Yale 7130F 656F

Hi,

This lovely little panic device by Yale is a little tricky (7130f 656f / 658f).  Be careful when you order it for two reasons.
First, the function is not field changeable!  If you get the Nightlatch, you're stuck with it.  And for newbs like me.. "NL" or nightlatch function, is the same thing as storeroom function.. which means that the lock always relocks itself every time you exit.  You have to use a key to unlock it every single time.  The other option is Classroom function.. which means that using the key, you can change the lock between a storeroom or a passage function (always open).. BE sure to ask your customer which one..

The function is misleading on the cut sheets.. it appears as though the function is a property of the trim (handles).. but in fact it is the mortise body that controls the function.

My luck is to blindly follow the vague spec of a specwriter or uneducated architect and end up installing a whole bunch of NL devices on a job.. then the owner shows up and is upset that they have to use their key 20 times a day.

You then find out that the mortise body has to be swapped out and costs an arm and a leg.

But you have another idea.. why not just dog it down during business????

Which then leads us to our second issue....

This exit device is fire rated.  Which means that it can't be dogged.  Why you ask?  First.. it has a "F" as a suffix on the device code..but more importantly.. the actual action of dogging an exit device retracts the latch and holds it in.. right?  Well, for an opening to be fire rated (SDI 118).. it has to be self latching, self closing, hung on ball bearing hinges.  No latch, means no good.  So the dogdown is disabled or missing.

Can you prop the door with a kick down?  nope
Can you put a hold open closer on it?  nope
Can you use a mag hold open?  only if it's tied into the fire alarm

Keep all this in mind.. this is a sturdy little exit device.. but the lack of field function changes, when so many other manufacturers are offering this feature.. is surprisingly under-thought-out.

Happy Hardwaring!