Sentry Safety 520-A Commercial Rim Panic Door Bar with Alarm for Exit Doors

The Sentry Safety 520-A Series Alarmed Panic Exit Bar is a dual-door panic exit device designed to provide secure emergency egress with built-in alarm protection. When the push bar is pressed, the integrated alarm activates to help deter unauthorized exits and alert personnel, making it an excellent solution for schools, hospitals, retail stores, warehouses, museums, and other commercial facilities requiring monitored emergency exits.

Designed for double-door applications without a center mullion, the 520-A Series features a surface-mounted vertical rod two-point latch system that secures the door at both the top and bottom of the frame. The universal design allows installation on either right- or left-handed doors and includes an exterior key cylinder for authorized outside access. Compatible with Sentry Safety Handles (sold separately), this panic bar delivers dependable performance for medium- to high-traffic commercial applications.

Recommended Applications:

• Emergency exits requiring an alarmed panic device
• Dual-door applications without a center mullion
• Glass doors with a minimum 1-1/2" metal stile (or 4" when using an outside handle or cylinder lock)
• Steel, wood, and composite solid-face doors
• Doors with a minimum width of 30"
• Commercial buildings requiring monitored emergency exits
• Schools, hospitals, museums, retail stores, warehouses, and office buildings
• High-frequency-use doorways

• Doors requiring UL Listed panic hardware
• Fire-rated doors or fire barrier applications
• Doors secured by magnetic locks, as this panic bar cannot release a magnetic lock
• Applications requiring both an alarmed device and UL or fire-rated certification without additional compatible hardware

• Built-in alarm activates when the push bar is depressed
• Surface-mounted vertical rod two-point latch system
• Designed for dual-door applications
• Universal handing for right- or left-handed installation
• Includes steel strike for the door frame
• Includes exterior key cylinder for authorized outside access
• Compatible with Sentry Safety Handles (sold separately)
• Durable construction for medium- to high-traffic commercial environments

• Sentry Safety 520-A Alarmed Panic Exit Bar
• Vertical Rod Assembly
• Steel Door Frame Strike
• Exterior Key Cylinder
• Installation Instructions

Trimming the Panic Bar to Size:

The bar comes with a total length of 40". It does not have to span the entire width of the door, provided the door has a flat mounting surface, so it can be used on doors wider than 40". If the bar needs to be shortened, the process is simple. The portion of the panic exit bar beyond the alarm key is hollow tubing. Simply cut the tubing to the desired length and install the included end cap. This panic bar can be trimmed down to 30".

Changing from Right or Left Hand Mounting:

To change the handing, remove the top section of the bar by removing the four screws. Unscrew the flathead screw located below the spring to disengage the top piece from the panic bar. Loosen the screw that the spring is attached to and remove the spring. Attach the spring to the opposite screw, tighten it, and secure it in the opposite hole. Reinstall the flathead screw on the opposite side to reattach the top piece to the panic bar.

Latching and Mounting:

This panic bar is surface mounted and is installed on the rear face of the door. The strike mounts on the door frame behind the door, not on the inside of the frame where a handle may have previously been installed. If the door has an existing handle, it will need to be removed. Caps are available to cover the hole left behind after the handle is removed. Door jamb brackets are also available to cover where the old handle latched to the frame. Mounting bolts are provided; however, depending on the door material, you may choose to use wood screws, self-tapping metal screws, or, for added strength, sex bolts. Sex bolts have a female side on the outside of the door and a male side on the inside that join together through the door. Since both faces of the door are used to secure the bar, they provide a very strong installation.

Alarm:

This panic exit bar is equipped with an alarm. If the panic bar is used while the alarm is enabled, the alarm will sound. This is the primary feature of this panic exit bar. The alarm can be disabled with the included key. Once the alarm is disabled, the door can be opened without triggering the alarm. Note: This panic exit bar does not include dogging. Additionally, if the exterior key cylinder is used while the alarm is active, the alarm will sound.

Cylinder Release:

This panic bar comes with an exterior cylinder for releasing the panic bar from the outside. The included keys are keyed uniquely. The exterior key provides only a momentary release. Turning the key does not dog the door. The panic bar is spring-loaded and automatically returns to the locked position when the key is released.

Optional Accessories (Sold Separately):

510-A Alarm Panic Exit Bar

The 520 A Series panic bar can be used in conjunction with the 510-A Series panic bar on dual-door applications. The 520 A Series top and bottom latches secure one door to the frame, while the 510-A Series bar secures the second door to the first door. This configuration is ideal for overlapping double doors and applications requiring an electric strike. If your dual doors overlap, using a 510-A Series Panic Exit Bar with a 520 A Series Panic Exit Bar allows both doors to open when the 520 A Series push bar is pressed. Because the 520 A Series is not directly compatible with an electric strike, a 510-A Series panic bar must be used in conjunction with it for installations using intercoms, keypads, card readers, or other access control devices.

Outside Door Handle With Key Release

If you need access from the outside, you must purchase this accessory; otherwise, the door can only be opened from the inside using the panic bar. The handle is key-lockable. The key provides a non-momentary release. If you unlock the handle from the outside, you must relock it to secure the door again. Unlike some keyed handles, this one is not spring-loaded and does not automatically return to the locked position. The key does not disengage the panic bar directly. Instead, it engages or disengages the handle, which then releases the panic bar. The keyed lever handle is also available in a keyed-alike option. Please note that if the alarm is active, operating the lever handle will trigger the alarm.

Surface Mounted Electric Strike

The 520 A Series is not compatible with the electric strike unless it is used in conjunction with a 510-A Series panic bar. An electric strike provides another method of releasing the door from the outside or from a remote location. It replaces the included mechanical strike. When the electric strike is not activated, the panic bar engages it just as it would a mechanical strike. When the electric strike is activated by an access device, the door can be pulled open from the outside. Access devices can include a keypad, card reader, intercom, desk push button, receiver/remote control, or GSM cellular receiver. Keep in mind that if you purchase the electric strike, you will also need a pull handle for the outside of the door and an access control device. When the door is released through the surface mounted electric strike, the panic bar is not engaged, so the alarm will not sound. This is an ideal solution for providing outside access while keeping the alarm enabled.

Door Closer

Door closers are available in several variations with different features; however, they all serve the same primary purpose: ensuring the door closes automatically after each use. Because this door always latches to the strike, adding a door closer is a popular way to help ensure the door remains closed, latched, and secure.