Exit Devices & Panic Bars
Commercial exit devices and panic bars for every opening - rim, mortise, surface and concealed vertical rod, and narrow stile - plus exit device trim, dogging kits, strikes and replacement parts. Fire-rated, electrified and Grade 1 options from Von Duprin, ACCENTRA (Yale), Sargent, Corbin Russwin, Detex and more.
Commercial Exit Devices & Panic Bars for Every Opening
American Wholesale Outlet stocks the full range of commercial exit devices and panic bars, plus the trim and parts that complete the opening: rim exit devices that latch into a surface strike, mortise exit devices with a mortise lock case for higher security, surface vertical rod (SVR) and concealed vertical rod (CVR) devices for pairs of doors, narrow-stile exit devices for aluminum storefronts, plus outside trim and strikes, dogging kits, end caps and replacement parts. The catalog spans light commercial through heavy-duty institutional panic hardware from Von Duprin, Sargent, Corbin Russwin, ACCENTRA (Yale), Detex, Cal-Royal, TownSteel and more.
Which device you need comes down to the door and the code. Single doors usually take a rim or mortise device; pairs take SVR or CVR (or a rim device with a mullion). Spec an ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 device for high-traffic and institutional openings, a fire-rated listing for labeled fire doors, and electrified options (electric latch retraction, electric dogging, alarmed or delayed egress) when the opening ties into access control. Modern touchbar styles and less-bottom-rod (LBR) vertical-rod devices cover common architectural and accessibility preferences.
We serve contractors, architects, facility managers and government purchasers: purchase orders from Fortune 500, government, health and educational entities are accepted, and GSA buyers can order under contracts GS-07F-0249Y and GS-07F-0326T. Volume and project pricing is available on multi-opening packages.
Planning & Spec Resources
- How to choose a commercial exit device — device type, grade, fire rating, electrified options and trim, step by step.
- Exit device types compared — rim, mortise, SVR, CVR and narrow stile side by side.
- ANSI/BHMA exit device grades explained — Grade 1 vs 2 cycle life and how to spec by application.
- Exit device trim functions — classroom, nightlatch, storeroom, exit-only and related outside trim.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between rim, mortise, SVR and CVR exit devices?
Rim devices mount on the door face and latch into a surface strike — the most common single-door choice. Mortise devices use a mortise lock case for higher security and richer trim functions. Surface vertical rod (SVR) and concealed vertical rod (CVR) latch at the top and bottom of the door (or top only on LBR models) and are the standard for pairs. See the device types guide for a full comparison.
What ANSI grade exit device do I need?
ANSI/BHMA A156.3 grades rate cycle life and durability: Grade 1 is the highest and is specified for high-traffic, institutional and abuse-prone doors; Grade 2 suits moderate commercial use. For most commercial specifications, start with the ANSI Grade 1 collection, and see the exit device grades guide for how to spec by application.
Do I need a fire-rated exit device?
Yes, when the door is a labeled fire door. Fire-rated assemblies require listed panic hardware that maintains positive latching under fire conditions — browse fire-rated exit devices and confirm the UL listing and hour rating on the product page match your opening schedule.
What is less bottom rod (LBR)?
LBR vertical-rod devices omit the bottom rod and latch at the top only. That avoids threshold, carpet and accessibility conflicts on pairs of doors. Shop LBR exit devices when a bottom rod would interfere with the floor condition.
What does electrified exit hardware do?
Electrified exit devices add electric latch retraction (ELR), electric dogging, alarm or delayed-egress functions so the panic bar integrates with access control and fire-alarm systems while still providing free egress.
What outside trim do I need with an exit device?
Outside trim controls entry from the pull side — lever or knob escutcheons, pulls, thumbpieces and nightlatch/classroom/storeroom functions matched to the device type. Browse exit device trim and see the trim functions guide for how functions map to use cases.
Can I use a rim device on a pair of doors?
Yes, with a removable or fixed mullion: each leaf gets a rim device latching into the mullion. Without a mullion, pairs typically use SVR or CVR devices. Confirm frame, door and code requirements before choosing.
Do you accept purchase orders and government (GSA) orders?
Yes. We accept purchase orders from Fortune 500 companies and government, health and educational entities, and we hold GSA contracts GS-07F-0249Y and GS-07F-0326T (Cage Code 40786). Contact us at 215-279-8511 for project quotes and volume pricing.