Falcon 1690 Series

The Falcon 1690 Series is a concealed vertical rod touchbar exit device from Allegion's Falcon brand, designed specifically for narrow stile aluminum doors in commercial, institutional, healthcare, and educational applications. It is also known in the field as the Dor-O-Matic 1690, carrying forward the Dor-O-Matic product heritage that Falcon absorbed through Allegion. Where rim exit devices mount on the door face and concealed vertical rod devices in hollow metal applications run rods through the door edge, the 1690 runs its vertical rods and latch mechanisms entirely within the vertical door stile, keeping the face of the aluminum door clean and protecting the operating mechanism from tampering and environmental exposure. American Locksets is an authorized Allegion Falcon dealer stocking the Falcon 1690 Series with same-day shipping and free shipping on all orders over $300.

Falcon 1690 Concealed Vertical Rod Touchbar Exit Device: Construction and Specifications

The 1690 Series is ANSI/BHMA A156.3 Grade 1 certified and carries a 10-year limited warranty against defects in workmanship and materials. The device is backed by a hurricane-rated classification for use on door openings meeting applicable hurricane door system listings, which makes it a correct specification in coastal regions and jurisdictions requiring hurricane-rated exit hardware. Grade 1 certification under ANSI A156.3 is the highest performance standard for panic exit hardware and confirms the device meets force, cycle count, and operational durability requirements that Grade 2 and Grade 3 products do not.

The touchbar height is 2-1/2 inches. Cast metal cover plates and black powder-coated metal end caps enclose the mechanism. The centercase and end caps are powder-coated black regardless of the door finish selected, which is an important specification note: the 1690's structural body is always black even when the device is ordered in US28 Clear Aluminum, DC13 Dark Bronze Aluminum, DC35 Black Aluminum, US26 Bright Chrome, or US26D Satin Chrome finish.

The device is non-handed and field-reversible, meaning a single stocked unit installs on both left-hand and right-hand doors without ordering a specific hand. This simplifies stocking for facilities with a mix of door handing and reduces the ordering complexity on multi-opening projects.

Vertical rods are 7 feet standard. Extension rod kits extend coverage to door heights up to 10 feet. The device can be field cut to accommodate 30-inch, 36-inch, 42-inch, and 48-inch door widths.

1690 Series Mounting and Strike Configuration

The 1690 uses a single-point dogging feature located in the housing that can be engaged with a hex key to deactivate the device and permit unrestricted traffic flow, which is standard on all functions. Electric dogging is available as an option for installations requiring remote dogging control from an access control panel.

Standard top strike is PB-48. The standard bottom latch is a hex bottom bolt. Optional configurations include:

• ES: Electric strike top latch, compatible with electric strike installations where the device provides the latch point to an electric strike in the door head

• RL: Rod bottom latch as an alternative to the standard hex bottom bolt

• PL: Pullman bottom latch

All machine screw mounting. Device mounting fasteners are concealed. Latch fasteners are exposed to the egress side.

Falcon 1690EO: Exit Only Function

The Falcon 1690EO Concealed Vertical Rod Touchbar Device is the exit-only configuration. The 1690EO has no exterior trim and no cylinder. The touchbar provides free egress from the interior at all times. No access is provided from the exterior. This is the correct specification for:

• Stairwell exit doors where re-entry is not provided at that level

• Emergency exit doors where access from outside the exit route is not permitted

• Egress doors opening to the exterior at grade where re-entry requires a separate entry door

• Any opening designated as a one-way egress point under the building's means of egress plan

Available in US28 Clear Aluminum, DC13 Dark Bronze, and DC35 Black Aluminum. The 1690EO is available in standard 36-inch length and other lengths by specification.

Falcon MEL1690EO: Motorized Electric Latch Retraction

The Falcon MEL1690EO Concealed Vertical Rod Touchbar Device with Motorized Electric Latch Retraction is the access control integration version of the 1690. It provides the same exit-only mechanical egress as the 1690EO at all times, with the addition of motorized electric latch retraction (MEL) that allows an access control panel, card reader, or request-to-exit device to retract the latch from the exterior without a mechanical cylinder or electric strike.

Electrical specifications: 24VDC, 1.6A. The unit is sold less power supply controller. A separate power supply must be specified and provided. This is the correct specification for:

• Secured entry doors on aluminum storefront where a card reader provides exterior access through the exit device itself rather than through a separate electric strike

• Access-controlled entries where the aluminum door stile geometry does not accommodate an electric strike

• Fire-rated applications where the exit device must provide both free mechanical egress at all times and electrically controlled entry from the exterior

• Any narrow stile aluminum door requiring integrated access control without visible external hardware modifications

Available in US28 Clear Aluminum and DC13 Dark Bronze. Field reversible, non-handed.

Falcon 1690 as a Retrofit for the 1990 Series

The 1690 Series is a direct retrofit replacement for the Falcon 1990 Series crossbar exit device. The 1990 Series uses a crossbar style rather than a touchbar, and the 1690 installs in the same door preparation using a retrofit installation kit. This makes the 1690 the correct specification whenever a 1990 crossbar device needs to be replaced and the decision is made to upgrade to the current touchbar format at the same time. The retrofit eliminates the need to modify the door preparation or re-drill the door stile for the new device.

Browse all Falcon Exit Devices, the full Falcon Exit Device Trims catalog for 1690-compatible trim options, and all PHI Precision Exit Devices as an alternative narrow stile device line. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Falcon 1690 Series exit device? 

The Falcon 1690 is a concealed vertical rod touchbar exit device for narrow stile aluminum doors, ANSI A156.3 Grade 1 certified, with vertical rods and latch mechanisms concealed inside the door stile.

Q: What is the difference between the 1690EO and the MEL1690EO?

 The 1690EO is exit only with no exterior access function. The MEL1690EO adds motorized electric latch retraction at 24VDC for access control integration, allowing the latch to be retracted from the exterior by a card reader or control panel.

Q: What is Dor-O-Matic 1690?

 Dor-O-Matic was a predecessor brand name for Falcon exit devices now sold under the Falcon brand through Allegion. The 1690 Series is the same product referenced by both names.

Q: Can the Falcon 1690 retrofit a Falcon 1990 device? 

Yes. The 1690 is specifically designed to retrofit the 1990 Series crossbar device using existing door preparation with a retrofit installation kit.

Q: What door widths does the Falcon 1690 cover? 

The 1690 is available for 30-inch, 36-inch, 42-inch, and 48-inch door widths. The device can be field cut to size during installation.

Q: Is the Falcon 1690 hurricane rated?

 Yes. The 1690 Series can be used on hurricane-rated door openings. Confirm with the door manufacturer's specific listing for the complete door system.

Q: What finishes are available for the Falcon 1690? 

US28 Clear Aluminum, DC13 Dark Bronze Aluminum, DC35 Black Aluminum, US26 Bright Chrome, and US26D Satin Chrome. The centercase and end caps are always powder-coated black regardless of finish.