Plan ahead Commercial · Brantford
Panic & Exit Hardware
A padlock went on the stockroom's back door years ago for security and nobody has thought about it since, until the walkthrough this week pointed out that the same door is the room's only other way out.
Call now · open 24/7(548) 900-9717In plain words
Electrified exit hardware adds a layer without changing the basic behaviour of the door: a person inside can still leave under one motion of the hand, every time. A request-to-exit switch tells an access-control panel that the pushpad or crossbar was actuated, usually paired with a door-position contact so the panel can also tell a normal exit from a forced or propped door. Electric latch retraction lets a fire-rated opening behave like a push-pull door for staff, provided it relatches automatically on a fire-alarm signal, since that kind of door never carries a mechanical dogging function. An alarm module sounds when the device is used.
How the visit goesA padlock went on the stockroom's back door years ago for security and nobody has thought about it since, until the walkthrough this week pointed out that the same door is the room's only other way out.
Panic & Exit Hardware · Brantford
How the visit goes
- 1
What the access-control side of the door needs
When a card reader, keypad or intercom is part of the plan, the assessment includes a conversation about the exit side of the same door: does the reader need a request-to-exit signal so the panel knows someone left rather than forced the door, and does the door need electric latch retraction so it can be released remotely without ever compromising the crossbar's push-to-exit function. These questions are answered before the device is ordered, because retrofitting an electrified function onto hardware chosen without it in mind rarely goes cleanly.
- 2
Recording what was fitted
The visit closes with a written account of the work: which device went on which door, its type and rating, the outside trim fitted, any electrified function added, and the tests the assembly passed. This record travels with the building rather than staying in the locksmith's memory, so a fire inspector, an insurer or a new manager reviewing the space later has a clear account of the exit hardware and when it was fitted.
- 3
Electrified functions folded into the building's other systems
Any request-to-exit signal, latch retraction or alarm added during the visit now does its own specific job rather than one combined function: an alarm module can sound locally on its own power the moment the crossbar is used, latch retraction lets an authorized signal release the latch for entry, and a request-to-exit signal tells the access-control panel that the pushpad was actuated. None of them alone proves who passed through or from which side, and the exit function itself remains entirely mechanical underneath, so a power interruption still leaves the door able to be pushed open by hand from the inside.
In the van
- Door closer
- Signage and labels
- Coordinator for door pairs
- Rated exit device
- Request-to-exit switch
What affects the quote
- 1
Weatherproofing for an exterior opening
An exterior device, strike and trim built to handle temperature swings and moisture cost more as hardware than an equivalent interior-only set, and the quote reflects that difference in the parts themselves.
- 2
Fire-rated versus non-rated opening
A fire-rated door needs hardware specifically listed for that assembly and installed to keep the rating intact, which is more involved than fitting a standard device to a non-rated door.
- 3
Condition of the existing hardware
A device that only needs adjustment, cleaning and new fasteners costs less in labour than removing a seized or badly worn device and fitting a replacement in its place.
Same fees day, night or weekend.
Panic & Exit Hardware: questions
What should I have ready before the visit?
Knowing the intended use of the room, roughly how many people it holds, whether any doors are already fire-rated, and whether any of them are part of a pair helps the locksmith bring the right devices. If a fire inspector or building official has already given a note about the opening, having that note or its reference number on hand keeps the visit focused on what was actually flagged.
What is the difference between a rim, mortise and vertical-rod device?
A rim device sits on the surface of the door and suits most single openings, including many tall and fire-rated doors on their own. A mortise device fits into a pocket cut in the door's edge and is chosen where a heavier case or a particular trim style is wanted. A vertical-rod device runs rods to the top, or top and bottom, of the frame, which suits an opening that specifically needs latching at more than one point rather than height by itself.
Can I add a request-to-exit switch for my access-control system?
Yes. A request-to-exit switch is wired to signal the access-control panel that the pushpad or crossbar was actuated. Telling that apart from a forced or propped door usually means pairing it with a door-position contact and the panel's own logic, since the switch on its own only reports that the hardware was used. It sits alongside the mechanical device without changing how the crossbar or touchpad works, so the door still releases under a push even if the access-control system loses power.
Panic & Exit Hardware near you
Brant, Ontario
Brantford information
- Town
- Brantford, Brant, Ontario
- In business
- 17 years
- Hours
- Open 24/7 · nights, weekends and holidays, same fees
- Phone
- (548) 900-9717
- Visits
- On-site assessment preferred. Request a visit or call.
What the census means at the door
63%
Older homes. About 63% of homes in Brantford were built in 1980 or earlier, according to the 2021 Census.
Where housing is mostly older, many entries still have only a knob lock and no deadbolt at all. Adding one is a straightforward job on a solid wood door, and it is the single upgrade that changes most for a house of this kind.
61%
Mostly houses. Single-detached houses make up about 61% of homes in Brantford (2021 Census).
Detached houses collect hardware from every renovation. A locksmith visiting one often finds three keyways, two finishes and one door that never latched right. Sorting all of that into a consistent, working set is a satisfying afternoon's work.
Open 24/7
Request a visit
A padlock went on the stockroom's back door years ago for security and nobody has thought about it since, until the walkthrough this week pointed out that the same door is the room's only other way…
Call now · open 24/7(548) 900-9717- On-site assessment preferred
- Same fees day, night or weekend
- 17 years in business