Panic bolt
The Guild of Architectural Ironmongers publication Glossary of architectural hardware terms defines a panic bolt as a 'A surface mounted device normally fitted to the inside of an external door to allow immediate escape using a single action in an emergency. This unit can be held back to allow free entry/exit by use of a key operated “dogging device”.
A dogging device or dogging mechanism is defined by the Code of practice: Hardware for fire and escape doors, Issue 5, published by DHF and GAI in November 2024, as ‘mechanism fitted to an emergency/panic device for holding the bolt head(s) in the withdrawn position until manually or electronically reset.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
New President of ECA announced
Ruth Devine MBE becomes the 112th President of the Electrical Contractors Association.
New CIAT Professional Standards Competency Framework
Supercedes the 2019 Professional Standards Framework from 1 May 2025.
Difficult Sites: Architecture Against the Odds
Free exhibition at the RIBA Architecture Gallery until 31 May.
PPN 021: Payment Spot Checks in Public Sub-Contracts
Published following consultation and influence from ECA.
Designing Buildings reaches 20,000 articles
We take a look back at some of the stranger contributions.
Lessons learned from other industries.
The Buildings of the Malting Industry. Book review.
Conserving places with climate resilience in mind.
Combating burnout.
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.