The problem that brings people to this page
Most callers have a door that has to stay legally exitable but keeps getting pulled open, propped, or entered from the outside — a rear entry on a converted property, a shared corridor door, a shop or studio attached to a home, or an HOA-managed access door. A residential-style deadbolt on that door is either non-compliant or defeats the exit hardware. The fix is exit hardware plus a controlled outside trim, not another deadbolt.
What is specific about Von Duprin in an installation context
Von Duprin devices are specified by door type and by how the door latches: rim devices latch to a strike on the frame, mortise-lock devices use a mortise pocket in the door edge, and vertical-rod devices latch top and bottom, which matters most on pairs of doors. Which family a door can accept depends on the existing door construction, its reinforcement, and the frame — it is confirmed by measurement, not assumed from the brand name.
Components typically involved
A typical Von Duprin installation touches the push-pad device itself, the strike or rod hardware, the outside trim (lever, pull, or key-only), the cylinder that controls that trim, the door prep and reinforcement, and often the closer so the door reliably latches after each use. On some doors an electric strike or a request-to-exit signal is part of the same opening; those are only added when the door already has, or is getting, an access-control system.
The high-security part: cylinder and key control
The security level of an exit-device opening is set by the outside trim and the cylinder in it, not by the push bar. That is where a restricted or patented keyway belongs, so keys can't be duplicated over the counter. Cylinder type and trim compatibility depend on the specific device and trim configuration — rim, mortise, and vertical-rod devices are not interchangeable in this respect — so the exact cylinder format, length, cam, and keyway are confirmed against the installed trim after inspection.
Site survey before anything is ordered
The survey covers door material and thickness, handing and swing, existing prep and any old cut-outs, frame condition and strike location, floor clearance for vertical rods, closer and threshold condition, and whether the door is on an access-control or alarm circuit. Doors that were previously modified are the common surprise: old prep can dictate which device family fits without a filler plate or a new door.
Installation and adjustment
Installation is templated to the door, drilled and reinforced as needed, then adjusted so the latch throws fully with the door at rest and the push pad releases with light pressure. Vertical rods are set so the top and bottom latches engage together. Dogging, where the device supports it, is set to the owner's preference. The door is cycled repeatedly before the job is closed out.
Repair, retrofit, or full replacement
An existing Von Duprin device in sound condition can often be kept and upgraded at the trim and cylinder alone, which is the least invasive path. A retrofit device is used when the prep matches a current model. Full replacement — sometimes including the door or frame — comes up when the prep no longer matches anything current, the door is warped, or the frame will not hold a strike. That call is made after inspection, not over the phone.
Limitations to know before booking
Exit hardware on an egress door is regulated, and the allowable configuration depends on the exact device, the door opening, its listing, and how it is installed — not on the brand alone. Add-on locks that would defeat a required exit are not installed. Fire rating and egress function are likewise determined per opening: where a door is listed as fire-rated, the work stays within what that listing allows, and non-conforming requests are declined. Anything code-sensitive is confirmed against the specific opening and, where required, with the authority having jurisdiction.
What affects the price
Cost is driven by the device family, the trim and cylinder chosen, whether the door already has correct prep, whether reinforcement or a closer is needed, and how many openings are done in one visit. The service call starts at $49 and is quoted in full before work begins. Restricted-keyway cylinders cost more than standard cylinders because the key blanks are controlled.
Working directly with the owner
Falcon Locksmith is owner-operated: the owner performs the survey, the installation, and the follow-up. There is no dispatcher passing details along, so what is measured on site is what gets ordered and installed.