Falcon W Series - Grade 2

The Falcon W Series is the Grade 2 medium-duty cylindrical lock line from Falcon, an Allegion brand, covering 11 commercial functions in both lever and knob configurations. It's the specification lock for retail, multi-family residential, mixed-use buildings, government facilities, and industrial applications where low-to-medium traffic doors need reliable, commercially certified hardware at a value price point. This category includes the full Falcon W Series catalog: every function, lever style, knob style, rose diameter, finish, and cylinder option available from Falcon on the W Series platform.

What Makes the Falcon W Series Grade 2

The W Series is certified to ANSI/BHMA A156.2 Series 4000 Grade 2 and UL listed for 3-hour fire door assemblies with an A label. Grade 2 is the correct classification for medium-duty commercial interiors where the door sees moderate traffic, not the high-cycle abuse of a main entry in a hospital or university. Retail storefronts, apartment corridors, office interiors, storage rooms, and multi-family common areas are the natural territory for this series.

The lock chassis is built from brass or cold-formed steel, zinc plated and dichromated for corrosion resistance. Stainless steel springs are used throughout. Roses are heavy wrought brass or bronze, mounted over steel through-bolted rose inserts that pass through the door to anchor both sides of the trim assembly together. Levers are solid pressure-cast zinc finished to match their mating rose and strike parts. The latch bolt is stainless steel with a 1/2" projection, self-adjusting front face to accommodate both beveled and flat doors, and is independently UL listed for 3-hour fire door assemblies. Strike is a 4-7/8" x 1-1/4" ANSI curved lip strike to ANSI A115.2 door frame prep standards.

Falcon W Series Functions: What's Available

Falcon W561 Classroom Lock

The W561 is the classroom function: deadlocking latch bolt by lever or knob from either side, outside lever locked by key only, inside lever always free. This is the standard specification for K-12 classrooms where a teacher needs to lock the door from the corridor without entering the room. The W561 is available in all W Series lever and knob styles.

Falcon W581 Storeroom Lock

The W581 keeps the outside lever locked at all times. Entry requires a key from outside; the inside lever is always free for egress. No button or thumbturn involved. This is the correct function for storage rooms, utility closets, server rooms, and restricted-access areas where the door should never be left unlocked from the outside regardless of what happens inside.

Entry, Entry/Office, Corridor, and Apartment Functions

The W501 is the standard entry function with push-button inside locking. The W511 adds the office/entry variant where pushing and turning the inside button retains the locked state until the button is manually released, which is the correct function for exam rooms and private offices. The W571 corridor function locks the outside lever by push button from inside but releases automatically when the door closes, which suits vestibule and corridor applications. The W711 apartment entrance function is specified for residential unit entry doors in multi-family buildings.

Passage and Privacy

Passage and privacy functions complete the catalog. The privacy model uses push-button inside locking with emergency release from outside for bathroom and bedroom applications.

Lever Styles and Knob Styles in the Falcon W Series

The W Series offers seven lever styles: Avalon, Dane, Quantum, Boardwalk, Broadway, Latitude, and Longitude. Avalon, Dane, and Quantum are also available with an abrasive strip along the lever length to identify entrances to areas that are hazardous for the visually impaired, which is a tactile accessibility requirement in some facility types.

Two knob styles are available: Elite and Hana. Knobs are brass or bronze, secured by a steel knob retainer that cannot be depressed when the lock is in the locked state. This prevents knob-pull attacks on locked functions.

Rose sizes are available in two diameters. The standard rose is 3-3/8" diameter. The small rose is 2-9/16" diameter. Standard rose backset is 2-3/4". Small rose backset is 2-3/8". Door thickness is 1-3/8" to 1-3/4" across the full series.

Cylinder Options and Keyways for Falcon W Series Locks

The standard conventional cylinder uses the Falcon G keyway, keyed different, with two nickel silver keys. Schlage C keyway is available as a direct substitute and is masterkeyed across the complete Falcon product line. SFIC (Small Format Interchangeable Core) cylinders are available for facilities running BEST, Arrow, or Falcon SFIC masterkey systems; these ship with the A keyway as standard on SFIC. Competitor SFIC cores from BEST and Arrow are also compatible with W Series SFIC housings. Construction keying is available. Conventional cylinders can be ordered keyed alike, keyed different, or masterkeyed to a new system.

Why Interchangeable Cores Matter on W Series

The W Series accepts interchangeable cores that are compatible with IC cores from other manufacturers. In a facility that already runs an institutional masterkey system, new W Series locks can be prepped to accept the existing IC cores from the facility's established key system without starting a new system. This is a significant specification advantage for retrofit projects in occupied buildings.

Finishes Available

Eight architectural finishes cover the W Series: 605 Polished Brass, 606 Satin Brass, 613 Oil Rubbed Bronze, 619 Satin Nickel, 622 Flat Black, 625 Polished Chrome, 626 Satin Chrome, and 643e Aged Bronze. The 626 Satin Chrome is the most widely specified finish for commercial interiors.

Where to Start

Browse the full Falcon W Series Grade 2 catalog at American Locksets, organized by function. If you need Grade 1 heavy-duty performance in the Falcon line, see Falcon Lever Locks for the T Series and higher-duty options. For the complete commercial locks inventory across all brands, American Locksets has been a trusted source since 2001.

Frequently Asked Questions About Falcon W Series Locks

Q: What is the Falcon W Series?

A Grade 2 medium-duty cylindrical lock line from Falcon (Allegion), designed for retail, multi-family, government, and industrial doors with low-to-moderate daily traffic.

Q: What ANSI grade is the Falcon W Series?

ANSI/BHMA A156.2 Series 4000 Grade 2. UL listed for 3-hour fire door assemblies with an A label.

Q: What door thickness does the Falcon W Series fit?

Standard range is 1-3/8" to 1-3/4". Backset options are:

• 2-3/4" standard (1-1/8" x 2-1/4" latch face)

• 2-3/8" available (1" x 2-1/4" latch face)

Q: What is the difference between the Falcon W561 and W581?

The W561 (classroom) allows key-toggle locking from outside. The W581 (storeroom) keeps the outside lever locked at all times, always requiring a key.

Q: What lever styles are available on Falcon W Series locks?

Seven lever styles are available: Avalon, Dane, Quantum, Boardwalk, Broadway, Latitude, and Longitude. Two knob styles are also available: Elite and Hana.

Q: What rose sizes does the Falcon W Series come in?

Two rose diameters:

• Standard: 3-3/8" diameter

• Small: 2-9/16" diameter

Q: What keyways are available on Falcon W Series?

The G keyway is standard. Schlage C is available at no charge and masterkeys across the full Falcon product line.

Q: Can Falcon W Series locks accept SFIC cores?

Yes. SFIC cylinders accept BEST and Arrow cores, making W Series retrofit-compatible with existing institutional masterkey systems without starting a new system.

Q: What finishes does the Falcon W Series come in?

Eight finishes available:

• 626 Satin Chrome (most common)

• 605 Polished Brass, 613 Oil Rubbed Bronze, 619 Satin Nickel

• 622 Flat Black, 625 Polished Chrome, 643e Aged Bronze

Q: Can Falcon W Series locks be masterkeyed?

Yes. Construction keying, masterkeying, and grand masterkeying are all available. SFIC cylinder options integrate into existing BEST or Arrow masterkey systems.