Commercial
Panic Button Placement Guide
Good placement is where the person can activate the button under stress without being seen, blocked or forced to move into danger.
Placement
| Location | Best practice | Bad placement |
|---|---|---|
| Bedside | Reachable from resting and distressed positions. | Across the room or on movable furniture only. |
| Reception desk | Under desk, discreet, easy to press without looking. | Visible to customer or too far from staff hand. |
| Retail counter | Under counter near normal staff position. | Only in back office. |
| Wheelchair/chair | Test with actual movement limits. | Assuming standing-height wall placement works. |
Handover test
- Press each button from real position.
- Confirm alert recipient and time.
- Confirm whether alarm is silent or audible.
- Document false alarm and reset process.
Placement rules that prevent failed activations
| Rule | What to do | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Test from the real position | Sit, lie down or stand exactly as the user will be during normal use. | Testing while standing in front of the wall. |
| Keep it discreet where threat is possible | Hide counter buttons and keep movement natural. | Visible buttons that tell an aggressor what staff are doing. |
| Use more than one button for more than one risk zone | Put buttons where risk happens: bed, chair, counter, office, consult room, safe. | One button near the front door because it is easy to install. |
| Label the alert internally | Name zones clearly in the alarm app or monitoring notes. | Generic alerts that do not say where help is needed. |
Good-looking layout examples
Handover record
- Photo or note of each installed button location.
- Which alert name appears for each button.
- Who receives the alert and in what order.
- Whether each button is silent, audible or both.
- Battery replacement or test schedule.
- False alarm reset steps.
FAQ
Should panic buttons be labelled?
In homes, clear labelling can help. In robbery or staff duress areas, visible labelling can be unsafe and should usually be avoided.
How often should button placement be retested?
Retest after installation, after furniture changes, after staff layout changes and on a scheduled maintenance cycle.
Can one button cover a whole business?
Sometimes for a tiny office, but most sites need buttons at the specific places where staff may be unable to safely move.
Room-by-room placement checklist
Good placement is usually boring in the best possible way: the user does not need to think, reach awkwardly or reveal what they are doing. Walk through the site slowly and ask, "If something happens here, can the person ask for help without moving into more danger?"
| Area | Placement target | Test method |
|---|---|---|
| Bedroom | Reachable from normal sleeping side and distressed position. | Lie down, pull blankets up and press without sitting. |
| Living chair | Near dominant hand while seated. | Sit normally with walker, table and remote controls in place. |
| Reception | Under desk where hand naturally rests. | Press while maintaining normal visitor eye line. |
| Consult room | Near clinician's seated position. | Press without turning back on the patient. |
| Safe or cash area | Near staff working position, hidden from offender view. | Press while hands appear natural. |
Installation notes
- Do a wireless signal test with doors closed and normal equipment running.
- Use zone names that a responder can understand quickly.
- Avoid placing buttons on furniture that may be moved.
- Do not block buttons with stock, blankets, monitors, filing trays or mobility aids.
- Photograph or document final locations for future maintenance.