BEST FBB278 Steel Full Mortise...
IN STOCK (leaves warehouse same day if ordered before 3pm ET)
$83.11
BEST BEST FBB278 Steel Full Mortise Ball Bearing Heavy Weight Swing Clear Hinge With Removable Pin For Beveled Edge Doors BEST-FBB278

BEST FBB278 Steel Full Mortise Ball Bearing Heavy Weight Swing Clear Hinge with Removable Pin

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Model: BEST-FBB278-652-5
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BEST FBB278 Steel Full Mortise Ball Bearing Heavy Weight Swing Clear Hinge with Removable Pin

Heavy-Duty Swing Clear Hinge for Complete Door Opening Clearance

The BEST FBB278 is a heavy-duty swing clear hinge engineered for demanding commercial and institutional applications where complete door opening clearance is essential. Constructed from durable steel with ball bearing technology, this full mortise hinge swings the door completely clear of the opening when opened 95°, making it ideal for hospitals, institutions, and public buildings. The heavy weight gauge design increases bearing surface area for maximum friction reduction and smooth operation.

Professional Features & Benefits

  • Swing Clear Design: Door swings completely clear of opening when opened 95° for maximum accessibility and space utilization in critical areas.
  • Ball Bearing Technology: Four Stanley permanently lubricated non-detachable ball bearings provide smooth, effortless door movement and extended service life.
  • Heavy Weight Construction: Heavy weight gauge increases available bearing surface area for maximum friction reduction and enhanced durability.
  • Full Mortise Installation: Full mortise design ensures secure and seamless installation with optimal stability for demanding applications.
  • Hospital-Grade Features: Can be furnished with hospital tips and designed specifically for corridor doors to patients' rooms, operating rooms, and emergency rooms.
  • Reversible Components: Flush tips and pins are reversible for flexible installation requirements.
  • Removable Pin Design: Removable pin construction allows for easy door removal when necessary for maintenance or replacement.
  • Commercial Duty Rating: Heavy duty construction rated for high-traffic commercial and institutional environments.

Technical Specifications

  • Bearing Type: Ball Bearing
  • Commercial/Residential: Commercial
  • Corner Style: Square Corners
  • Department: Door Hardware
  • Duty Level: Heavy Duty
  • Hinge Pin Type: Removable
  • Hinge Type: Full Mortise
  • Knuckles: 5
  • Product Category: Door Hinges and Pivots
  • Product Group: Door Hinges and Pivots
  • Product Model: FBB278
  • Product Subgroup: Surface and Mortise Hinges
  • Product Type: Full Mortise Hinges
  • Series: Architectural Hinges
  • Subcategory: Hinges

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

  • Hospital Patient Room Corridors
  • Operating Room Entrances
  • Emergency Room Access Points
  • Institutional Building Doorways
  • Public Building High-Traffic Areas
  • Commercial Facilities Requiring Clear Openings
  • Healthcare Facility Critical Access Points

Why Choose BEST Quality?

BEST hinges deliver professional-grade reliability with heavy weight steel construction and permanently lubricated ball bearing technology for smooth, long-lasting performance. The swing clear design and hospital-grade features make this hinge ideal for critical applications in healthcare and institutional environments where dependable operation and complete door clearance are essential for safety and accessibility.

Product Specs

Subcategory:
Hinges
Series:
Architectural Hinges
Hinge Type:
Full Mortise
Knuckles:
5
Bearing Type:
Ball Bearing
Corner Style:
Square Corners
Product Group:
Door Hinges and Pivots
Product Subgroup:
Surface and Mortise Hinges
Product Type:
Full Mortise Hinges
Duty Level:
Heavy Duty
Commercial/Residential:
Commercial
Hinge Pin Type:
Removable
Product Model:
FBB278
Product Category:
Door Hinges and Pivots
Department:
Door Hardware

BEST BEST-FBB278-652-5 – Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is a swing clear hinge and when do I need one instead of a standard butt hinge?
A swing clear hinge carries the door leaf out of the opening. The BEST FBB278 swings the door completely clear of the opening at 95 degrees, so the full clear width of the frame is usable instead of losing the door thickness plus the stop. That matters on corridor doors where a gurney or wheelchair has to pass. A standard full mortise butt hinge leaves the door sitting in the opening and costs you a couple of inches of clear width. If you don't have a clearance problem, a conventional hinge like the McKinney TCA3386 heavy weight full mortise does the same duty without the swing clear geometry.
2) Is the BEST FBB278 rated for a high traffic door that gets hundreds of cycles a day?
Heavy duty, commercial, and ball bearing. Four permanently lubricated non-detachable ball bearings carry the load, and the heavy weight gauge gives more bearing surface area to cut friction. That combination is what separates it from a plain bearing hinge, which relies on metal riding on metal at the knuckle and wears faster under constant use. For a hospital corridor or a public building entry, the ball bearing version is the one to spec.
3) What is the difference between the BEST FBB278 and the Hager 1260 swing clear hinge?
Both are heavy duty full mortise swing clear hinges, and the split is the bearing. The FBB278 is ball bearing; the Hager 1260 is a 5 knuckle plain bearing design. Plain bearing is the lower cycle option and is generally specified where traffic is lighter. If you are hanging a door that moves constantly, the ball bearing is the one you want. Both are 5 knuckle, so the knuckle count won't look different on the frame.
4) I need clear width on a door but also electric transfer for an access control lock. Is the FBB278 the right hinge?
No, not on its own. The FBB278 is a mechanical swing clear hinge with no wire path through the barrel. For power transfer through the hinge, the ACSI 5BB1 is a 5 knuckle full mortise ball bearing hinge at 4-1/2 x 4-1/2 with concealed electric through-wire, 4 wire in 28 gauge. It is not a swing clear hinge, so if you need both clear opening and power transfer you use the electric hinge in one position and swing clear hinges in the others, or run the power through a door loop or an electric transfer instead.
5) My existing hinges are 4-1/2 inch. Can I just swap in the BEST FBB278?
Not a direct swap. The FBB278 comes 5 x 5, so a 4-1/2 inch mortise has to be enlarged in both the door edge and the frame rabbet, and the screw pattern won't line up. If you want to stay in the existing 4-1/2 prep, the Don-Jo BB74545 is a 4-1/2 x 4-1/2 steel full mortise ball bearing hinge with square corners and 5 knuckles, or the McKinney TCA3386 in 4-1/2 x 4-1/2 if you need heavy weight. Note that neither of those is swing clear, so you keep the existing clear width rather than gaining any.
6) What is the closest heavy weight ball bearing full mortise hinge to the BEST FBB278 when swing clear is not required?
The McKinney TCA3386 is a heavy weight square corner five knuckle full mortise hinge in 4-1/2 inch by 4-1/2 inch. It shares the FBB278's heavy duty rating, full mortise mounting, square corners and five knuckle build, but it is a conventional hinge, so the door leaf still sits in the opening when the door is open. The FBB278 swings the door completely clear of the opening at 95 degrees, which is what you keep when you need the full clear width for gurneys, beds or wheelchairs.
7) Is there another swing clear hinge besides the BEST FBB278, and how does it differ?
The Hager 1260 is a heavy duty full mortise swing clear hinge with a five knuckle plain bearing design. Both give you the swing clear geometry that moves the door leaf out of the opening. The difference is the bearing: the 1260 runs plain bearings, while the FBB278 uses ball bearings, described as four Stanley permanently lubricated non-detachable bearings. On a high cycle corridor door, that bearing choice is usually the deciding spec.
8) Which hinge should I use instead of the BEST FBB278 if the door has to clear a deep trim or projecting casing?
Look at the Hager WTBB1168, a 4-1/2 inch by 6 inch heavy weight full mortise ball bearing wide throw hinge with five knuckles. Wide throw moves the door further off the frame so it clears deep trim, thick casing or an adjacent wall return. The FBB278 solves a different clearance problem: it swings the door out of the opening itself at 95 degrees for usable clear width. Both are heavy duty ball bearing full mortise hinges, so the choice comes down to which obstruction you are working around.
9) Can I take the door down without removing the BEST FBB278 hinge from the frame?
Yes. The FBB278 uses a removable pin, so you drive the pin out and lift the door off the frame leaves. Nothing gets unscrewed and the mortise prep is undisturbed, which is what you want on a patient room or corridor door that has to come off for maintenance and go back on the same day. The flush tips and pins are reversible, so the pin can be driven from either end.
10) What size and finish does the BEST FBB278 hinge come in?
5 x 5 inches in 652 satin chrome over steel. The 5 inch leaf height is a heavy weight size, which is what you'd expect on a wide or heavy institutional door rather than the 4-1/2 inch used on standard commercial openings. Order by the pair count your door needs, not by the box.
11) Can I get the BEST FBB278 with hospital tips?
Hospital tips can be furnished on the FBB278. Hospital tips are the angled or sloped tip that replaces the flat button so there is nothing for a sleeve, an IV line, or a cart strap to catch on. That is why this hinge shows up on patient room corridors, operating rooms, and emergency room doors. Standard build is flush tips, and those are reversible, so specify the hospital tip on the order if that's what your facility standard calls for.
12) Does the BEST FBB278 need to be handed when I order it?
No handing to specify. The flush tips and pins are reversible, so the same hinge goes on a left hand or right hand door. That simplifies stocking when you are standardizing a floor of patient rooms and don't want two part numbers on the shelf.
13) What is a lighter duty alternative to the BEST FBB278 for a low traffic commercial door?
The Don-Jo BB74545 is a standard duty full mortise ball bearing hinge in 4-1/2 inch by 4-1/2 inch steel with square corners and five knuckles. It keeps the ball bearing action and the square corner prep, at a standard duty rating rather than the FBB278's heavy duty. It is a conventional hinge, so it does not clear the opening the way the FBB278 does at 95 degrees. Use it on an office or storage door where clear width is not the driver.
14) Is a stainless steel hinge available as an alternative to the steel BEST FBB278 for a washdown or humid area?
The Don-Jo BB94545 is a standard duty full mortise ball bearing hinge, 4-1/2 inch by 4-1/2 inch, in stainless steel with square corners. Stainless is the material to specify for kitchens, wash areas and coastal exposure. It is standard duty rather than the FBB278's heavy duty, and it is a conventional hinge without the swing clear geometry, so confirm your clear width requirement before swapping.
15) How does a concealed bearing hinge like the CB199 compare to the BEST FBB278?
The Stanley Security CB199 is a full mortise concealed bearing heavy weight hinge, and like the FBB278 it belongs to the Architectural Hinges series at a heavy duty rating. The bearings on the CB199 are concealed within the knuckles rather than visible between them, which is a specification appearance decision on exposed openings. The FBB278 is the one to hold when the opening needs the door swung completely clear at 95 degrees; the CB199 is a conventional heavy weight hinge.
16) Can the Stanley Security CB1960R be used in place of the BEST FBB278?
Not on the same opening if clear width is the reason for the hinge. The CB1960R is a full mortise concealed bearing standard weight hinge at a medium duty rating in the Architectural Hinges series. The FBB278 is heavy duty with the swing clear design that moves the door out of the opening at 95 degrees. Substituting the CB1960R changes both the weight class and the clearance behavior, so it fits lighter interior doors rather than a patient room corridor.
17) The frame prep on my existing door is 4-1/2 inch by 4 inch. What fits instead of the BEST FBB278?
The Don-Jo BB74540 is a full mortise ball bearing hinge sized 4-1/2 inch by 4 inch in satin chrome, at a standard duty rating. Hinge width has to match the existing mortise or you are recutting the frame. The FBB278 is offered in 5 inch by 5 inch in 652 satin chrome, which needs a deeper and taller mortise than a 4-1/2 by 4 prep.
18) Can I use a swing clear hinge like the BEST FBB278 on a residential door?
It's built for commercial and institutional use, not residential, and the heavy weight steel construction is more hinge than a house door needs. It will hang a residential door mechanically if the prep is right, but you're paying for bearing capacity you won't use. For light residential work the Hager 1541 is a full mortise plain bearing residential hinge in stainless steel with a 5 knuckle design.
19) Will the ball bearings on the BEST FBB278 need lubrication or eventually get replaced?
The four ball bearings are permanently lubricated and non-detachable, so there is no greasing schedule and no bearing to service. That is a deliberate choice for facilities maintenance: the hinge is a fit and forget item, and the only field-serviceable part is the removable pin for taking the door down.
20) Where do I find the hinge size and installation templates for the BEST FBB278?
BEST publishes the reference material for the 5 knuckle ball bearing architectural hinges as separate documents: a 5 knuckle ball bearing hinge catalog, a general hinge information catalog, a hinge size chart for picking leaf size against door width and thickness, and an installation guide with the prep detail. The size chart is the one to pull first, because leaf size is driven by door width and weight, and getting that wrong is what sends a hinge back.
21) Is the Hager 1279 a substitute for the BEST FBB278 on a commercial door?
They are not interchangeable. The Hager 1279 is a medium duty full mortise commercial hinge with five knuckles and a plain bearing design. The FBB278 is heavy duty with ball bearings and the swing clear geometry that pulls the door leaf out of the opening at 95 degrees. The 1279 suits a moderate traffic commercial door; where the schedule calls for heavy weight ball bearing swing clear, the 1279 does not meet it.
22) What is the difference between the BEST FBB278 and a brass hinge like the Don-Jo BB84545 in satin chrome?
The BB84545 is a standard duty full mortise ball bearing hinge, 4-1/2 inch by 4-1/2 inch, with a brass base material finished in satin chrome. The FBB278 is steel and is offered in 652 satin chrome, so the two can read the same on the door while differing in base metal and duty class. The FBB278 is heavy duty and swing clear; the BB84545 is a conventional standard duty hinge.
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Does the BEST BEST-FBB278-652-5 come with a warranty?
Absolutely. The BEST BEST-FBB278-652-5 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 BEST-FBB278-652-5?
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