Von Duprin 98 vs 99 Series Exit Device: The Complete Difference Explained

If you've been specifying Von Duprin exit devices for more than a week, someone has asked you what separates the 98 from the 99. It comes up on every project where the architect specifies Von Duprin without locking down the series. We've been answering it as an authorized Allegion distributor for 23 years. Here's the accurate answer -- and it corrects a technical error that's circulating in current hardware specifications.

Important correction: Both the Von Duprin 98 and 99 Series are pushpad exit devices. Neither is a crossbar device. The Von Duprin crossbar devices are the 33A and 88 Series. The 98 and 99 share the same pushpad actuator format and differ only in mechanism case design and the presence of a fluid dampener on the 99.

Von Duprin 98 vs 99 Series Panic Exit Device: Pushpad Format, Case Design, and Fluid Dampener Comparison

Smooth mechanism case on 98 Series vs grooved mechanism case on 99 Series

The Von Duprin 98 has a smooth external mechanism case. The 99 has a grooved case. This is the visual identifier of the two series. Beyond aesthetics, the grooved case on the 99 houses the fluid dampener mechanism. The groove is functional, not decorative.

Identical UL 305 panic hardware and UL 10C fire exit hardware ratings on both series

Both series carry identical UL 305 panic hardware listing and UL 10C Positive Pressure fire exit hardware listing. Both are ANSI A156.3 Grade 1 certified. Both handle identical door weights and cycle ratings. The fire door listing, the cycle rating, and the mechanical performance are the same. The only functional difference is the fluid dampener.

Feature	Von Duprin 98 Series	Von Duprin 99 Series
Actuator type	Pushpad	Pushpad
Mechanism case	Smooth	Grooved
Fluid dampener	None	Yes
UL 305 panic listing	Yes	Yes
UL 10C fire exit listing	Yes	Yes
ANSI A156.3 Grade 1	Yes	Yes
Cycle rating	Identical	Identical
Push pad return noise	Audible snap	Quieter dampened return
Typical application	Industrial, utility, budget projects	Institutional standard
Price	Slightly lower	Slightly higher

How the Von Duprin 99 Series Fluid Dampener Controls Push Pad Return Stroke Noise

Push pad snap vs dampened return in high-cycle institutional exit device applications

On an exit device without a fluid dampener, the push pad springs back to resting position immediately after each use. In a high-traffic institutional setting -- a hospital main corridor, school main entry, or government lobby cycling 500 to 1,500 times a day -- that snap generates constant noise across dozens of doors. In environments where acoustic quality is formally evaluated, it becomes an operational problem.

Grooved case as the functional housing for the 99 Series dampener mechanism

The 99 Series fluid dampener decelerates the push pad return stroke so it settles back quietly. The grooved case is the housing for that dampener assembly. It's not a cosmetic design choice -- the groove marks exactly where the functional difference between the two series lives. If the case is grooved, it has a dampener. If it's smooth, it doesn't.

Von Duprin 98 Series Exit Device Specification: Industrial, Utility, and Budget Applications

Smooth case non-dampened exit devices for low-traffic and noise-irrelevant openings

Warehouses, mechanical rooms, utility exits, secondary egress on industrial properties, and any opening where door noise is irrelevant. If the door cycles 50 times a day in a loading dock corridor where no one works within earshot, the 98 is the correct specification. It meets every code requirement the 99 meets, costs slightly less, and doesn't deliver a feature you need.

Inventory continuity specification when existing campus is standardized on 98 Series

The 98 is also specified when the existing installed base on campus is all 98 Series and the facility wants to maintain trim, keyway, and parts inventory consistency. Both series accept the same trim families and keyways, so either can replace the other mechanically -- but specifying 98 when 98 is the campus standard keeps the facility's parts room simpler. Call 877-471-4870 to confirm trim compatibility for your configuration.

Von Duprin 99 Series Exit Device: Default Specification for Institutional and Commercial Buildings

Hospital corridor, school main entry, and government facility exit device standard

Primary building entries, hospital main corridors, school main entrances, auditoriums, government facilities, and corporate office buildings. Any opening where daily traffic is high enough that door noise matters. When a hardware schedule says Von Duprin panic exit device without specifying the series, the specifier intended the 99 in almost every case.

Higher volume parts availability and field service familiarity advantage

The 99 is the higher-volume institutional product, which means better field parts availability and broader service technician familiarity. For a primary entry that will be serviced by multiple contractors over 20-30 years, this matters. Browse the complete Von Duprin 99 Series exit device catalog at American Locksets.

EL and QEL Electric Latch Retraction on Von Duprin 98 and 99 Series Access-Controlled Doors

Electric Latch Retraction EL configuration for credential-controlled outside entry

98EL and 99EL fully retract the latch bolt when the access control panel fires, allowing pull-open entry from outside without pushing the bar. Correct for after-hours credential-controlled entry on primary egress doors. Requires a UL-listed power supply and wiring through electrified hinges or a surface wire loop.

Quiet Electric Latch Retraction QEL for hospital and library exit device specification

QEL adds dampening to the electric motor cycle for quieter latch retraction. The specification for healthcare, libraries, and quiet institutional environments where the standard EL motor sound is unacceptable. For any electrified exit device in a hospital, default to QEL unless budget is a genuine constraint.

Request-to-Exit RX switch for pre-egress alarm signal on access-controlled doors

Both series offer an integral RX switch that signals the access control panel when the inside push bar is actuated before the door opens. This eliminates the need for a separate PIR REX sensor at that door. Specify the RX suffix when the door alarm system requires a pre-egress signal.

Von Duprin Outdoor Defense OUT Option for Exterior 98 and 99 Series Exit Devices

Weather-resistant exit device specification for moisture and corrosion exposure

The Von Duprin Outdoor Defense (OUT) designation, introduced May 2025, is available on both 98 and 99 Series for exterior openings exposed to moisture, temperature extremes, and corrosive environments. Parking garage exits, loading dock doors, covered breezeways, and exterior institutional egress doors are the primary applications.

OUT is a separate decision from 98 vs 99. Add OUT to whichever series is correct for the application. Example: 99OUT for an exterior hospital entry requiring both quiet dampened operation and weather protection. Example: 98OUT for a warehouse exterior exit requiring weather protection where dampener noise is irrelevant.

Von Duprin Rim SVR CVR and Mortise Mounting Configurations for 98 and 99 Series

Rim exit device mounting for single doors and fixed mullion applications

Device mounts on the door face and latches into a rim strike on the door frame. For single doors and paired doors with a fixed center mullion. The most common K-12, hospital, and office building installation. See the full panic exit device catalog.

Surface Vertical Rod SVR exit device for paired doors without center mullion

Vertical rods extend from the device body to top and bottom latch points. For paired doors without a center mullion. Rods are surface-mounted and visible. Correct for paired gymnasium exits, cafeteria double doors, and wide commercial entries without a mullion.

Concealed Vertical Rod CVR exit device for architectural paired door installations

Same function as SVR but rods are inside the door. Clean appearance with no visible surface hardware. Requires factory door prep -- not a field retrofit. Finalize CVR selection before shop drawings are issued. Specify CVR on high-design main entries and architectural interiors where visible rods conflict with the design intent.

Why American Locksets for Von Duprin 98 and 99 Series Exit Devices

American Locksets has been an authorized Allegion distributor since 2001. Every Von Duprin device ships with full Allegion factory warranty through authorized distribution channels. In 23 years we've supplied 98 and 99 Series devices for K-12 schools, hospital systems, university campuses, government facilities, and commercial buildings across all 50 states.

• Authorized Allegion distributor since 2001 -- full factory warranty on all Von Duprin products
• Configuration confirmation before every order -- we verify function code, trim series, and keyway before shipping
• Free shipping on orders over $300 from Monroe, NY
• Same-day shipping on most in-stock Von Duprin configurations ordered before 3 PM ET
• 4.81 out of 5.0 rating from 435 verified customer reviews on ResellerRatings
• Call 877-471-4870 for project pricing and configuration guidance

Browse our complete Von Duprin exit device catalog including 98 and 99 Series rim, SVR, CVR, mortise, and electrified configurations. Shop rim exit electric strikes for compatible outside access control. See exit device trims for outside lever and thumbpiece options.

Frequently Asked Questions About Von Duprin 98 vs 99 Series

Is the Von Duprin 98 Series a crossbar exit device or a pushpad exit device?

The Von Duprin 98 is a pushpad exit device -- the same wide rectangular push pad actuator as the 99. The crossbar devices in the Von Duprin lineup are the 33A and 88 Series. The 98 and 99 differ in mechanism case design (smooth vs grooved) and the presence of a fluid dampener on the 99 only.

Can I retrofit a 99 Series fluid dampener into a 98 Series exit device body?

No. The dampener is integrated into the 99 Series mechanism case assembly. The 98 and 99 share the same chassis platform but the push pad and dampener assembly are not field-swappable between series. If dampened operation is needed on an existing 98 installation, the device body must be replaced.

What does the -F suffix mean on Von Duprin 98 and 99 Series model numbers?

The -F suffix designates the fire-rated version -- for example, Von Duprin 99-F. Fire-rated devices carry UL 10C Positive Pressure listing and are required on all fire-rated door assemblies. Non-F devices are UL 305 panic-rated. Specify the -F version on any fire-rated door. Call 877-471-4870 to confirm.

Does specifying Von Duprin EL vs QEL affect the IBC panic hardware compliance?

No. Both EL and QEL carry the same UL 305 panic hardware listing and comply identically with IBC panic hardware requirements. The difference is operational -- QEL adds motor dampening for quieter latch retraction. For healthcare and library applications, QEL is the correct specification. IBC compliance is the same for both.

What is the best Von Duprin series for a hospital main entry exterior outswing door?

Von Duprin 99OUT in the appropriate function. The 99 for quiet dampened operation in the healthcare environment. The OUT designation for exterior weather protection. The -F suffix if the door is fire-rated. Outside trim with an EL or QEL credential-controlled latch retraction for access control integration. Call 877-471-4870 for full configuration guidance on hospital entry exit devices.

About this article: Written by the American Locksets hardware specification team, Monroe, NY. Authorized distributor for Allegion (Schlage, Von Duprin, LCN, Sargent, Falcon, Adams Rite), ASSA ABLOY (dormakaba, BEST, Corbin Russwin, Accentra, Hager, Ives), HES, Securitron, Alarm Lock, and 25+ manufacturers since 2001. 4.81 out of 5.0 on ResellerRatings from 435 verified customer reviews. Questions? Call 877-471-4870 or visit our About page.