By Kent · Lock Depot Staff Writer

The strike follows the latch, not the door

The question comes in as "6211 or 6300?" and the honest answer is a question back: what is the latch on that door? The Von Duprin 6211 and the 6300 are not two grades of the same strike. One is built to receive a bored lockset. The other is built to receive the latch of a rim exit device. Pick by what is latching into it and the choice makes itself.

Both listings are satin stainless steel (US32D), both come fail secure, and both run on 12 or 24 VDC. They are not the same strike for the same door.

6211: the cylindrical lockset strike

The 6211-DS-12VDC-US32D is described in its listing as the most specified electric strike in the 6200 line, the standard ANSI cylindrical prep strike. It works with virtually any cylindrical lockset, and the listing names Schlage ND, Corbin Russwin CL, Sargent 10-line, Yale AU and Arrow. The faceplate is 4-7/8 in., the latchbolt throw is 1/2 in., and it carries a dual signal switch for door position and latch monitoring.

It goes into a cutout in the frame. That is the point of it: a clean, integrated faceplate in a prepped frame. The listing says that if you are adding electric release to a standard bored-lock door, this is almost always the right strike. The factory configuration is fail secure at 12 VDC. The same listing family carries a 24 VDC version, the 6211-DS-24VDC-US32D, for a 24 volt system.

Read the throw. The listing notes that the 62xx series is designed for a 1/2 in. throw, and that a mortise lock with a 3/4 in. or 1 in. bolt needs the 6221 instead. We cover the strike prep question separately in the 6211 versus the 6211WF.

6300: the surface mount strike for exit devices

The 6300 US32D is a surface mount strike. Its listing says it is designed to be used with many kinds of rim devices, requires no cutting of the existing frame, just a few mounting holes, and is non-handed. The voltage is field selectable at 12 or 24 VDC: two connectors ship with the unit and you use the one that matches your supply.

It has a movable lip. The listing says this lets the door open even when the latch bolt is extended, a feature it calls remote release. It is listed for UL1034 burglary resistance and is described as built to handle a lot of abuse. It comes fail secure only. The listing also calls it a perfect match for aftermarket applications because it is very easy to install without modifying the door frame. We take that apart in the 6300 surface mount guide.

Side by side

• Latch it receives: 6211, a cylindrical lockset latch. 6300, a rim exit device latch.
• Install: 6211, cut into the frame. 6300, surface mount, no frame cutting.
• Voltage: 6211, one voltage per part number (12 or 24 VDC). 6300, field selectable 12 or 24 VDC.
• Fail mode: both fail secure as listed.
• Hand: 6300 is non-handed.

Where people get this wrong

The mistake is picking a strike by price or by the part number a customer found online, then discovering that the door has a panic bar and a lockset-prep strike does not receive that latch. If the door has an exit device, the 6300 is the strike family to look at. If the door has a lever or knob lockset in a bored prep, the 6211 is. A door with both, a lockset and a bar in a pair, is two different strike decisions on one opening, and I would price them separately.

The other mistake is forgetting what fail secure means for the people inside. Both of these hold the door locked when power is lost, with the key still working from outside, and with the mechanical hardware still letting people out from inside. Our guide on fail safe versus fail secure is the one to read before you order. If you need the door to release on power loss, neither of these listings is the strike.

Monitoring and key override

The 6211 listing includes a dual signal switch for door position and latch monitoring, so the access control system can see whether the door is closed and whether the latch is engaged. If the job calls for monitoring, that matters more than the faceplate. The fail secure listings also say the key override is always available from outside, which is how a locksmith or a facility manager gets in when power is gone.

What to have in hand

• The make and model of the lockset, or the part number of the exit device.
• The latchbolt throw on the existing lockset, 1/2 in. or longer.
• The voltage of the supply you are wiring to.
• Whether the frame can be cut, or has to stay untouched.

Power

Both draw from a supply you have to size, and an undersized supply is the usual reason a good strike looks like a bad one. Take the voltage and the current from the job, not from the strike alone, and tell us what the panel or supply is when you order.

Common questions

Which strike goes with a Von Duprin panic bar?

The 6300 is the surface mount strike listed for rim exit devices, with no frame cutting.

Which strike for a mortise or cylindrical lockset?

The 6211, a 4-7/8 in. faceplate with a 1/2 in. throw.

Are the 6211 and 6300 fail safe or fail secure?

Both are listed fail secure.

Can the voltage be changed in the field?

On the 6300, yes, 12 or 24 VDC field selectable. The 6211 is one voltage per part number.

Does the 6300 need the frame cut?

No. The listing says it needs a few mounting holes, not frame cutting.

The full range is on our Von Duprin page. Tell us what is latching on the door and we will name the strike.