How can electric strike locks and magnetic locks help your business? Locksmith in Miami, Florida, experts realize how much access control locks on entryways have progressed significantly in the past 20 years. Plus, they contribute to our safety and security while at work or in schools, government buildings, and hospitals.

There’s something else to be said about electronic door locking equipment. Due to these locks’ significance to safety and security, Miami, Florida Locksmith will invest some energy investigating two of the most well-known kinds of access control locks used today — electric strike locks and magnetic locks.

This post will give you a superior comprehension of these two locks, including the pros and cons of each.

What are fail-safe and fail-secure?

You’ll regularly hear the terms fail-safe and fail-secure when taking a look at various access control systems. You need to comprehend these terms below that will help tell you how the lock works in case of a power failure:

Fail-safe- Requires energy to lock the door. When a power failure occurs or is lost for any reason, the entry will open automatically. (Normally Mag Locks)

Fail-secure- Needs the energy to open the entryway. When that power is lost, then the door will remain locked. (Commonly Door Strikes)

It’s also essential to have a fundamental comprehension of the various parts and how they work together. For example, most entryway locks have three major components to keep the entryway secure: the handle and the latch, which mutually make up the lockset and the strike. The strike plate is the metal plate installed within the door jamb and stays aligned to get the latch and hold it secure.

Electronic locks have become standard for outside entryways on public buildings today. While both mechanical and electronic locks can work on inside entryways.

Electric Strike Locks

These locks are electromechanical entryway locking devices, which means they are mechanical locks with electronic devices that give extra features.

You use these electric strike locks with another locking device, for example, a lockset or a panic bar. These get mounted like the traditional lock strike plate on the inside of the door jamb. Electrical power is provided to the strike, holding the latch or securing it, keeping the entryway locked until the user triggers the release system.

The sort of release system selected will differ dependent on the application. For example, release systems for electric strikes integrate reception release buttons, a keypad, electronic key card, or fob reader. When someone triggers the release system, a hinged piece of metal inside the electric strike will rotate to open the entryway without turning the handle.

The lock or panic equipment works freely of the electric strike. Hence, the electric strike plate works to keep the entryway bolted from the exterior, whether the power is out. However, you can still open the entry from inside by turning the entryway handle or pushing the touchpad of the panic equipment. It is an example of how fail-safe works. Notwithstanding, an expert locksmith can set most electric strikes to either fail-secure or fail-safe using an integral switch depending on the application.

Magnetic Locks

These locks are electromagnetic entryway locking devices. A mag lock includes a powerful electromagnet mounted along the top of a door jamb and a metal plate on the entryway that lines up with it. The lock works by passing an electric current through the electromagnet, making a magnetic charge that draws in the plate and holds it against the door jamb. It keeps the entryway safely bolted until the power is removed or interrupted.

Instances of release systems for maglocks include much of the same devices for electric strikes. A mag lock can create a retention force of more than 1,000 pounds whenever energized, making it an exceptional lock. However, it is until the power is out. Maglocks by design require a constant supply of electricity to remain locked. It means these locks are fail-safe; they can’t keep the entryway locked from both sides when the power goes out.

Picking the Right Locks for Your Building

When comparing mag locks with electric strikes, you need to consider some significant factors. Such as whether it will be used on an inside, outside, or fire-rated door. Also, the function of the entryway; and the applicable life safety regulations.

Plus, it would help if you considered budget concerns when buying electric strike locks and magnetic locks. Picking a lock based only on expense frequently leads to higher costs if the lock isn’t code-compliant or doesn’t work for the planned application.