Exit buttons are a simple, yet effective security solution. They are installed on the inside of a door and wired to the electrical lock for automatic release.
There are many types of exit button and it is important to understand how they work before you decide which one to buy. These devices can be utilised in both residential and commercial buildings and are available as either raised domed or flush-mounted for a less intrusive finish.
The classic push to exit button is typically mounted on a door frame or near the door, and when you press it, it triggers the lock to release so that the door can be opened for entry and exit. They are most commonly used for securing doors that can’t be unlocked with a regular lock or deadbolt, such as fire doors and emergency exits.
Motion sensors are a great alternative to traditional push-to-exit buttons, and are often found in larger offices where people move around more regularly. They are also usually mounted right over the door at the inside of the door frame, and when they sense movement, they can deactivate the lock so that it can be opened allowing you to enter and exit.
Touch to exit buttons are another type of exit button, and they use a touch screen instead of a physical button. While they do have some appeal and can look pretty, they tend to be more unreliable than a traditional push-to-exit button, and it is more important that you find a reliable model that will respond quickly and reliably when people need to leave your building.
When wired correctly, an exit button is designed to momentarily release a fail-safe lock mechanism, such as an electric strike or magnetic lock, so that you can freely exit the building. It is essential to note that a request-o-exit button can only be used on fail-safe locks, and is not suitable for traditional or non-fail-safe locks like a lockset (we call this the lockset).
If your push to exit button fails to open the door, it could be that there is an issue with the controlling circuit. This could be something as simple as a shorted wire in the power transfer, or as complicated as a failed device in the circuit. To identify this, it is best to test each option that opens the circuit: the reader, the push to exit button or motion sensor, and Kisi if you are using an IP system.
You should have an LED button on the exit button, and this should turn on as long as the rest of the circuit is working properly. The LED will then flash if the button is in operation, and it should then open your circuit and release the door lock as intended.
You can also choose from a range of pneumatically controlled exit buttons. These are very expensive, but they offer the most robust and secure solution for a request-o-exit application. Pneumatically controlled exit buttons contain a small, air-filled cylinder that activates when the button is pushed. The cylinder releases the fail-safe lock by means of a vacuum generated when the button is pressed, and then it opens the door.
