The Schlage N123-084 is the OEM emergency turn button and plunger assembly for the outside lever of the Schlage ND Series cylindrical lock ND44 hospital privacy function. It is the rotating outside mechanism that allows authorized personnel to release an engaged inside push-button lock without a key, from outside the door. When this component wears, sticks, or breaks, the ND44's emergency override feature stops working-the door can still be locked from inside, but the outside emergency release fails, which is a direct code and safety problem in any healthcare or institutional application where this function is specified.

This is a field replacement for an existing ND44 installation, not a complete assembly. It is sold for the ND44 outside lever position specifically.

What the Schlage ND44 Hospital Privacy Lock Emergency Turn Does

The ND44 is Schlage's hospital privacy function in the ND Series Grade 1 cylindrical lock family. Its operating logic is distinct from a standard bathroom privacy lock and specifically designed for healthcare environments:

Inside push-button locks the outside lever. Once the button is engaged, the outside lever is mechanically disconnected from the latch retraction mechanism. The door cannot be opened from outside by lever alone. Turning the inside lever or closing the door releases the button automatically, preventing occupant lockout. The inside lever is always free for immediate egress-it cannot be locked from either side.

The N123-084 emergency turn button on the outside lever is what separates the ND44 from the simpler ND40 bathroom privacy function. On the ND40, outside the emergency release is a small pinhole slot that accepts a coin or narrow screwdriver. On the ND44, the outside release is a purpose-built turn-button that rotates to disengage the inside push-button lock. This deliberate design choice makes the ND44 the correct function for hospitals, clinical exam rooms, behavioral health facilities, and any room where staff must access a locked space quickly without tools, but also where the outside release needs to be a controlled deliberate action rather than a tool-accessible pinhole.

Schlage ND44 vs ND40: Understanding the Emergency Access Difference

Both the ND40 and ND44 are privacy functions with inside push-button locking and automatic release when the inside lever is turned or the door closes. The difference is entirely in the outside emergency release mechanism:

ND40 uses a small screwdriver slot-any narrow flat object works.

ND44 uses a turn-button-the N123-084-which requires a deliberate rotation to release.

Healthcare facility specifications typically call for the ND44 specifically because the turn-button provides more positive emergency access without the ambiguity or improvisation of the ND40's screwdriver slot. ANSI/BHMA A156.2 Series 4000 Grade 1 governs the ND Series lock performance standard, and the ND44 meets UL10C fire door requirements for 3-hour A label single doors.

Schlage ND Series Lock Parts: N123-084 Compatibility

The N123-084 is the outside emergency turn button and plunger for the ND44.It’s different from the N123-034, which is the emergency button and plunger used for the ND40 exterior. It’s also not the N123-086, which serves as the push-button plunger bar for privacy functions across models like ND30, ND40, ND44, ND50, ND73, ND91, and ND97.

Confirm the exact function and part number from the ND Series service manual diagram before ordering-using the wrong plunger assembly in this trim position will result in improper engagement or release behavior.

The complete ND Series parts reference is available as a downloadable service manual from Schlage. SecurityParts stocks OEM ND Series parts across all functions and trim assemblies. Free shipping on orders over $450.