Daycares, nursery schools, churches and elementary schools maintain the safety of their playgrounds and the children using them by installing fences around the perimeter. This helps to prevent children from leaving the playground. It also makes it more difficult for people to access the playground area without receiving the proper screening. This addresses the majority of safety concerns, but, it does create another hazard. If an emergency situation did occur that would require the evacuation of the building or the area, everyone is limited as to the path of egress. It is important that during a time of duress to have multiple points of exit to assure safety for everyone.

This can be accomplished by installing panic bars, and outside trim on the gates built into the fence. These panic bars provide the security needed to deter unauthorized entry from the outside, while providing the same exit systems that are used to control the flow of people, when exiting a building.

An alarm feature is also available on the panic bars, which would sound an alert. If someone were attempting to exit the area during normal business operations an alarm would sound to deter unnecessary use of the gate. Incorporating panic bars for gates into the design of fenced areas eliminates the risk of being trapped if an emergency situation were to occur that would require everyone to exit the area.