Imperial USA ED-VR531 - 500 Se...
IN STOCK (leaves warehouse same day if ordered before 3pm ET)
$248.35
Imperial USA ED-VR531 - 500 Series Grade 1 36" Grade 1 Surface Vertical Rod Exit Device

Imperial USA ED-VR531 - 500 Series Grade 1 36" Grade 1 Surface Vertical Rod Exit Device

(No reviews yet) Write a Review

Model: IMPED-VR531-AL
Selected Finish is

In Stock (leaves warehouse same day if ordered before 3pm ET)

$248.35
Adding to cart… The item has been added
Free Shipping on orders over $199
We price match and offer bulk discounts! Click Add to Quote. It's quick and easy.
✨
Earn points with this purchase! You can redeem points for giftcards, iPads, XBox's and more. View Rewards
Free Keying on all locks
You may also like

Imperial USA ED-901 - 900 Series Grade 1 36" Grade 1 Heavy Duty Panic Bar (99 Type) Exit Device

The VR531 series surface vertical rod panic exit device comes in a stainless-steel finish and is compatible with doors up to 36 in. wide and can be cut as needed for narrower doors. It fits doors 7 feet high, but a 12-inch extension rod (ED-ROD12) is available for purchase. This exit device blends the utility of a vertical rod application with the appearance of a modern style panic device. It is ADA compliant and exceeds ANSI standards for grade 1, making it the perfect fit for any commercial and industrial applications where heavy usage is anticipated, such as office buildings, retail spaces and hotels. Includes top & bottom latch, but the exterior lever trim is sold separately.

Features:

  • ANSI A156.3 Grade 1 - non fire rated
  • Fits 7-foot doors - 12" extension rod available for purchase
  • Compatible with hollow metal and wood doors 26” to 36” wide
  • Available in XL: up to 48"
  • Set up for dogging & includes dogging hex key
  • EAK500: Alarm kit
  • Projection: 2-1/4 in.
  • Door thickness: 1-3/4 to 2 in.
  • Stile (head width) of 3 in. minimum
  • Comes with standard strike and shim
  • Can be cut down to 26” in length
  • Easy installation, all mounting hardware included
  • Plastic end cap/spring loaded latches
  • UL Listed SA32524
  • ADA Compliant
  • Non handed/reversible
  • 1 year mechanical and finish warranty
Installation

ED500 series Installation Instructions

Manufacturer Resources

Product Specs

Series:
ED-500 Series
Grade:
Grade 1
Product Group:
Exit Devices and Trim
Product Subgroup:
Exit Devices - Vertical Rod
Product Type:
Exit Devices - Vertical Rod
Subcategory:
Surface Vertical Rod Exit Device
Commercial/Residential:
Commercial
Stile Type:
Wide Stile
Stile Width:
3" Minimum
Product Model:
ED-VR531
Product Function:
Exit Only
Door Hand Direction:
Non-Handed
Product Size:
36"
Dogging Configuration:
Hex Key Dogging
Fire Rating:
No
Product Substrate:
Steel
Product Category:
Exit Devices and Trim
Department:
Door Hardware

Imperial USA IMPED-VR531-AL – Frequently Asked Questions

1) Does the Imperial ED-VR531 vertical rod device work on an 8 foot tall door?
Out of the box the VR531 rods are sized for a 7 foot door. For a taller opening you add the ED-ROD12, a 12 inch extension rod, which is ordered separately.
2) What door thickness and stile width does the Imperial 500 Series surface vertical rod device need?
Doors from 1-3/4 to 2 inches thick, with a head rail (stile) of at least 3 inches. That 3 inch minimum rules out most narrow stile aluminum storefront doors, where the top rail is often under 3 inches. Device projection off the face of the door is 2-1/4 inches, which matters if the door swings past anything tight.
3) Do I need to order handing for the Imperial ED-VR531, and can one part number cover both leaves of a pair?
Handing is not a thing you specify here. The VR531 is non-handed and reversible, so the same device goes on a left or right hand door. On a pair of doors without a center mullion you order two of them, one per leaf, since a surface vertical rod latches at the head and the threshold rather than into a mullion or the opposite leaf.
4) What comes in the box with the Imperial ED-VR531, and what else do I have to buy to finish the job?
The device ships with the top and bottom latches, the standard strike and shim, all mounting hardware, and the hex key for dogging. Exterior lever trim is not included and is a separate order, so if anyone needs to get back in through that door you need trim on the pull side. The EAK500 alarm kit is also an add-on.
5) I have a hollow metal door with a top rail under 3 inches. Will the Imperial 500 Series fit?
No. The VR531 is a wide stile device and needs a 3 inch minimum head rail to mount the top case and latch. On anything narrower the device will not land on the rail. A narrow stile surface vertical rod, such as the Detex Advantex 50/51 Series, is the device built for that opening.
6) The ED-VR531 is not fire rated - what fire rated vertical rod exit device should I use on a labeled door?
The Imperial USA ED-VR531 carries ANSI A156.3 Grade 1 but is non fire rated, so it does not belong on a labeled opening. For a 36 inch fire rated door, the Marks USA M9900FVR-36X84 is a fire rated vertical rod exit device, exit only and non-handed, in the same 36 by 84 inch size. The Delaney F9100 Series DLY-694300 is a Grade 1 fire rated heavy duty vertical rod device for a 36 by 84 inch door in an aluminum finish. For a 48 inch labeled opening, Marks USA MARM9900F-VR covers 48 by 84 inch fire rated, exit only.
7) What is the closest equivalent to the Imperial USA ED-VR531 surface vertical rod exit device from another brand?
The Von Duprin 8827-3FT is the closest straight match. Both are Grade 1 wide stile surface vertical rod exit devices in a 3 foot size, and both are non fire rated. The ED-VR531 is non-handed and set up for hex key dogging, and it fits doors 1-3/4 to 2 inches thick; the Von Duprin 8827-3FT lists a 1-3/4 inch door thickness, so on a 2 inch door the Imperial is the one that covers the opening. The Delaney 9100 Series DLY-692301 is another Grade 1 non fire rated vertical rod device built for a 36 by 84 inch door.
8) My door has a narrow stile aluminum frame - can I use the Imperial ED-VR531?
The Imperial USA ED-VR531 is a wide stile device and needs a stile head width of 3 inches minimum. For a narrow stile aluminum door, the Detex Advantex 50/51 Series DTX-5001DN/5101DN is a Grade 1 narrow stile surface vertical rod exit device supplied with a blank escutcheon. If the stile measures 3 inches or more, the ED-VR531 fits hollow metal and wood doors 26 to 36 inches wide and can be cut down to 26 inches.
9) I need the outside lever to be controlled by key - does the Imperial ED-VR531 do that, or is there another device?
The Imperial USA ED-VR531 is an exit only device and its exterior lever trim is sold separately. If the function itself needs to be key controlled, the Detex V50/V51 Value Series DTX-V5009BN/V5109BN is a Grade 1 wide stile surface vertical rod exit device supplied with lever trim in a function where the lever is made active by key and locked when the key is removed. The Detex Advantex 50/51 Series DTX-5001DN/5101DN comes with a blank escutcheon instead, which is the choice when no outside operation is wanted at all.
10) Can I hold the door unlocked during business hours with the Imperial 500 Series panic device?
Yes, it is set up for hex key dogging and the hex key is in the box. Retract the push bar, turn the key, and the latches stay held back so the door pushes open freely until you undog it. Dogging is only legal on non fire rated openings, which this device is, so there is no conflict there.
11) Should I use a surface vertical rod exit device or a rim device on my exit door?
A surface vertical rod like the ED-VR531 latches into the head frame and the threshold, so it works on a pair of doors with no center mullion and on doors where you cannot use a rim strike. The rods and bottom latch sit exposed on the door face, which means more to keep adjusted and a bottom latch that collects dirt. A rim device is simpler on a single door in a frame that takes a strike. If the opening is aluminum storefront with a narrow top rail, neither of these fits and you want a narrow stile device such as the Detex Advantex 50/51 Series.
12) Is the Imperial ED-VR531 heavy duty enough for a high traffic retail or office exit?
It is a Grade 1 device under ANSI A156.3, the highest duty grade for exit devices, on a steel chassis. That is the grade specified for commercial openings that get cycled hard all day. It is also ADA compliant, so the push bar operation meets accessible force and reach requirements.
13) Can someone unlock the Imperial ED-VR531 from outside with a key?
Not as shipped. The VR531 is an exit only device, meaning it releases the door from the inside and there is no outside operation until you add trim, which is sold separately. If you need keyed entry from the outside, the Detex V50/V51 Value Series comes with lever trim that is active by key and locks when the key is removed.
14) Can the Imperial ED-VR531 go on a wood door, or is it steel doors only?
Wood is fine. The 500 Series vertical rod mounts on hollow metal and wood doors alike, 26 to 36 inches wide. That is worth noting against the Detex 30 Advantex mortise device, which is not wood door compatible.
15) Is there a lighter duty or lower grade alternative to the Imperial ED-VR531 surface vertical rod device?
The Cal-Royal 9860 is a heavy duty surface vertical rod exit device rated Grade 2 rather than Grade 1, exit only and non fire rated, with ADA compliance. The Imperial USA ED-VR531 is Grade 1 and ADA compliant. Both are exit only, so neither one locks or unlocks from the outside without separate trim. Where a specification calls out ANSI Grade 1 for the opening, the ED-VR531 or the Delaney 8100 Series DLY-8100-3684 Grade 1 vertical rod device for a 36 by 84 inch door will meet it and the Grade 2 device will not.
16) What is the difference between the Imperial ED-VR531 and the Detex 30 Advantex mortise exit device?
They latch in different places. The Imperial USA ED-VR531 is a surface vertical rod device that latches at the top and bottom of the door and includes both latches. The Detex 30 Advantex is a mortise exit device, meaning the latch is a mortise lock in the edge of the door, and it is a super-heavy-duty Grade 1 wide stile device in a 36 inch size that is not compatible with wood doors. The ED-VR531 works on hollow metal and wood doors 26 to 36 inches wide. A mortise device is not a drop-in replacement for a vertical rod device because the door prep is different.
17) What vertical rod exit device fits a 48 inch door instead of the 36 inch Imperial ED-VR531?
The Imperial USA ED-VR531 is the 36 inch size and is available in an XL version up to 48 inches. Cross-brand, the Marks USA M9900VR-48X84 is a 48 by 84 inch vertical rod panic exit device, exit only and non fire rated. If the 48 inch opening is a labeled door, the Marks USA MARM9900F-VR is the 48 by 84 inch fire rated exit only version.
18) I need an alarmed exit device for an exterior door - how does the Imperial ED-VR531 compare to a delayed egress device?
The Imperial USA ED-VR531 is a mechanical exit only device; alarm capability comes from the EAK500 alarm kit, and dogging is by hex key so the device can be held retracted during business hours. It does not provide delayed egress. The Detex Advantex 10 Series DEX-10EEX is a weatherized delayed egress exit device with a 100 dB alarm and NEMA 4X protection, which is the one to specify when the code path calls for a timed delay before the door releases or when the device is exposed to weather.
19) Can I standardize a building on the Imperial ED-VR531, or do I need a second model for some doors?
The Imperial USA ED-VR531 covers a large share of a typical building: Grade 1, non-handed, wide stile with a 3 inch minimum stile, hollow metal and wood doors 26 to 36 inches wide on 7 foot heights, with a 12 inch extension rod ED-ROD12 for taller doors. Two openings fall outside it. Labeled fire doors need a fire rated device such as the Marks USA M9900FVR-36X84 or the Delaney F9100 Series DLY-694300. Narrow stile aluminum doors need a narrow stile device such as the Detex Advantex 50/51 Series DTX-5001DN/5101DN. On the doors it does cover, the finish choice is aluminum or duronodic, so the fleet matches.
20) What finishes does the Imperial ED-VR531 exit device come in for matching other doors in the building?
Two finishes: AL aluminum and DU duronodic (dark bronze). Aluminum is the match for clear anodized frames and most storefront, duronodic for dark bronze anodized openings. If you are standardizing a building, pick the one that matches your frames and order the same on every leaf, since the trim is separate and needs to match too.
21) Will the Imperial ED-VR531 work on an exterior door that gets weather and needs an alarm?
The VR531 takes the EAK500 alarm kit as an add on, which is the way to get local alarm on this device. It is a standard interior/exterior commercial panic device, not a weatherized one. For a door exposed to driving weather that also needs alarm and delayed egress, the Detex Advantex 10 Series is the weatherized option, with a 100 dB alarm and NEMA 4X protection.
22) Is the Marks USA M9900VR the same thing as the Imperial USA ED-VR531?
They are close in application, not identical in identity. Both are 36 inch class vertical rod panic exit devices in an exit only function, non-handed, and non fire rated - the Marks USA M9900VR is listed as a 36 by 84 inch vertical rod panic device, exit only and non-handed. The Imperial USA ED-VR531 belongs to the ED-500 Series, carries ANSI A156.3 Grade 1, has a 2-1/4 inch projection, a 1-3/4 to 2 inch door thickness range, hex key dogging and a stainless steel construction, and ships with the top and bottom latch, standard strike and shim while the exterior lever trim is ordered separately. Order by the exact model when the submittal names a series.
How fast can I get the Imperial USA IMPED-VR531-AL delivered?
Most orders ship the same day from our distribution partners, with quick delivery throughout the continental U.S. Need it urgently? Contact Us for expedited shipping options.
Can I return it if it doesn’t work for me?
Yes—ZenSupply offers a hassle-free return policy. If the product isn’t the right fit, reach out to our support team for a return authorization or setup a return by following our return instructions.
Does the Imperial USA IMPED-VR531-AL come with a warranty?
Absolutely. The Imperial USA IMPED-VR531-AL is backed by a manufacturer’s warranty. For full warranty terms, check the product documentation or Contact Us.
How do I get technical support or installation help for the Imperial USA IMPED-VR531-AL?
You can call, text, or email our expert support team for fast answers. We’re here to help with product selection, installation tips, and troubleshooting. Contact Us
Why buy the Imperial USA IMPED-VR531-AL from ZenSupply?
ZenSupply makes it easy to get the commercial door hardware you need—fast shipping, expert support, and rewards on every order. Our team is always ready to help you choose the right product for your project.
!