Krieger Specialty Products
Panic Devices
Krieger engineers provide the following guidelines and recommendations for applications that require panic or other specialized exit devices.

Concealed Vertical Rod
These panic devices (such as Von Duprin - 8847 or 9947) require a large open area, full height inside the door, which unacceptably reduces the effective area of the sound retardant core and precludes the use of a mortised automatic or cam lift door bottom. We do not recommend this device where noise reduction is critical and cannot certify an STC rating with this option.

Surface Vertical Rod
To effectively use these panic devices (such as Von Duprin - 8827 or 9927) the surface mounted roller latch should be mounted on a “Z” bracket (provided by Krieger) at the head and never on the sound seal itself. Screws occurring within the bottom 3" of the door must be cut short and filed or they will prevent the automatic door bottom from operating properly.

Rim Type (Single Doors Only)
These panic devices (such as Von Duprin - 88 or 99) require the surface-mounted roller latch be mounted on a “Z” bracket (provided by Krieger). These devices cannot be used with pairs of doors due to the use of overlapping astragals on the “push” side of the door. If rim devices must be used for pairs, a Krieger mullion (not VD 1654) is required. A better alternative is to use two mortise devices (such as VD 9975) with a mullion.

Mortise Type
Krieger recommends the Mortise Exit Device (such as Von Duprin 9975) for better latching and sound control, thus eliminating the need for a “Z” bracket for the mounting of a roller strike.

Fire Rated Surface Vertical Rod
These devices use a soffit latch assembly in the head of the frame that cannot be mortised into the perimeter seal. If used, they can be mortised into a metal box mounted below the seal and attached to the frame with a “Z” bracket (provided by Krieger).

Devices for Pairs Without Mullions
If both leaves of a pair of doors with panic devices are “active,” a coordinator is required because of the overlapping astragal(s). Use a mortise exit device on the active leaf and a surface vertical rod device on the inactive leaf to allow either leaf to be active. This configuration may exceed the opening pressure required by the American With Disabilities Act (ADA). Please contact us prior to specifying.

For a mortise exit device with a standard strike and surface-mounted vertical rod device combination in the same direction, we recommend using a coordinator (such as Trimco 3092), which has a long enough arm to accommodate the overlapping astragal(s). Acoustical pairs with leaves exceeding 46" in width (frame openings > 92") must utilize a mullion.

If surface vertical rod devices are specified on both doors, then the inactive leaf cannot be opened until the active leaf is opened since both leaves are latched at the top and bottom and have overlapping astragal(s). Krieger cannot certify an STC rating without astragal(s).

Some designs may not meet ADA requirements. Please contact us for details.