on a site from an Authority Having Jurisdiction such as a local fire marshal. Factors considered when mandating exit devices include the number of occupants who would need to leave in an emergency, the availability of other nearby exits, and proximity to any hazards equipment or chemicals. Differences between Europe and North America and emerging trends In Europe, most panic bars are of the cross bar type, which are called Type A in the EN 1125 standard. This contrasts strongly with North American architectural design, which years ago switched to using predominantly touch bars (EN 1125 Type B) in new construction. In Europe, the use of panic bars is generally confined to code required applications. In US and Canadian commercial buildings, they are frequently used even where not required by code, because bars are seen as being easier to use than knobs or lever handles. For example, when used on the rear service door of a business, a worker whose hands are being used to carry bulky items can lean against a bar to release the lock. While the public generally prefers automatic doors, they can be costly to install and maintain. Some manufacturers offer crash bars designed to resist microbial growth. This can include coating the bar with silver ions in order to create a chemical environment hostile to unwanted microbes. Antimicrobial surfaces have shown to be effective at inhibiting bacterial, mold, and mildew growth; but may not be effective at stopping viruses such as COVID-19. See also References Further reading United Kingdom British Standards relating to Panic Hardware United States OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS, 29 cfr 1910.36 National Fire Protection Association 101, Life Safety Code, 2012; 2011 NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE (NEC) External links Door furniture Fire protection Emergency management