BEST Precision 5201 Series Fir...
IN STOCK (leaves warehouse same day if ordered before 3pm ET)
$1,515.00
$1,078.45
BEST Precision 5201 Series Fire Rated 36" Surface Vertical Rod Exit Device

BEST Precision 5201 Series Fire Rated 36" Surface Vertical Rod Exit Device

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Model: FL5201 689 36
$1,515.00
$1,078.45
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In Stock (leaves warehouse same day if ordered before 3pm ET)

$1,515.00
$1,078.45
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BEST Precision 5201 Series Fire Rated 36" Surface Vertical Rod Exit Device

Professional Fire-Rated Exit Device Solution

The BEST Precision 5201 Series Surface Vertical Rod Exit Device delivers Grade 1 commercial performance for fire-rated applications. Designed for 36" wide doors with 1-3/4" to 2-1/4" thickness, this UL Listed fire exit hardware features reversible operation and heavy wrought steel construction. ANSI/BHMA certified to Grade 1 standards with stainless steel deadlocking latchbolt and 3/4" throw for reliable security.

Professional Features & Benefits

  • Fire-Rated Performance: UL Listed for panic and fire exit hardware applications ensuring code compliance and life safety protection.
  • Grade 1 Certification: ANSI/BHMA certified to ANSI 156.3 Grade 1 standards for heavy-duty commercial applications.
  • Door Compatibility: Accommodates doors 1-3/4" to 2-1/4" thick and up to 36" wide by 10'-0" high for versatile installation options.
  • Heavy-Duty Construction: Zinc dichromate plated heavy wrought steel active case and powder coated steel touchbar assembly for exceptional durability.
  • 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 corrosion resistance.
  • Independent Bottom Bolt: Steel plated bottom bolt with 5/8" throw and adjustment range for 3/4" door undercut.
  • Professional Strikes: Investment cast stainless steel top strike (S300) and flush-mounted steel bottom strike (S460) with black powder coating.

Technical Specifications

  • Commercial/Residential: Commercial
  • Department: Door Hardware
  • Fire Rating: Yes
  • 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 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 Grade 1 ANSI/BHMA certification. UL Listed for fire exit hardware applications with stainless steel components for corrosion resistance. Engineered for demanding commercial applications where dependable performance and fire safety 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:
Yes
Product Category:
Exit Devices and Trim
Department:
Door Hardware

BEST FL5201 689 36 – Frequently Asked Questions

1) Will the BEST Precision 5201 exit device fit a 2-inch thick door?
Yes. The Precision 5201 surface vertical rod device covers doors from 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 inches thick, so a 2 inch door is inside the range. Door size is 36 inches wide and up to 10 feet high. Most commercial openings are 1-3/4 inches, so the extra range matters mainly on thicker mineral core or clad doors.
2) Can I use this device on a fire-rated door opening?
Yes. The 5201 is fire exit hardware, UL Listed for panic and fire exit applications. That is the main reason to choose it over a life-safety-only panic device. Note that true fire exit hardware cannot be dogged held-retracted on a fire door, so if you order a dogging option be sure it suits the opening's code requirements.
3) Will the 5201 latch into my existing top and bottom strikes?
It ships with its own strikes, and those are what the throws are set for: an investment cast stainless steel top strike (S300) and a flush mounted steel bottom strike (S460) in black powder coat. The latchbolt is deadlocking stainless with a 3/4 inch throw and the independent bottom bolt throws 5/8 inch, with adjustment to handle up to a 3/4 inch door undercut. Plan on installing the supplied strikes rather than reusing old ones.
4) Do I have to order the 5201 handed, or is it reversible in the field?
Reversible. All functions and trims can be field reversed, and it comes packed RHRB as standard, so one device covers either hand of door without a separate order code.
5) What is the difference between hex dogging, cylinder dogging, and less dogging on this exit device?
Three choices on the 5201. Hex dogging holds the touchbar retracted with an Allen wrench, cylinder dogging does the same but requires a key so only authorized staff can dog the door down, and less dogging omits the feature entirely. On a fire-rated opening, less dogging is the normal specification since fire exit hardware is not permitted to be held retracted.
6) Should I order the less bottom rod version of the 5201?
Less bottom rod (LBR) is available on the 5201 and is what most people choose when the floor is carpeted, uneven, or the bottom rod is a trip and maintenance problem. It removes the bottom rod and bottom strike so latching happens only at the head. If you keep the bottom rod, you get the independent steel bottom bolt with 5/8 inch throw and 3/4 inch undercut adjustment. On a fire door, confirm the LBR arrangement is accepted for that opening before you commit.
7) Does the 5201 come with outside trim, or is it exit only?
Exit only. The 5201 is configured with either a 501 cover plate on the outside or no trim at all (device only). There is no outside lever or pull, so anyone outside stays locked out until the door is opened from inside. If the opening needs outside entry, you need a device with operator trim, such as the Corbin Russwin ED5400, which accepts trim.
8) What other fire-rated surface vertical rod exit devices could I use instead of the BEST 5201?
Two close alternatives in the same fire-rated, wide stile, Grade 1 class: the TownSteel 9700 Series EF9727 for a 36 by 84 inch opening, listed as heavy duty and wood door compatible, and the Adams Rite 3100 Series, fire rated Grade 1 wide stile for 1-3/4 inch doors. The Sargent 2727 is another fire-rated Grade 1 wide stile exit-only device and, like the 5201, is reversible. If you need a narrow stile aluminum door instead, the Arrow S1150 is fire rated and listed for narrow or wide stile.
9) My door is a narrow stile aluminum storefront - is the BEST Precision 5201 the right device?
The BEST Precision 5201 is built for doors up to 36 inches wide by 10 feet high and 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 inches thick. For a narrow stile aluminum door, look instead at the Von Duprin 3327A-3ft, a Grade 1 narrow stile surface vertical rod device for 36 inch doors, the Corbin Russwin ED4400, a Grade 1 narrow stile 36 inch surface vertical rod device that accepts trim, or the TownSteel ED3727, a Grade 1 narrow stile 36 by 84 inch device. Note that all three are non-fire-rated, so they do not substitute on a labeled opening.
10) What is a fire rated alternative if my door thickness is 1-3/4 inch and I want a Grade 1 wide stile device?
The Adams Rite 3100 Series is a Grade 1 fire-rated surface vertical rod exit device for wide stile doors at 1-3/4 inch thickness, and the Sargent 2727 is a Grade 1 fire rated reversible wide stile surface vertical rod device in an exit only function. The BEST Precision 5201 is likewise reversible in the field for all functions and trims and covers 1-3/4 through 2-1/4 inch doors, which is the wider thickness window of the three.
11) Does the Sargent 12-8710 substitute for the BEST Precision 5201?
No. The Sargent 12-8710 is a Grade 1 fire rated wide stile surface vertical rod device in a dummy function, meaning it does not latch or release like an operating exit device. The BEST Precision 5201 is an operating exit device with a stainless steel deadlocking latchbolt at 3/4 inch throw and an independent steel bottom bolt at 5/8 inch throw. Use the 12-8710 only on the inactive leaf where a matching appearance is wanted without a working latch.
12) I want a less bottom rod device - is the Orca OED56 a match for the BEST Precision 5201 LBR?
Both cover the less bottom rod approach at 36 inches: the Orca OED56 is a standard duty non-handed vertical rod exit device in less bottom rod configuration with an aluminum finish and exit only function for 1-3/4 inch doors, and the BEST Precision 5201 can be ordered with the less bottom rod option in 689 aluminum painted or 695 dark bronze painted. The difference that decides it is the fire label - the OED56 is not fire rated, while the 5201 is UL Listed fire exit hardware.
13) Why choose a surface vertical rod device instead of a rim device on a pair of doors?
A surface vertical rod device latches at the head and at the threshold, so it secures a door leaf on its own without a center mullion. That is what makes it the usual answer for a pair of doors where a mullion would block the opening. A rim device latches into a strike on the frame or on a removable mullion, so on a pair you have to add the mullion. The tradeoff with vertical rod is exposed rods on the door face and more adjustment at install.
14) Is the BEST Precision 5201 heavy-duty enough for a school or hospital exit that gets constant traffic?
It is built for that kind of traffic. The 5201 is ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 to ANSI 156.3, with a zinc dichromate plated heavy wrought steel active case and a powder coated steel touchbar assembly, plus a stainless steel deadlocking latchbolt for corrosion resistance. Grade 1 is the highest of the three ANSI/BHMA duty grades and the level normally specified for institutional openings. If budget forces a step down, a Grade 2 device like the Dexter ED2000 or the TownSteel TS5100 exists, but it is not the equivalent.
15) Can one 5201 cover a door taller than 7 feet?
Yes, up to 10 feet 0 inches of door height, with the rods running the full leaf. Anything taller than that is outside what the 5201 covers. Width is 36 inches.
16) I need a lower cost or lighter duty vertical rod device than the BEST Precision 5201 - what are the options?
Stepping down from Grade 1, the Dexter ED2000 Series is a Grade 2 surface vertical rod panic device and the TownSteel TS5100 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. All of these are non-fire-rated, so they are only candidates on an unlabeled opening - the BEST Precision 5201 is UL Listed fire exit hardware certified to ANSI 156.3 Grade 1.
17) Which wide stile Grade 1 vertical rod devices accept lever or pull trim rather than being exit only?
The Corbin Russwin ED5400 is a Grade 1 wide stile 36 inch surface vertical rod device listed as exit only and accepting trim for 1-3/4 inch doors. The BEST Precision 5201 is ordered as exit only, either device only or with the 501 cover plate on the outside face, so it is the right choice where no outside operation is wanted on the labeled opening.
18) What finishes does the BEST Precision 5201 come in?
Two painted finishes: 689 aluminum painted and 695 dark bronze painted. Both are available with any of the dogging, trim, and less-bottom-rod configurations, so you can match existing openings in a building without giving up an option.
19) What is the difference between a crossbar style vertical rod device and the BEST Precision 5201 touchbar?
The Corbin Russwin ED7400 is a Grade 1 narrow stile crossbar surface vertical rod exit device for 36 inch doors that accepts operator trim, so the actuator is a horizontal bar spanning the door rather than a pad. The BEST Precision 5201 uses a powder coated steel touchbar assembly over a zinc dichromate plated wrought steel active case. Touchbar devices also support the touchbar monitoring switch options TS and TDS, including weatherized WTS and WTDS versions.
How fast can I get the BEST FL5201 689 36 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 FL5201 689 36 come with a warranty?
Absolutely. The BEST FL5201 689 36 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 FL5201 689 36?
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
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