST AT YOUR COMMERCIAL PROPERTY