By Kent · Lock Depot Staff Writer

Two surface strikes, two different exit devices

The HES 9500 and the HES 9700 look like cousins. Both are surface mount electric strikes. Both are fire rated per their listings. Both run on 12 or 24 volts DC. But they are not interchangeable, and ordering the wrong one is a return you pay freight on. The deciding question is simple: what exit device is on the door? A standard rim device with a Pullman latch points to the 9500. A SquareBolt device points to the 9700. This guide walks through the difference using only what the catalog states.

HES 9500: the fire rated strike for a rim device

The listing for the 9500-630 calls it the fire-rated surface mount strike for rim exit devices with up to a 3/4 inch Pullman latch. It lists a 3-hour UL 10C fire rating, fail-secure only, and says it is NFPA 80-07 compliant for a fire-rated frame retrofit. The housing is 3/4 inch thick stainless steel, with a separate base and cover so the strike is easier to adjust than the old one-piece designs. Strength is listed at 1,500 lbs static and 70 ft-lbs dynamic. It also lists CAL FIRE approval and says it works on metal and wood frames.

One line in that listing matters more than the rest: it is not windstorm rated, and the listing says that is the job of the 9600. So the 9500 answers one question, a rated opening with a rim panic device. If the building also sits in a hurricane zone and the code wants a windstorm rating, you are looking at a different strike. We covered that decision in our guide to the 9600 for a coastal door.

HES 9700: the SquareBolt strike

The 9700-605 is built for a narrower job. The listing calls it the specialized surface mount for Corbin Russwin SecureBolt and ASSA ABLOY Accentra SquareBolt exit devices. It is listed as both windstorm and fire rated, which the listing itself calls rare in a surface mount. The numbers step up from the 9500: 2,000 lbs static and 120 ft-lbs dynamic. It carries ANSI/SDI 250.13 windstorm certification, a UL 10C fire rating, NFPA 80-07 compliance and Florida Building Code approval. The housing is 3/4 inch stainless steel and the voltage is the same dual 12/24 VDC.

The listing also says that if the spec calls for a SquareBolt device on a fire-rated opening in a windstorm zone, this is the only strike that checks all the boxes. We take that as the manufacturer's statement and pass it on as one. The listing does not say whether the 9700 is fail-secure or fail-safe, so confirm that with us before you order if the opening has a life-safety requirement.

Monitoring options: LBM and LBSM

Both families come with position monitoring, and the suffix tells you which.

• No suffix: the strike only. The 9500-630 and the 9700-605 are this version.
• LBM: adds a latchbolt monitor. The listings say it gives door position feedback to your access control system. See the 9500-630-LBM and the 9700-605-LBM.
• LBSM: latchbolt and strike monitor. On the 9500 the listing says it provides full door status feedback to the access control panel. The 9500-630-LBSM is the one we carry.

The catalog shows an LBSM option on the 9500 and not on the 9700, so if you need both latch and strike position on a SquareBolt door, ask us rather than assume.

Finish choices

The 9500 comes through in the catalog in satin stainless, which is the 630 in the part number, and the bright brass 605 also appears with the monitor. The 9700 shows more: the plain 605 in bright brass, and monitor versions in bright brass, satin brass (9700-606-LBM) and satin bronze (9700-612-LBM). Finish on a surface strike is cosmetic, but it sits on the frame in plain view, so match it to the device and the rest of the hardware on the door.

Side by side

• 9500: rim device with up to 3/4 inch Pullman latch, 3-hour UL 10C listed, fail-secure only, 1,500 lbs static, not windstorm rated.
• 9700: SecureBolt or SquareBolt device, windstorm and fire rated, 2,000 lbs static, Florida Building Code approved.
• Both: surface mount, 3/4 inch stainless housing, 12/24 VDC, metal or wood frame (9500 listing).

How to choose in three questions

First, read the exit device nameplate. If it says SquareBolt or SecureBolt, you want the 9700. Anything else with a Pullman latch up to 3/4 inch is 9500 territory. Second, is the opening in a windstorm zone? If yes and the device is not a SquareBolt, the 9500 is the wrong strike and you move to the 9600. Third, do you need to see the door in your access control system? Pick the monitor suffix at the time you order. Check the suffix on the part number before you order.

If the opening is rated, get the label off the door and frame before you spend money. We do not give a rating time on your behalf, and the listings only describe the strike. The wider line is on the HES electric strike page,, and our guide to choosing a HES strike for a metal frame covers the wider choice.

Mistakes to avoid

The first is ordering a 9500 for a SquareBolt device because the fire rating matches. The listing ties the 9700 to SquareBolt devices by name, and the 9500 to a Pullman latch, so the strike is matched to the device, not just the rating. The second is assuming surface mount means windstorm rated. The 9500 listing says it is not. The third is skipping the monitor when the security system needs door status, then finding out after the strike is mounted.

Common questions

What is the difference between the HES 9500 and 9700?

The 9500 is a fire-rated surface mount strike for rim exit devices with up to a 3/4 inch Pullman latch. The 9700 is for SecureBolt and SquareBolt devices and is listed as both windstorm and fire rated.

Is the HES 9500 windstorm rated?

No. The listing says it is not windstorm rated and points to the 9600 for that requirement.

What does LBM mean on a HES strike?

The listings describe LBM as a latchbolt monitor that feeds door position back to your access control system. LBSM adds strike monitoring on the 9500.

What voltage do the 9500 and 9700 use?

Both list dual voltage, 12 or 24 VDC.

Does the 9500 work on a wood frame?

The listing says it works on metal and wood frames.