The Schlage 03-231-8AT is the OEM Tactile Athens KIL (Key-In-Lever) Lever Less Cylinder for the Schlage ND Series, ALX Series, CO Series, and AD Series, documented in the official Schlage ALX, ND, AD, and CO Series Service Manuals. It is the Athens lever profile with tactile surface in the KIL (Key-In-Lever) conventional cylinder format. The lever ships without a cylinder installed. Non-handed. The legacy part number is 03-031-8AT, as confirmed on the SecurityParts.com product page. Finish must be specified at time of order.

What KIL Means: Key-In-Lever Conventional Cylinder Format

The Schlage ND Series lever catalog uses three distinct prefix codes to identify the cylinder format each lever accommodates. The 03-230 prefix identifies closed levers with no cylinder housing, used at inside trim positions. The 03-200 prefix identifies SFIC (Small Format Interchangeable Core) levers, used at outside trim positions requiring a small-format interchangeable core. The 03-231 prefix identifies KIL (Key-In-Lever) levers, used at outside trim positions requiring a conventional key-in-lever cylinder.

A KIL cylinder is a conventional, non-interchangeable cylinder that inserts into the lever hub from the outside face. The cylinder pin tumblers are cut to a specific key bitting during a factory or shop rekeying operation, which requires the cylinder to be removed from the lever and disassembled. This is different from an SFIC core, which pops out in the field using only a control key without removing the lever from the door. KIL cylinders are used when the facility operates on a conventional key system, when budget or operational constraints favor conventional cylinders over interchangeable core, or when the existing lock infrastructure is built on conventional KIL cylinder standards throughout the building.

The 03-231-8AT ships "less cylinder" - the lever has a KIL cylinder bore ready to accept a compatible Schlage KIL cylinder, but no cylinder is installed at the factory. This allows the facility to specify the correct KIL cylinder for their key system separately and install it during the lever replacement process.

"Less Cylinder" vs "Less Core": An Important Distinction

The terminology used in the lever part number description identifies the cylinder format. SFIC levers (03-200 family) are described as "less core" because the SFIC core is a removable insert within the SFIC housing. KIL levers (03-231 family) are described as "less cylinder" because the KIL cylinder is a complete unit that installs as a whole into the lever bore, not a core within a housing. Ordering the wrong format for an installed lock - an SFIC lever for a KIL installation, or a KIL lever for an SFIC installation - produces a lever that cannot accept the facility's existing cylinder type.

Tactile Athens Profile and Broad ND Series Function Coverage

The 03-231-8AT uses the Athens lever profile with the tactile surface designation identical in purpose to the 03-200-8AT Athens Tactile SFIC Lever. The tactile surface provides hazardous area door identification for persons with visual impairments as required by IBC and ADAAG for doors to hazardous spaces. The difference between the two is exclusively the cylinder format: SFIC on the 03-200-8AT, KIL on the 03-231-8AT.

The 03-231-8AT covers the complete keyed ND Series outside lever catalog. ALX Series functions covered include ALX40 (Privacy), ALX44S (Hospital Privacy), ALX50 (Entrance/Office), ALX53 (Entrance), ALX70 (Classroom), and ALX80 (Storeroom). ND Series functions covered include ND40 (Privacy), ND44 (Hospital Privacy), ND50 (Entrance/Office), ND52 (Keyed Privacy), ND53 (Entrance), ND55, ND60 (Vestibule), ND66 (Store), ND70 (Classroom), ND72 (Communicating), ND73, ND78 (Classroom Security), ND80 (Storeroom), ND80EL, ND80EU, ND81 (Accessible Storeroom), ND82 (Institution), ND85 (Faculty Restroom), and the full Vandlgard series ND91 through ND97, plus indicator function variants.

SecurityParts stocks OEM Schlage ND Series and ALX Series KIL lever components. Free shipping on orders over $300.