Von Duprin QEL, RX and Electrified Exit Devices
Von Duprin exit-device families support options such as Quiet Electric Latch Retraction (QEL), request-to-exit (RX), latch monitoring (LX), alarms and specialized trim. Availability and compatibility vary by series, device type, fire rating and combination, so the complete opening must be scheduled before ordering or retrofitting.
Select the complete system, not one headline feature
Match devices, software, licensing, infrastructure, retention, integrations and support to the operating requirement before finalizing the design.
Exit-device and electrified-option survey
Identify the existing or specified series, device type, length, door and frame, trim, dogging, fire label, latch condition and vertical-rod geometry. Confirm whether the opening is panic hardware or fire exit hardware and preserve required mechanical egress.
Use the current Von Duprin option matrix for QEL, RX, LX, delayed egress, alarms and trim. Some option combinations or retrofit kits are series- and date-dependent. Record device markings and manufacturing information before assuming an existing bar can accept a conversion.
The survey output is an opening schedule, not a product list: each door numbered, its device and trim recorded from the markings, its label status noted, and the person who will own the access schedule for that opening identified. Retrofit literature helps only after every opening has been described that way.
- Series and device type
- Fire/panic label
- Existing option compatibility
- Mechanical condition
QEL, monitoring, trim and power design
Define whether the system needs latch retraction for push-pull operation, request-to-exit signaling, latch monitoring, outside-trim control or local alarm. RX and LX are not interchangeable observations. Coordinate the access-control input and alarm programming with the actual switch function.
Select the approved power supply and control modules for inrush, holding current, cable distance and number of devices operating together. Include fire-alarm behavior, schedule, remote dogging or lockdown only when allowed by the listed opening and approved sequence.
Wire the opening as one assembly: supply location, cable path to the head of the door, the chosen power transfer, and the panel inputs that will read the switches. Order by the full option string stamped on the device rather than the family name, because two bars described the same way in conversation can take different boards and kits.
- QEL operating purpose
- RX versus LX signal
- Trim and transfer method
- Supply and simultaneous load
| Option | Purpose | Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| QEL | Quiet latch retraction | Series, rating and power |
| RX | Touchpad request to exit | Alarm/input logic |
| LX | Latch state monitoring | Device compatibility |
| Electrified trim | Controlled outside entry | Function and power transfer |
Installation, adjustment and access integration
Install or retrofit with the manufacturer template and correct kit. Adjust rods, latches, strikes, center case, touchpad and closer before powering the option. Keep wiring clear of moving parts and use the approved power transfer.
Test mechanical egress with power present and absent, authorized entry, QEL retract and relatch, RX or LX reporting, schedule, alarms, fire input and outside trim. Repeated cycles should not drag rods, leave latches partially retracted or require excessive touchpad force.
Whoever can put this opening into a scheduled unlock or a lockdown state should be a named account in the access system, with the sequence documented and approved rather than set from memory. Controller firmware and programming changes call for a repeat of the egress, fire-input and relatch checks, so save the working door configuration first.
- Template and listed kit
- Rod/latch adjustment
- Mechanical egress tests
- Controller and alarm mapping
Acceptance, rating records and maintenance
Deliver device and kit part numbers, series, function, trim, power supply, control point, transfer method, switch mapping, rating and test results. Keep official installation and option documents with the protected opening schedule.
Inspect fasteners, touchpad, rods, latches, strikes, power transfer, wiring and retraction timing. Re-test alarm and life-safety behavior after door, controller, supply or fire-interface changes.
Demonstrate the opening in front of the people who will live with it: push the touchpad with the supply switched off, present an unauthorized credential, drop the fire input, and watch the panel report the latch. File that record beside the opening schedule with kit numbers and supply data, and give any deviation a name against it.
- Opening and option schedule
- Power/control record
- Official documents retained
- Periodic functional testing
How we plan and deliver the work
The final design depends on site conditions, existing systems, client policies and the selected manufacturer or platform.
Schedule the devices
Record the existing device series, function, trim, fire rating and door construction at every opening under review.
Confirm option availability
Check which electrified options that series and rating allow before ordering retraction, monitoring, alarm or trim components.
Install and adjust
Fit devices, power transfers and supplies, then adjust latch retraction, strike alignment and door closer operation.
Prove egress first
Confirm mechanical egress with power removed, then test retraction, latch monitoring and signals to the access panel.
Information to gather before design
Electrified exit devices are ordered against one specific opening, so device series, rating and door construction have to be confirmed before options are selected or retrofit parts are bought.
- Existing exit device series and function
- Fire label present on door and frame
- Trim type and outside lever function
- Power transfer route into the door
- Access control panel outputs and inputs available
Frequently asked questions
These are common planning questions. A site-specific answer should be confirmed during discovery and design.
Does RX prove the latch is secure?
No. RX generally reports touchpad operation; use the appropriate latch or door monitoring for the required state.
Can QEL be added to every exit device?
No. Verify series, device type, age, rating and approved kit compatibility.
Should QEL replace mechanical egress?
No. Required mechanical egress must remain functional under the approved conditions.
What causes unreliable retraction?
Incorrect power, voltage drop, wiring, rod or latch adjustment, incompatible kits and mechanical door problems are common causes.
Manufacturer software, firmware and technical files remain on the manufacturer’s official website. We do not mirror firmware files locally.
Add electrified options to your exit devices
List each opening with its current device, trim, fire label status and the access control panel it reports to. Photos of the device and the hinge edge help confirm which electrified options are workable before anything is ordered.