Panic Bars & Access Control Before the Holiday Rush: What Landlords and GCs Should Know

Every fall we get calls from landlords and general contractors who are prepping a storefront for the holiday rush and realize the panic hardware or access control hasn’t been looked at since the last tenant turned over. Here’s what’s worth checking now, before foot traffic triples.

Why this matters more in November

Higher occupancy means code compliance on exit hardware actually gets tested — a jammed or painted-over panic bar is a liability problem the moment a store is full of holiday shoppers, not a maintenance afterthought.

What to check before the rush

Panic bars (exit devices). Push them. A bar that’s stiff, sticks, or doesn’t fully retract the latch needs service before, not after, a fire marshal or insurance inspector notices.

Access control credentials. If a storefront uses a keypad, fob, or card system, holiday seasonal staff usually means new users need to be added and former employees’ credentials need to be pulled. This is also the easiest time to find a credential that was never deactivated after a prior turnover.

Master-key alignment. If a property manager or GC oversees multiple units in a strip mall or retail corridor, confirm the master-key system still matches who’s actually supposed to have access — tenant changes over the year tend to drift from what the system reflects.

Door hardware wear. High-traffic exterior doors see more cycles during the holidays. A lock or closer that’s marginal in October can fail in December.

Who this is for

Landlords with retail or mixed-use tenants, property managers overseeing multiple storefronts, and general contractors closing out tenant-fit work before a holiday opening. We work under Net 30 account terms for commercial clients and provide a COI on request.

What to do

If you manage or are building out commercial space anywhere in our Tri-State footprint, get panic hardware and access control checked before the season gets busy, not during it. See our commercial services page or call 215-330-4900 (Philadelphia) or 856-200-3950 (South Jersey) to scope a visit. We’re open 8 AM–8 PM daily.