Is an exit control lock the same as delayed egress?

No. When armed, an exit control lock sounds its alarm as the door is opened, but it does not hold the door for a timed delay. A delayed egress lock keeps the door locked for a set period after someone pushes, and the building codes treat that as a separate arrangement with its own conditions. Our delayed egress locking guide covers the code requirements and the hardware.

Can an exit control lock go on a fire-rated door?

A fire rating on the device does not settle it on its own. Where the IBC applies, fire exit hardware has to be listed to both UL 10C and UL 305 , and the listing has to permit that specific door assembly. Check the exact device's listing, the labels on the door and frame, and the code your jurisdiction has adopted before you order.

Will a short bar work on a wide door?

Not always. Where panic or fire exit hardware is installed, the IBC requires the actuating portion of the device to extend at least half the width of the door leaf. Compare the length of the bar's actuating portion with the actual leaf width; a device's door width range alone does not show that. See our IBC panic hardware requirements .

Exit Control Locks

11 products in this collection ↓

An exit control lock secures a secondary exit that still has to work as an exit: a door people should not use casually but must be able to leave through. It locks the door at one or more points and adds a loud local alarm and warning signage. When the alarm is armed, the door still opens for anyone leaving, but not quietly. Typical openings are stockrooms, rear retail exits and back-of-house doors.

The locks here differ in where they lock and in their listings. Configurations include a single deadbolt, top and bottom bolts, a deadbolt with a top bolt, and a deadbolt with top and bottom bolts, for a door that has to hold at more than one point. Listings also differ from model to model, so read the listing on each product page against your opening. If you only need to know that a door was used, an exit alarm may be enough: see door alarms.