Falcon T101S Grade 1 Passage/Closet Cylindrical Lock

The Falcon T101S is an extra heavy-duty Grade 1 cylindrical passage lever lock built on the Falcon T Series platform for high-traffic commercial and institutional applications. ANSI function F75 means the latch operates by lever from both sides at all times with no locking mechanism and no cylinder. It's specified for interior hallways, closets, storage rooms, corridors, and any opening that needs a latching lever without access control. Certified to ANSI/BHMA A156.2 Series 4000 Grade 1 and UL listed for 3-hour A label fire-rated doors.

Why the T Series uses compression springs instead of torsion springs

Most Grade 1 cylindrical locks use torsion springs behind the lever rose to return the lever to the horizontal position after each use. Torsion springs have bend points where the spring metal curves, and those bend points are where fatigue cracks develop after thousands of cycles. When a torsion spring fails, the lever sags and eventually stops returning to position. In high-traffic institutional settings, that failure can happen faster than expected on a heavily cycled corridor door.

The T Series replaces torsion springs with heavy-duty stainless steel compression springs. Compression springs are straight - there are no bend points to crack. The spring maintains consistent lever return force across the full service life of the lock. This is one of the reasons the T Series is specified in schools, hospitals, government buildings, and other high-cycle facilities where lever sag is a documented maintenance problem on lesser locks.

Pressure Release lever and through-bolt trim construction

The T101S includes Falcon's Pressure Release lever rotation feature, which is standard across the T Series. If the outside lever is subjected to excessive downward force, it disengages rather than transmitting that force to the internal spindle, hub, and chassis. Forcing a lever down is a common vandalism method in institutional settings, and without the pressure release, that force travels directly into the lock mechanism and can break internal components, requiring full lockset replacement. The pressure release protects the mechanism and keeps the lock functional after abuse events that would destroy a conventional lever lock.

Trim is through-bolted using two 10-32 screws coated with thread sealant, which creates a mechanically rigid connection that resists loosening from repeated cycling and vibration. Inside levers are secured by Allen-head set screws rather than exposed Phillips or slot heads, preventing casual tampering or removal without the correct tool.

Lever styles, finishes, and door installation specs

Three lever styles are available on the T101S: Avalon (A) is a rounded transitional profile; Dane (D) is an angular contemporary lever; Quantum (Q) is an angular institutional lever built for heavy-use environments. All are solid pressure-cast zinc finished to match the mating rose and trim. Roses are wrought brass or bronze over steel through-bolted rose inserts with a minimum 3-1/2" diameter per UL requirement.

Standard finishes are 605 bright brass, 613 oil rubbed bronze, 619 satin nickel, 625 bright chrome, and 626 satin chrome. An optional abrasive coating is available for high-wear applications. Door thickness is 1-3/4" to 2-1/4" standard. A thin door adapter kit (part A30775-000-00) handles doors thinner than 1-3/4", and factory configurations exist for thicker doors beyond 2-1/4". Backset is 2-3/4" standard with 2-3/8", 3-3/4", and 5" options. The T Series chassis accepts most manufacturer cylinders, SFIC, and Schlage FSIC cores across other T Series functions, making it a suitable long-term platform for facilities that add controlled-access functions to other doors over time. Browse all functions in the Falcon T Series Grade 1 line, the complete Falcon lever locks catalog, and the broader selection of cylindrical lever locks across all brands available on this site.

Select your lever style, finish, and backset when ordering. Confirm door thickness and confirm passage function is the correct specification for the opening before specifying the T101S.