No. The ED9700 is not fire rated, so it cannot go on a labeled fire door assembly. It is UL/cUL Listed to UL 305 for panic hardware only. For a labeled opening in a 48 inch device, the Marks USA M9900F 48 inch rim device is fire rated. In 36 inch, fire-rated rim options include the Dexter ED1000-R-F, the Orca OED85, and the Marks USA M9900F.

Three build options: standard mechanical with no electrics, ELR (electrified latch retraction), and ELR-REX (electrified latch retraction plus a request-to-exit switch). ELR lets an access control system pull the latch back for scheduled unlocked periods; add REX when the panel needs a signal that someone pushed the bar from the inside so the door does not alarm.

It meets the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and is ANSI/BHMA A156.3 Grade 1 certified, which is the highest cycle and strength class for exit devices. It also meets Buy American Act guidelines, which matters on federal and publicly funded work.

No. The TownSteel ED9700 is a wide stile device needing a minimum stile width of 4-3/4 inches. For narrow stile aluminum storefront, look at the Adams Rite 8800 Series narrow stile rim device, Grade 1, for doors 1-3/4 inch to 2-1/4 inch, the Corbin Russwin ED4200 Grade 1 36 inch narrow stile rim device for 1-3/4 inch doors, or the Falcon 19-R Grade 1 narrow stile exit only device.

The TownSteel ED9700 is a 48 inch wide stile Grade 1 heavy duty rim exit device. Close 48 inch equivalents include the DORMA 9300 Series 48 inch wide stile panic rim exit device, which is Grade 1 heavy duty wide stile and fits doors 1-3/4 inch to 2-1/4 inch thick, and the Corbin Russwin ED3200, a Grade 1 48 inch wide stile crossbar rim device for 1-3/4 inch doors. Sargent 2828 is also Grade 1 wide stile exit only for a 48 inch minimum door width.

The TownSteel ED9700 is not fire rated, so it suits panic openings only. For a fire rated 48 inch rim device, the Marks USA M9900F 48 inch is fire rated, exit only with a panic protector end cap. Shorter fire rated rim options include the Dexter ED1000-R-F-EO, a Grade 1 fire rated rim device, and the Adams Rite 3700 Series 30 inch fire rated Grade 1 narrow stile rim device.

The TownSteel ED9700 is offered with ELR electrified latch retraction, and with ELR-REX combining latch retraction and request to exit, in flat black, satin stainless, and Duro finishes. Other electrified rim options include the SDC S6136 Spectra 36 inch electrified architectural rim exit device with a 4 inch wide stile for 1-3/4 inch to 2 inch doors, the Dormakaba E2103 electrified 36 inch rim device with 4908A classroom trim, and the Sargent 12-8810 fire rated wide stile rim device with RX and motorized electric latch retraction.

No handing to call out. Every device in the TownSteel 9700 Series is non-handed or reversible, so one part number covers left and right hand openings. That is useful for a property manager stocking spares across a building.

A rim device like the ED9700 latches into a strike on the frame or on a removable mullion, so on a pair you either add a mullion or go to vertical rods. Rim hardware is simpler to install and service, and the rod path stays out of the door. If you cannot use a mullion, a concealed vertical rod device such as the Hager 4501 Series handles the pair by latching top and bottom instead.

It is built as a heavy duty commercial device, Grade 1, with a high shock-resistant latching mechanism and internal components in electro-plated steel or corrosion-resistant alloy. That combination is what you want on an abused exterior or stairwell door rather than a Grade 2 device such as the Cal-Royal 5500.

The TownSteel ED9700 is a Grade 1 heavy duty rim device. If the opening does not call for Grade 1, the Cal-Royal 5500 is a 48 inch wide rim exit device with a push bar carrying a Grade 2 rating with heavy duty construction, and the Cal-Royal A9820 is a 48 inch exit only rim device also listed Grade 2 heavy duty. Both are non-fire-rated like the ED9700.

A few wide stile bars sit next to the TownSteel ED9700 but do a different job. The Detex Advantex 00 Series is a wide stile dummy exit device with no latching function. The SDC MSB550 mechanical switch bar and the SDC SureExit PSB560 pressure sense bar are switch bars that release an electromagnetic lock rather than retract a latch, and the Securitron EMB is an electromechanical exit bar for 2-1/4 inch doors. The ED9700 is a mechanically latching Grade 1 rim device, so none of these is a like-for-like swap.

The TownSteel ED9700 covers 48 inch openings at Grade 1 wide stile. For 36 inch doors with the same wide stile Grade 1 profile, the Von Duprin 22-3FT is a 36 inch non-handed wide stile pushpad Grade 1 rim device for 1-3/4 inch doors, the Corbin Russwin ED2200 is a 36 inch Grade 1 wide stile exit only rim device, and the Detex 10 Advantex 36 inch is wide stile Grade 1 extra heavy duty.

Three: 622 flat black, 630 satin stainless steel, and 695 duro. All three are offered on the standard mechanical device and on both the ELR and ELR-REX electrified builds, so adding electrics does not limit your finish match to the rest of the openings.