Choosing Door Trim for an Exit Device

April 17, 2009 at 5:00 am | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

When it comes to picking out an exit device, door trim is often an afterthought.  After all, more concern is given to the crash bar itself because it is usually the part of the door that more people end up using.  It’s also the part that is so critical to making the device a life-saver in an emergency.

The trim is an important part of the aesthetics of the outside of the door, though.  More importantly, you can usually choose from a number of handle styles, depending on the model of the device that you choose.  Typical door trims for exit devices include:

1) Night latch:  This type includes a key cylinder and a straight handle.  The latch is engaged with the key.  The handle is for the convenience of pulling the door open rather than for unlatching.

Night latch trim

2) Thumbturn: This type includes a key cylinder and a small swiveling lever.  The key is used to unlock the cylinder.  The latch is disengaged by rotating the thumbturn. 

3) Thumbpiece: This trim looks like the night latch, with a straight pull-handle.  However, it has a small thumbpiece above it which must be pressed with the thumb to engage the latch before pulling the handle.

Thumbpiece trim

4) Lever:  The lever trim has a key cylinder, and must be locked/unlocked with a key.  The lever is depressed with the hand to engage the latch.

Lever trim

5) Knob: This style consists of an ordinary door knob.  The key cylinder is located within the knob.  The key is used to lock and unlock the door.  The knob is turned to engage the latch.

The type you choose is usually a matter of preference.  The lever style tends to be the easiest to operate for most people (children, adults and seniors.)  The night latch type is usually recommended for exterior utility-type doors (i.e. delivery doors) which don’t get used regularly, especially by the general public.