Falcon B561 Grade 2 Cylindrical Lock, Classroom Function

The Falcon B561 does exactly that. It's a Grade 2 cylindrical lock with ANSI F84 classroom function, where the outside lever is locked by turning a key from the outside corridor and the inside lever is always free for immediate egress. No push button on the inside, no toggle, no separate deadbolt throw. One key turn from the corridor side locks the outside lever. The door stays locked until the same key unlocks it from outside, or the inside lever is operated for exit.

This is the lockout-from-corridor capability that school security requirements center on. A teacher closing a classroom during an active threat can step to the corridor, insert the key, lock the door, and leave without entering the room. Students inside can exit at any time because the inside lever is always free regardless of the corridor lock state. For the complete Falcon B Series Grade 2 lineup, browse Falcon B Series Grade 2. For all Grade 2 and Grade 1 commercial locks, view our commercial locks catalog.

How ANSI F84 Classroom Function Works

The outside lever is locked by key from the outside. This means entry from the corridor requires a key at every approach. There's no free-passage state for the outside lever the way an entrance function (F84/F109) has when unlocked by toggle. The outside lever is always rigid unless actively unlocked by key. From inside, the lever operates freely at all times. Turning the inside lever retracts the deadlocking latch for exit without releasing the outside lever lock. The door automatically relocks from the outside between key uses.

This differs from the B581 storeroom function (F86), where the outside lever is also always rigid but the inside lever can only retract the latch, not release the exterior lock state. In classroom function, the key from outside toggles the lock status: locked or unlocked. In the storeroom, the outside is always locked and the key simply operates the latch mechanically each time.

Falcon B561 Technical Specifications

Function: ANSI F84, Classroom. ANSI/BHMA: A156.2, Series 4000, Grade 2. UL Listed: 3-hour A label fire door. Lever options: D (Dane), Q (Quantum). Handing: Non-handed. Door thickness: 1-3/8" to 2" standard. Backset: 2-3/4" standard; 2-3/8", 3-3/4", 5" available. Latch bolt: 1/2" projection; UL Listed; self-adjusting front for beveled or flat doors; deadlocking latch with solid round bar stock DL bar prevents latch jamming and lock outs. Latchface: 2-1/4" x 1" for 2-3/8" backset; 2-1/4" x 1-1/8" for 2-3/4", 3-3/4", 5" backsets. Strike: 4-7/8" x 1-1/4" ANSI curved lip, meets ANSI A115; T-strike available. Screws: Combination screws for wood and metal doors and frames. Cylinder: 6-pin chambers, pinned in 5; solid brass plug and housing; phosphor bronze springs; 2 nickel silver keys. Also available with 6 or 7 pin interchangeable core cylinders. Keyways: G keyway standard on conventional cylinders; A keyway standard on IC core cylinders; optional keyways available. Finishes: 605 Bright Brass, 606 Satin Brass, 612 Satin Bronze, 613 Oil Rubbed Bronze, 625 Bright Chrome, 626 Satin Chrome. Available keying: Keyed Different (standard), Keyed Alike, Master Keyed.

The DL Bar: Why Falcon's Deadlocking Latch Is Different

The B561's deadlocking latch uses a solid round stock DL bar inside the latch mechanism. This DL bar is specifically engineered to prevent latch jamming and lockouts: two failure modes that damage hardware and leave doors inoperable. On a classroom door that sees heavy daily use and occasional forced closure, the DL bar is what keeps the latch functioning reliably year after year without maintenance calls.

Cylinder, Keyway, and IC Options

The standard B561 ships with a G keyway conventional cylinder. If your school or facility runs an existing Falcon or Ingersoll Rand master key system on a different keyway, optional keyways are available. For facilities upgrading to interchangeable core for faster re-keying during security events, 6-pin and 7-pin IC core configurations are available. The IC option allows core changes with a control key without disassembling the lock, which is the re-keying speed that matters during a school security lockdown response.