Benefits of Using Panic Bolts

The Victoria Hall was a large concert hall in Sunderland, England. At the end of a show there on June 16, 1883, the entertainers began to distribute prizes to children with certain ticket numbers. The children with those numbers hurried to the staircase leading downstairs. The door at the bottom of the staircase opened inward and allowed only a small space for the children to pass. Stampede killed over 180 out of 1,100 children. This disaster, called the 1883 Victoria Hall Disaster, could have been stopped by a door device. If only doors had panic bolts then.

Thanks to Robert Alexander Briggs. He invented the panic bolt. The 1883 Victoria Hall Disaster shall never happen again. Today, fire safety signs are essential in allowing employees to escape in case the workplace is burned. These signs help them to follow directions toward the fire exit. But that does not stop there. It is possible to be trapped in the fire exit if the fire escape door cannot be opened. Breaking the glass key case is not a very good idea either as one may cut himself while being panic-stricken. This is the very reason why fire escape doors must be equipped with panic bolts that does not require breaking glasses and causes the door to swing open easily.


Panic bolts, with exit stoppers, are made to secure doors and protect the properties of the business from theft. Moreover, they ensure safe exit provision. These bolts are installed on doors, especially emergency exit doors, and they can be released by pressure. Buildings that usually accommodate large crowds, such as stadiums, theatres, malls, and the Victoria Hall, use these bolts. Now, even smaller business establishments and other public buildings are required to be equipped with this device.   

Aside from preventing unwanted entries, panic bolts allow employees to escape safely and swiftly in cases of fires or other emergencies in the business premises. Most of these bolts have ten years warranty. For single doors, a good single panic bolt is two point locking. Its upper rod goes into the top of the door frame and the lower rod goes into the floor. There is also a panic bolt, which is suitable for single doors, non-rebated double doors, and the inactive leaf of rebated double doors. The good bolts have the standard silver anodised finish making it highly resistant to corrosion and vertical bolts that can be cut on-site. For additional security, the bolt must have two point independent locking.

The properties and the employees are the indispensable assets of the business, and thus, they should be given the utmost protection. To do this job for your business, panic bolts must be installed on the emergency exit doors of the workplace. First, this device secures the fire escape door preventing unwanted entries and keeping your properties from being stolen. Second, this device makes it safe and swift for the employees to open the fire exit door in case of emergencies. Equip the workplace with fire extinguishers, fire blankets, fire alarm, and a fire escape door panic bolt.