Too Long; Didn't Read
- Dogging holds the panic bar's latch retracted so the door works as a simple push-pull during business hours
- Most hex dogging keys are 5/32" (Von Duprin) or 7/32" (Sargent, Falcon) — keep a spare on your keyring
- Mechanical dogging is prohibited on fire-rated doors under NFPA 80; electric latch retraction is required instead
- A stuck or stripped dogging mechanism usually means the hex socket is worn — replace the dogging kit, not the whole bar
You have a commercial exit door with a panic bar, and you want it to stay unlocked during business hours without propping it open with a doorstop. The answer is a dogging key — a small hex wrench that retracts the latch and holds the push bar in its depressed position. One quarter-turn and your exit door works like any regular push-pull door. Another quarter-turn at closing time and the panic function snaps back. Here is how dogging works, which key size you need, and where Ontario fire code draws the line.
What Is Panic Bar Dogging?
Dogging is a built-in feature on most commercial panic devices (also called exit devices or crash bars). The word has nothing to do with dogs — it comes from an old mechanical term for a catch or detent that holds something in place.
When you "dog" a panic bar, you insert a hex key into a small hole on the device body, push the bar in, and turn the key. This engages an internal catch that locks the latch linkage in the retracted position. The spring-loaded latch that normally keeps the door secured stays pulled back, and the push bar stays flat against the door.
The result: anyone can push or pull the door open without activating the panic bar. At the end of the day, you reverse the key, the latch extends, and the door returns to panic-only egress mode.
Why Not Just Prop the Door Open?
Propping a door open with a wedge or a brick defeats the door's fire separation rating. A dogged panic bar keeps the door closed and latching-ready (in the event of a fire alarm, if wired to electric latch retraction), while still allowing free passage. It also avoids the code violation that comes with blocking an exit door in the open position.
Which Hex Key Size Do You Need?
This is the question that sends facility managers rummaging through junk drawers. The hex key size depends entirely on the panic bar manufacturer, and there is no universal standard.
Here is the cheat sheet:
| Manufacturer | Hex Key Size |
|---|---|
| Von Duprin (22, 33, 35, 98, 99 series) | 5/32" |
| Sargent | 7/32" |
| Falcon | 7/32" |
| Dor-O-Matic | 7/32" |
| Corbin Russwin | 3/16" or 5/32" |
| Adams Rite | 1/8" |
| Cal Royal | 1/8" |
| Jackson | 1/8" |
Pro tip: Buy a three-pack with 1/8", 5/32", and 7/32" keys on a single ring. They cost under $10 and save you a trip back to the supply closet. Von Duprin's dogging key is slightly longer than a standard Allen wrench of the same size — use the manufacturer's version or you risk rounding out the hex socket over time.
How to Dog a Panic Bar: Step by Step
- Find the dogging hole. It is a small hex-shaped recess, usually on the end cap or the underside of the panic bar body near the latch mechanism.
- Push the bar fully in with one hand and hold it there.
- Insert the correct hex key into the dogging hole.
- Turn the key 90 degrees (one quarter-turn, typically clockwise). You will feel the catch engage.
- Release the bar. It should stay depressed, and the latch should remain retracted.
- Test the door. Push it open and let it close. The door should swing freely without the bar popping back out.
To un-dog, insert the key and turn it back. The bar will spring out and the latch will extend.
If the bar does not stay dogged, the dogging mechanism is likely worn or stripped. That is a repair, not a replacement — most manufacturers sell dogging kits for under $50 that include a new hex socket, spring, and catch pin.
Hex Dogging vs. Cylinder Dogging
Commercial exit devices come in two dogging flavours, and the difference matters for security.
Hex dogging uses a standard Allen wrench. It is simple and cheap, but anyone with the right size hex key can dog or un-dog the door. For a retail storefront on Queen Street where the door gets dogged every morning and un-dogged every night, hex dogging is fine.
Cylinder dogging replaces the hex socket with a key cylinder — similar to a deadbolt. Only someone with the correct cut key can change the door's status. This is the better choice for doors that should only be dogged by a manager, or for buildings where unauthorized dogging is a security concern. Schools and multi-tenant office buildings across the GTA have been specifying cylinder dogging more frequently in 2026, partly because exit doors cannot be propped into push-pull mode by anyone with a $3 Allen wrench.
Most manufacturers, including Von Duprin and Sargent, sell conversion kits that let you switch from hex dogging to cylinder dogging on the same device. It is a 20-minute swap.
Fire-Rated Doors: Where Dogging Is Not Allowed
This is the part that catches people off guard. Mechanical hex dogging is not permitted on fire-rated door assemblies. Full stop.
Under NFPA 80 (Standard for Fire Doors and Other Opening Protectives), which the Ontario Building Code and Ontario Fire Code reference, panic hardware on a fire-rated door must be listed as fire exit hardware. Fire exit hardware carries a dual label — one for panic, one for fire — and it does not include a mechanical dogging mechanism.
The logic is straightforward: if a fire-rated door has its latch permanently retracted by a dogging key, it cannot perform its job of containing fire and smoke. The latch must be able to engage automatically during a fire event.
The workaround: electric latch retraction (ELR). Fire exit hardware equipped with ELR can hold the latch retracted during normal operations, but the latch automatically re-engages when the fire alarm system activates. This gives you the convenience of dogging without violating the fire rating. ELR systems require a connection to the building's fire alarm panel, so installation is more involved than a simple hex key.
If you manage a GTA commercial property and you are not sure whether your exit doors are fire-rated, look at the door edge. Fire-rated doors carry a metal label from a testing laboratory (ULC in Canada) listing the fire rating in minutes — 20, 45, 60, or 90. If you see that label and your panic bar has a hex dogging key in it, you have a code violation that needs to be addressed.
Ontario Code Requirements for Panic Hardware
The Ontario Building Code (OBC) mandates panic hardware on exit doors in several situations:
- Assembly occupancies (theatres, restaurants, conference centres) regardless of occupant load
- Any occupancy where the exit serves more than 50 people
- High-hazard industrial occupancies regardless of size
The hardware itself must meet specific performance standards. The push bar or push pad must span at least half the door's width, mount between 34 and 48 inches above the finished floor, and release with no more than 66 newtons (about 15 pounds) of force applied in the direction of egress. These are not suggestions — they are testable, enforceable requirements.
Annual inspection is mandatory under the Ontario Fire Code. A qualified technician should verify that the panic device latches and releases properly, that the dogging mechanism (if permitted on that door) functions correctly, and that the door closes and latches under its own power with the closer functioning as intended.
Common Dogging Problems and Fixes
Stripped hex socket. The most common issue. Someone used a metric Allen wrench instead of imperial, or used a standard-length key on a Von Duprin device that needs the longer manufacturer key. The fix is a dogging kit — new socket, spring, and pin. About $30-$45 in parts.
Bar will not stay dogged. The internal catch spring is broken or the catch pin is worn. Again, a dogging kit solves this. If the device is more than 15 years old, consider whether a full exit device replacement makes more sense.
Key turns but nothing happens. The dogging mechanism may have been removed or the device may be a "less dogging" (LD) model. LD exit devices are intentionally ordered without dogging capability — common on fire-rated doors where mechanical dogging is prohibited. Check the device label for the LD suffix.
Latch does not fully retract. Dirt and paint buildup in the latch pocket or strike. Clean both sides with a stiff brush and apply a dry graphite lubricant. Do not use WD-40 — it attracts dust and gums up the mechanism within months.
When to Call a Professional
A dogging key is a simple tool, but the hardware it operates is part of your building's life safety system. If your panic bar is not latching properly, if the dogging mechanism is damaged, or if you are unsure whether your doors are fire-rated, bring in a commercial door specialist.
At Installix, we handle commercial door repair across the Toronto and GTA area — from dogging kit replacements and closer adjustments to full exit device upgrades. We also service commercial glass and storefront systems, so if your panic bar is mounted on a glass storefront door, we handle both the hardware and the glazing in a single visit.
If your storefront took damage and needs emergency glass repair, our team responds across Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, and the surrounding GTA.
Need a dogging kit replaced or a panic bar inspected? Give us a call or request a quote. We will get your doors working the way they should — code-compliant and hassle-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size hex key does a panic bar use?
It depends on the brand. Von Duprin devices use a 5/32" hex key. Sargent, Falcon, and Dor-O-Matic typically use 7/32". Some imports and Adams Rite use 1/8". Carry all three on a ring and you are covered.
Can I dog a panic bar on a fire-rated door?
No. Mechanical hex dogging is not permitted on fire-rated doors under NFPA 80. If you need the door to stay open during business hours, you need fire exit hardware with electric latch retraction that automatically re-latches when the fire alarm triggers.
What does dogging a panic bar actually do?
Dogging retracts and holds the latchbolt in the open position. The push bar stays depressed, and the door swings freely in both directions without anyone touching the bar. It turns a panic exit into a regular push-pull door.
Is hex dogging or cylinder dogging more secure?
Cylinder dogging is more secure. A hex dogging key is a standard Allen wrench — anyone with the right size can dog or undog the door. Cylinder dogging requires a unique cut key matched to the lock cylinder, so only authorized staff can change the door's status.
How often should panic bar hardware be inspected in Ontario?
The Ontario Fire Code requires annual inspection and maintenance of fire safety components, including panic hardware on egress doors. We recommend a quick function check monthly and a professional inspection at least once a year.