BEST Precision 5201 Series 48"...
IN STOCK (leaves warehouse same day if ordered before 3pm ET)
$1,257.00
$1,084.31
BEST Precision 5201 Series 48" Surface Vertical Rod Exit Device - Reversible

BEST Precision 5201 Series 48" Surface Vertical Rod Exit Device - Reversible

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Model: 5201 689 48
$1,257.00
$1,084.31
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In Stock (leaves warehouse same day if ordered before 3pm ET)

$1,257.00
$1,084.31
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BEST Precision 5201 Series 48" Surface Vertical Rod Exit Device - Reversible

Professional Grade Exit Device for Commercial Door Applications

The BEST Precision 5201 Series Surface Vertical Rod Exit Device delivers Grade 1 performance for doors up to 48" wide and 10'-0" high, accommodating door thickness from 1-3/4" to 2-1/4". This UL Listed panic and fire exit hardware features reversible operation with heavy wrought steel construction and powder coated finish for demanding commercial applications. ANSI/BHMA certified to ANSI 156.3 Grade 1 standards with stainless steel deadlocking latchbolt providing 3/4" throw.

Professional Features & Benefits

  • Door Compatibility: Designed for doors up to 48" wide by 10'-0" high with 1-3/4" to 2-1/4" thickness for versatile commercial applications.
  • Grade 1 Certification: ANSI/BHMA certified to ANSI 156.3 Grade 1 standards ensuring professional-grade durability and performance.
  • Heavy-Duty Construction: Heavy wrought steel active case and touchbar sub-assembly with zinc dichromate plating for exceptional durability.
  • UL Listed Safety: UL Listed for both panic and fire exit hardware applications providing code compliance and safety assurance.
  • Reversible Design: Field reversible for all functions and trims with standard RHRB packaging for installation flexibility.
  • Stainless Steel Latchbolt: Deadlocking latchbolt with 3/4" throw provides secure latching with stainless steel construction for longevity.
  • Adjustable Bottom Bolt: Steel plated bottom bolt with 5/8" throw and adjustment range to suit 3/4" door undercut for proper fit.
  • Standard Dogging: 1/4 turn hex key dogging standard for convenient maintenance access (not available for fire exit hardware).

Technical Specifications

  • Commercial/Residential: Commercial
  • Department: Door Hardware
  • Fire Rating: No
  • Product Category: Exit Devices and Trim
  • Product Group: Exit Devices and Trim
  • Product Subgroup: Exit Devices - Vertical Rod
  • Product Type: Exit Devices - Surface Vertical Rod
  • Series: 5200 Series
  • Subcategory: Surface Vertical Rod

Installation & Operation

  1. Review manufacturer specifications and verify door preparation requirements including door thickness, stile width, and handing as applicable to this product.
  2. Use manufacturer-provided templates to mark mounting hole locations accurately on door and/or frame surfaces.
  3. Prepare door and frame by drilling required holes and routing as specified in manufacturer instructions.
  4. Install all mounting hardware and secure the device to door and frame per manufacturer torque specifications.
  5. Adjust operational components for proper alignment, latching, and smooth operation throughout the full range of motion.
  6. Test device operation to verify proper function and make final adjustments as needed. Refer to manufacturer documentation for complete installation details and troubleshooting.

Professional Applications

  • Commercial Office Buildings
  • Educational Facilities
  • Healthcare Institutions
  • Retail Establishments
  • Industrial and Warehouse Facilities
  • Multi-Tenant Residential Properties
  • Government and Municipal Buildings

Why Choose BEST Quality?

BEST Precision 5200 Series exit devices deliver professional-grade reliability with heavy wrought steel construction and zinc dichromate plating rated for Grade 1 commercial applications. UL Listed for panic and fire exit hardware with ANSI/BHMA certification to ANSI 156.3 standards. Engineered for demanding commercial applications where dependable performance and code compliance are essential.

Product Specs

Series:
5200 Series
Product Group:
Exit Devices and Trim
Product Subgroup:
Exit Devices - Vertical Rod
Product Type:
Exit Devices - Surface Vertical Rod
Subcategory:
Surface Vertical Rod
Commercial/Residential:
Commercial
Fire Rating:
No
Product Category:
Exit Devices and Trim
Department:
Door Hardware

BEST 5201 689 48 – Frequently Asked Questions

1) Will the BEST Precision 5201 surface vertical rod exit device fit a 48 inch wide door?
Yes. The Precision 5201 in the 48 inch size covers doors up to 48 inches wide and up to 10 feet high, with a door thickness range of 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 inches. That 2-1/4 inch upper limit is wider than most competing vertical rod devices, which are built around the standard 1-3/4 inch commercial door, so it is a workable choice on thick or insulated exterior leaves.
2) Do I need to specify handing when ordering a Precision 5201 vertical rod exit device?
No handing call-out is needed. The 5201 is field reversible for all functions and trims and ships packaged RHRB, so one device covers either hand. Reverse it on site rather than reordering if the opening turns out opposite to the drawing.
3) Will this exit device latch into my existing strikes, or do I have to replace them?
Check your throws. The 5201 uses a stainless steel deadlocking top latchbolt with a 3/4 inch throw and a steel plated bottom bolt with a 5/8 inch throw. The bottom bolt adjusts to suit up to a 3/4 inch door undercut. If your existing top strike and threshold strike were cut for those same throws you can reuse them; if the undercut at the sill is larger than 3/4 inch, the bottom bolt will not reach.
4) What is the less bottom rod option on the 5201 and when should I order it?
Less bottom rod deletes the lower rod and bottom bolt so the device latches only at the head. Building managers pick it where the bottom rod is a trip hazard, gets damaged by carts, or where a dirty or uneven floor keeps fouling the bottom strike. It is orderable on the 5201 in both finishes, with or without trim, and in all three dogging choices. Keep the bottom rod if you want the two point latching the device is designed around.
5) What dogging choices does the BEST Precision 5201 come with?
Three. Standard is 1/4 turn hex key dogging, which lets maintenance hold the touchbar down so the door pushes free during business hours. Cylinder dogging is available if you want that function controlled by a key in your existing keying system rather than an allen wrench. Less dogging deletes the feature entirely, which is what you order for any opening that must latch at all times. Note that dogging is not offered on fire exit hardware.
6) My aluminum storefront door has a narrow stile - what vertical rod device should I use instead of the BEST 5201?
For narrow stile aluminum doors, choose a device built for that stile: the Von Duprin 3327A is a Grade 1 narrow stile surface vertical rod device with a grooved case for 36 inch doors, the Von Duprin 7527 is a Grade 1 narrow stile device for 3 ft doors, the Adams Rite 8200 Series is a Grade 1 narrow stile life-safety device, and the Corbin Russwin ED4400 is a Grade 1 narrow stile device that accepts trim. The Falcon 19-V-EO is another Grade 1 narrow stile exit-only option for 36 inch doors at 1-3/4 inch thickness.
7) I need a fire rated vertical rod device - can I use the BEST Precision 5201?
The 5201 as configured carries a Fire Rating value of No, so for a fire-rated opening choose a device listed as fire rated. Options include the Sargent 2727, a Grade 1 fire rated reversible wide stile surface vertical rod device; the TownSteel EF9727, a fire rated Grade 1 heavy duty wide stile device sized 36 by 84 inches and wood door compatible; the Adams Rite 3100 Series, a Grade 1 fire rated wide stile device for 1-3/4 inch doors; and the Arrow S1150, a fire rated exit-only device for narrow or wide stile doors.
8) What is the closest equivalent to the BEST Precision 5201 surface vertical rod exit device from another manufacturer?
The Sargent 2727 is a reversible Grade 1 wide stile surface vertical rod exit device in exit-only function, which matches the 5201's reversible, Grade 1 exit-only configuration most directly. The Von Duprin 2227-3FT is another close peer: Grade 1, wide stile, non-handed, for 36 inch doors with 1-3/4 inch door thickness. The 5201 differs in that it covers doors up to 48 inches wide and accepts door thickness from 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 inches.
9) Will the Sargent 12-8710 work as a substitute for the BEST Precision 5201?
No. The Sargent 12-8710 is a dummy function surface vertical rod device, meaning it does not latch or operate as active panic hardware. The 5201 is a working exit device with a deadlocking stainless steel latchbolt at 3/4 inch throw and an adjustable bottom bolt at 5/8 inch throw, UL Listed for panic hardware. Use a dummy device only on the inactive leaf where no exit function is required.
10) My door is thicker than 1-3/4 inches - which vertical rod exit devices cover that?
The BEST Precision 5201 accommodates door thickness from 1-3/4 inch up to 2-1/4 inch, which is the wider range in this class. Peers such as the Von Duprin 2227, Falcon 20 Series, Falcon 25-V-EO, Corbin Russwin ED5400, and Adams Rite 3100 Series are all specified at 1-3/4 inch door thickness, so verify the opening before substituting one of those onto a thicker door.
11) Should I use a surface vertical rod device or a rim device with a mullion on my pair of doors?
A surface vertical rod device like the 5201 latches at the head and at the sill, so a pair of doors can be secured without a center mullion and the full opening stays clear for carts and equipment. A rim device plus a removable mullion gives you a single point latch and less exposed hardware on the door face, but the mullion sits in the middle of the opening. Choose the vertical rod when clear width matters, the mullion when you want simpler hardware and a cleaner face.
12) Does the 5201 come with outside trim, or is it exit only?
It is an exit only device. You order it either with the 501 cover plate, which blanks off the outside face for a finished look with no outside operation, or as device only with no trim at all. If you need people to get back in through that leaf with a key or lever, this is not the configuration to buy.
13) Is the Precision 5201 exit device Grade 1, and how heavy is the construction?
It is ANSI/BHMA certified to ANSI 156.3 Grade 1. The active case and touchbar sub-assembly are heavy wrought steel with zinc dichromate plating under a powder coated finish, which is the build level you want on school, healthcare and high traffic retail exits.
14) Is there a lighter duty or Grade 2 alternative to the BEST Precision 5201 vertical rod device?
Yes. The Dexter ED2000 Series is a Grade 2 surface vertical rod panic device, and the TownSteel TS5100 Series is a Grade 2 heavy duty wide stile surface vertical rod device for 36 by 84 inch doors. The Design Hardware 2000V is a standard duty surface vertical rod device, with the 1000V as its heavy duty counterpart. The 5201 itself is ANSI/BHMA certified to ANSI 156.3 Grade 1, so moving to any of these changes the certified grade on the opening.
15) I want a less bottom rod vertical rod device - does the BEST 5201 do that, and what else does?
The BEST Precision 5201 is ordered with a Less Bottom Rod option, so it can be configured without the bottom rod and bolt. If you want an alternative built that way, the Orca Hardware OED56 Series is a standard duty less bottom rod vertical rod exit device in aluminum finish, non-handed, exit only, for 1-3/4 inch doors at 36 inches.
16) I need a vertical rod device on a wood door - is the BEST 5201 or something else the right call?
If wood door compatibility is the deciding spec, the TownSteel devices state it directly: the ED8927 is a Grade 1 wide stile device and the ED3727 a Grade 1 narrow stile device, both 36 by 84 inches and wood door compatible, and the fire rated EF9727 is wood door compatible as well. The Von Duprin 7527 and 7827 are both listed as not wood door compatible, so they are not the ones to spec for that opening.
17) The BEST 5201 is exit only - what if I need outside operating trim on the door?
The 5201 in the 501 Cover Plate configuration is a non-operating exterior plate rather than a lever or pull. When the opening needs outside entry, the Corbin Russwin ED5400 is a Grade 1 wide stile device that accepts trim, the ED4400 is the Grade 1 narrow stile equivalent that accepts trim, and the ED7400 is a Grade 1 narrow stile crossbar device that accepts operator trim.
18) I prefer a crossbar or push bar style rather than a touchbar - what vertical rod devices use those?
The BEST Precision 5201 uses a touchbar sub-assembly. If the specification calls for a crossbar, the Corbin Russwin ED7400 is a Grade 1 narrow stile crossbar surface vertical rod device. For a push bar style, the Sargent 3727 is a Grade 1 wide stile exit-only surface vertical rod device with a standard push bar, and the Arrow 3700 Series is a Grade 1 wide stile pushpad exit bar.
19) What are the wide stile Grade 1 alternatives if I am standardizing a facility away from the BEST 5201?
Wide stile Grade 1 surface vertical rod peers include the Von Duprin 2227 for 36 inch doors, the Falcon 20 Series and Falcon 25-V-EO exit-only devices at 36 inches, the Corbin Russwin ED5400, the Sargent 3727, the TownSteel ED8927 at 36 by 84 inches, and the Adams Rite 8100 Series life-safety device. All are non-fire-rated configurations except where noted by the manufacturer, matching the 5201's Fire Rating of No.
20) How does the Dexter ED1000 or ED1500 compare to the BEST Precision 5201?
Both Dexter ED1000 and ED1500 Series are Grade 1 surface vertical rod exit devices, matching the 5201's Grade 1 certification, with the ED1500 specified as non-fire-rated. The 5201 is field reversible for all functions and trims, ships RHRB, covers doors up to 48 inches wide by 10 feet high, and offers hex key dogging, cylinder dogging, or less dogging along with 689 aluminum painted and 695 dark bronze painted finishes.
21) What finishes does the BEST Precision 5201 exit device come in?
Two painted finishes: 689 aluminum painted and 695 dark bronze painted. Both are offered across every dogging, trim and less bottom rod combination, so you can match the rest of a building's storefront hardware without giving up an option.
How fast can I get the BEST 5201 689 48 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 BEST 5201 689 48 come with a warranty?
Absolutely. The BEST 5201 689 48 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 BEST 5201 689 48?
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 BEST 5201 689 48 from ZenSupply?
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