The Top 3 Maglocks + What Magnetic Locks Are & When to Use One

 

 

While residents and visitors on your property might not think much of the type of lock you use to secure your doors, it’s a choice that impacts both security and convenience. Many buildings use maglocks to secure and release their apartment doors. So, should you start using maglocks on your property?

In this post, we explain what a maglock is and how it works. Then, we help you decide whether a magnetic lock is right for your property.

This post covers:

• The top 3 maglocks
• What does a maglock do?
• How do electromagnetic locks work?
• Why use maglocks on your property?

 

The top 3 maglocks

Your unique property will determine what type of magnetic lock will work best for you, if any. The main difference in the following locks is their holding force and price.

The top three maglocks to choose from are:

• Seco-Larm E-941SA-1200. Priced at $98 on Amazon, this maglock has a holding force of 1,200 pounds. It also features a remote control that can manually release the lock. This force level makes it a potentially great lock for a business or commercial property.
• Yuhan electric magnetic lock. Priced at only $20, this magnetic lock has a holding force of only 130 pounds. As a result, it might only be useful for low-security entryways.
• GERSIK magnetic door lock. Priced at $29, this lock features 600 pounds of holding force. What’s more, it has a built-in voltage spike suppressor that prevents potential damage to the device.

 

 

What does a maglock do?

A maglock, or a magnetic lock, is a type of lock that uses magnetism and low-voltage power to keep doors locked and increase security on your property. The power supply keeps the lock’s electromagnet energized, which keeps it in the locked position. Then, when that power supply is removed — which happens when someone uses a credential to unlock the door — the magnetic lock releases, allowing the door to open.

Maglocks are generally considered to be fail-safe because they automatically unlock doors in the event of a power outage.

 

Maglocks vs. analog locks

Magnetic locks have several benefits compared to analog locks. For one, they can be stronger. Depending on the type of lock you buy, you would need to exert up to 2,000 pounds of force to bypass one!

Maglocks were invented in the late ’60s. And as the access control world continues to embrace other advances in technology, the usefulness of maglocks becomes even more apparent.

Unlike an analog lock, magnetic locks can be wired to engage and disengage even if there isn’t a person directly at the door. You can electronically instruct maglocks to do whatever your property might need.

For example, you can set a magnetic lock to automatically unlock and lock at specific times. Or, you can set a delayed egress maglock to unlatch after a few seconds.

Additionally, you can wire a maglock to access control hardware like keypads, fingerprint scanners, and intercoms. One keypad can control multiple maglocks, which is useful for larger properties that assign different levels of access permissions to different PINs. Today, you can even program a maglock to unlock remotely with a smartphone app.

 

What are the different types of maglock?

There are two main types of magnetic locks: surface-mounted and mortice.

A surface-mounted lock gets its name from the place it’s installed. Installers mount this type of maglock on the surface of the doorframe.

A mortice lock, also known as a shear lock, is another option if you want to hide the nuts and bolts of a maglock. Shear locks are smaller than surface-mounted maglocks because they depend on pins that help keep a door in place when it’s closed.

 

How much does it cost to get a maglock?

On average, maglocks cost about $300. However, this number depends on the strength of the magnetic lock and if you want to include any other features. For example, a popular feature that properties often request is a battery backup — which will increase costs.

 

How do electromagnetic locks work?

Door magnetic locks work by using magnetic force to keep a door closed.

Maglock doors require these parts:

• Electromagnet. During maglock installation, the electromagnet is placed on top of, or inside, a door frame. This electromagnet is powered by a constant stream of electricity.
• Door plate. The door plate is a metal plate that’s installed on the door. When the electromagnet on the door frame is energized, the door plate is attracted to it, and the electric holding force keeps the mag door shut.

Understanding how electromagnetic locks work has direct, practical applications, like helping you keep your property safe.

 

Learn about the differences between electric locks and magnetic locks:

 

Do mag locks work when the power goes out?

Maglocks do not work when the power goes out. To keep a door locked, maglock doors depend on electricity. Without that electricity, a maglock will disengage — something you should keep in mind if you want to prepare your property for a blackout.

 

Why use maglocks on your property?

You should use maglocks on a door or gate that you want people to have easy access to in the event of an emergency.

Maglocks disengaging and failing to connect when there isn’t power isn’t a flaw — it’s a feature. In fact, many local fire codes require you to use magnetic locks in certain areas for this very reason.

For example, if there’s an emergency like a fire, people need to be able to exit your building fast. A door or gate that unlocks in the event of a power failure is the safest option. So, maglocks are a great choice for areas like stairwells, rooftops, and lobbies.

But what if there are areas of your property where security needs special emphasis? You might have a high-security area, like a storage closet or an IT server room, that people won’t need access to in an emergency — and that should be locked during a blackout.

 

 

What are the disadvantages of a magnetic lock?

While maglocks disconnecting when the power goes out can be seen as a safety benefit when it comes to allowing people to exit through a door in case of an emergency, this still removes them from most recommended lists of high-security applications.

Disadvantages for maglocks also include the fact that they tend to cost more than other, similar types of locks. Maglocks also don’t have features that other security solutions can provide for your property.

 

Alternatives to maglocks

Electric strikes (also referred to as door strikes) are one alternative to magnetic door locks.

In contrast to maglocks, electric door strikes are considered to be fail-secure, meaning they unlock when they receive a short burst of power. So, when an electric strike isn’t being powered, its default state is locked.

Access control systems such as keypad door locks and video intercoms are also useful alternatives for main entryways to a property.

 

Fail-safe vs. fail-secure

Industry professionals often use the terms fail-safe and fail-secure to refer to maglocks and electric strikes, respectively. You can remember the difference this way: During a power outage, maglocks keep people safe by unlocking. Conversely, electric strikes keep areas secure by remaining locked.

Many properties use both maglocks and electric strikes according to the security needs of specific areas. But before you decide, you should research local municipal regulations and fire codes to ensure your building is safe while following local laws.