Security Door Controls' SDC S6000 Spectra Exit Devices
Nov. 13, 2009 — Forget what Sartre said: When it comes to co-op and condo buildings, there is an exit. And this latest model of what we colloquially call "crash bars" or "panic bars" can let you exit through locked doors without having to fumble for keys, turn a knob or do anything else that can use up valuable seconds in a fire or other emergency. Sarte? Never mind Sarte. We're talking Houdini!
We kid. Crash bars have been around a long time. But we've lived in buildings that didn't have them where they should have, leaving rooftop fire doors and other points unlocked and vulnerable to thieves — and worse. (Don't make us relive that incident in the elevator.) If a security-door company has a highfalutin' new model out, and that reminds us of our responsibilities in both security and safety, then we say let's crash-bar this party.
Pictured here is the S6200 Surface Vertical Rod Exit Device, one of the new S6000 line from the California company Security Door Controls / SDC, which also offers the S6100 Rim Mount Exit Device, which looks like the above, but without the rod, and which is attached to the rim of the door; the S6300 Mortise Exit Device, which is like the S6100 but has a mounting mechanism that fits into a wall cavity you create for it; and the S6800 Concealed Vertical Rod Exit Device, which is like the one pictured but with the mounting rod inside the wall.
Each consists of a steel-plated chassis, an extruded aluminum mechanism housing and push-bar base, a zinc alloy end cap, and a stainless steel touch plate, latch bolt and deadlocking latch. They're available in seven finishes, and are all rated Grade 1 Panic Exit Hardware and Three-Hour Fire Exit Hardware under the American National Standards Institute and the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association's ANSI / BMHA 156.3-2001 standard. You can find a spec sheet here.
SDC / Security Door Controls • 3580 Willow Lane, Westlake Village, Ca. 91361 • (805) 494-0622 • toll-free (800) 413-8783 • service@sdcsecurity.com