Exit Switch Guide: Push Button, No-Touch Sensor and Break-Glass

Short answer: an exit switch is the button on the inside of an access-controlled door that lets people leave without a card. Choose a steel push button for busy doors, a plastic button for light use, or a no-touch infrared sensor for clinics, labs and food areas. Add an emergency break-glass on fire exits and escape routes.

An access control reader decides who can come in. The exit switch decides how everyone gets out. Without one, people would need a card or fingerprint to leave, which is slow and unsafe. When pressed, the exit switch tells the controller or power supply to release the lock for a few seconds.

Steel push buttonSSW-44Plastic push buttonPSW-44No-touch sensorNTS-44Emergency break-glassGBS-44

Types of exit switch

Steel or plastic?

Steel buttons handle heavy daily use and look at home in offices and showrooms. Plastic buttons cost less and suit store rooms and light-use doors. Both work the same way, so the choice is about how often the door is used and how it should look.

When to choose a no-touch exit sensor

A no-touch exit sensor uses infrared to detect a hand a short distance away. Nobody has to touch the button, which helps hygiene in clinics, pathology labs and food areas. Like other exit devices, it needs 12 V from the access control power supply.

Flush or surface mounting

A 3 × 3 inch exit switch is usually recessed into a standard switch box in the wall. If you cannot cut the wall, for example on glass partitions or finished walls, mount the switch on a surface gang box instead. For narrow door frames, the slim 3 × 1 inch switch fits where a square one will not.

Emergency break-glass for fire exits

EM locks open when power is removed. An emergency break-glass sits in the power line to the lock. In an emergency, someone presses or breaks it, the lock loses power and the door can be opened even if the controller fails. Fit one on every access-controlled door that is part of an escape route, and follow your local fire safety rules.

How an exit switch is wired (overview)

• The exit switch connects to the exit or push input of the reader or the access control power supply.
• When pressed, it triggers the same door-open time as a valid card or fingerprint.
• The break-glass is wired in series with the lock's power, so pressing it cuts power directly.

Always follow the diagram supplied with your reader and power supply. Our free technical support can guide your electrician on call or WhatsApp.

Build the complete door

An exit switch works with a reader, an electric lock and a power supply. Our access control kit builder adds the right exit switch to your kit, and the door access control system guide explains how the parts fit together.

Shop the range: exit switches and emergency door release.

Frequently asked questions

Is an exit switch necessary for access control?

Yes. Every access-controlled door needs a way out without a card. Some sites use a second reader on the inside instead, but a push button or no-touch sensor is the simple and common choice.

What is a no-touch exit switch?

An infrared sensor that opens the door when you hold your hand near it, without touching it.

Can I use any exit switch with any access control panel?

Most standalone panels and access control power supplies have an exit input that works with a normal push button. Check your panel's wiring diagram.

What is the difference between an exit switch and a break-glass?

The exit switch opens the door for normal use through the controller. The break-glass is an emergency device that cuts power to the lock directly.