TOPTEK commercial door hardware includes a panic exit device range with the PEDAM002 rim layout and PEDAM001 surface vertical rod layout shown below. Use the opening drawing to choose the layout before ordering the bar, strikes and outside trim.
Match the latch location to the opening
| Opening detail | Rim layout | Surface vertical rod layout |
|---|---|---|
| Where the latch engages | A strike at the side frame or suitable mullion | Strikes at the head and bottom of the opening in a two-point configuration |
| Preparation to coordinate | Device mounting and side strike position | Device mounting, rod guides, upper latch and lower latch interfaces |
| Main question on paired doors | What supports the strike at the meeting stiles? | Can both leaves release and close correctly with the proposed latch arrangement? |
| Information needed for pricing | Door size, strike condition and outside access function | The same opening details, plus door height and head and floor preparation |
These differences explain why the bar alone is an incomplete purchase description. A quotation can appear cheaper because a strike, rod extension or outside trim has been left out. Compare the complete opening package before comparing unit prices.
Resolve the centre of a door pair first
For a single leaf with a suitable side frame, a rim arrangement is a straightforward candidate. A pair needs another decision: how will a rim latch find a fixed strike at the centre of the opening? A suitable mullion can provide that support, but its presence also affects how the opening is used for deliveries and equipment movement.
If the project requires an unobstructed centre when both leaves are open, discuss that requirement before selecting hardware. A vertical rod arrangement may suit the proposed layout, provided its head and bottom interfaces and both leaves’ operation are coordinated. A removable mullion is another design possibility where the complete assembly permits it. Neither option is a universal substitute for the other.
Draw both leaves, the meeting stiles, any astragal and the strikes on one elevation. This makes a potential conflict visible before door preparation: a latch or overlapping component on one leaf must not prevent the required release of the other.
Order the TOPTEK layout with its receiving parts
Use PEDAM002 as the rim reference and PEDAM001 as the surface vertical rod reference when discussing the illustrated configurations with TOPTEK. Include the complete opening information with either model enquiry.
For the rim option, identify the strike and the structure that carries it. For the rod option, identify door height, top strike, bottom strike and floor finish. Add the outside access function: exit-only, key-controlled re-entry or the specified lever trim. A change in outside access can change the supplied trim and cylinder even when the inside bar looks the same.
Keep these items together in the purchase description. As an industry example, Lockwood’s Exidor ordering information separates single-point and multi-point arrangements, extensions and external trim. Those are useful purchasing distinctions; its dimensions and approvals apply to its own products.
Confirm the complete opening before releasing the order
Use the selected device drawing and TOPTEK technical resources to obtain the installation information and applicable documentation for the quoted configuration. For a fire-rated or designated escape opening, the project specification and the exact doorset documentation govern the permitted hardware and installation. Do not remove a bottom rod or change a strike to resolve a site clash unless the documented assembly allows it.
On the representative door, operate the bar through its full travel, confirm release at every supplied latch point, and check that closing restores the required engagement. On a pair, check each leaf and the intended closing sequence. Include the outside trim in that demonstration. This gives the buyer a physical reference for what the complete delivered set must do.
Request a rim or vertical rod configuration quotation
Send TOPTEK one door elevation showing leaf sizes, frame and centre condition, floor finish and the required outside access. Include the destination market, project requirements and quantities. Ask for a quotation identifying the device, strikes, rods where applicable, trim, cylinder supply scope and relevant installation documents.
Request an exit device configuration quotation with PEDAM001 or PEDAM002 as the starting reference. For repeat orders, retain the agreed configuration reference with the drawing so a finish change does not accidentally become a change of function or accessories.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a rim exit device be used on paired doors?
Yes, where the complete opening provides a suitable strike arrangement, commonly using a mullion. Confirm the meeting-stile geometry, required clear opening and applicable assembly documentation before ordering.
Can a surface vertical rod device be ordered from door width alone?
No. Door height and the upper and lower latch interfaces also matter. Include the floor or threshold detail and outside trim so the supplied package matches the opening.