Von Duprin 98L / 99L Rim Panic Exit Device, Rigid Lever, With 996 Trim

About this item

The Von Duprin 98 and 99 Series are the exit devices that get specified when the application demands the best. Schools, hospitals, government buildings, and high-traffic commercial doors across the country run on these devices because they're built to take a beating and keep operating reliably for decades. If you've been in commercial door hardware for any length of time, the Von Duprin 98/99 is the benchmark everything else gets compared against.

This configuration pairs the 98L or 99L rim device body with the 996 rigid lever trim. The L in the model number tells you the outside trim function: a key locks and unlocks the lever from outside. Push the touchpad from inside to exit freely at any time. From outside, turn the key to unlock the lever, enter, and the lever works. Lock it back with the key and the outside lever is frozen. That's the standard keyed entry function you'd specify on most entrance doors, stairwell re-entry doors, and high-security corridors.

98 vs 99: What's the Difference

The 98 and 99 devices are mechanically and dimensionally identical. The only difference is the exterior finish of the mechanism case. The 98 has a smooth case and the 99 has a grooved case. Both carry the same certifications, the same components, and the same hardware. It's a purely aesthetic distinction, so choose based on what matches your door hardware schedule.

The Quiet One and the Deadlocking Latchbolt

Every 98/99 Series device ships with Von Duprin's Quiet One fluid dampener built into the pushpad return mechanism. It decelerates the touchbar on the return stroke so it doesn't slam back into position. On a door that gets pushed hundreds of times a day, that makes a real difference in both noise level and component wear. The latchbolt is a deadlocking design, which means it resists manipulation and provides better security than a standard spring latch at the same device cost point.

Field Selectable Functions

The device ships from the factory set for exit only (EO), dummy trim (DT), or night latch (NL), and the function is field selectable. For the touchpiece (TP), key (K), or lever (L) functions, a locksmith or installer removes the NL drive screw during installation. This means you're not locked into ordering a specific function at the time of purchase for most configurations, which simplifies stock management on large projects.

Door Size and Mounting

Two device lengths cover virtually every standard door: the 3' device handles widths from 2'-4" to 3' (711mm to 914mm) and the 4' device handles 2'-10" to 4' (864mm to 1219mm). The device is non-handed in standard configuration and covers stock hollow metal doors with 86 or 161 cutouts on single doors. Strike 299 in dull black finish ships with the device. Hex key dogging is standard.

Certifications

ANSI A156.3 Grade 1 certified. UL listed for both panic exit hardware and fire exit hardware. Many configurations are also certified for hurricane-resistant applications. Made in the USA.

The 996 Lever Trim

The 996 rigid lever trim escutcheon plate measures 2-3/4" wide by 10-3/4" high with a projection of 27/32". Handle projection is 2-7/8". The lever is handed but fully field reversible. Trim ships less rim cylinders and keys, so specify your cylinder separately.

Available finishes include US3, US4, US10, US26, US26D, US26D-AM Antimicrobial, US28, 313, 315, and 643E. US15 and US32D are available on 98 Series only.