Two Different Approaches to Access Control
An electric strike replaces the strike plate mounted in the door frame. When power is applied (or removed), the strike releases the latch and the door opens. The lock hardware on the door itself stays the same — a cylindrical lock, a mortise lock, or an exit device. The strike is the only modified component.
A magnetic lock — maglock — mounts to the door and the frame. An electromagnet bonds to a steel armature plate, holding the door closed with 600 to 1,200 pounds of holding force. There is no mechanical latch. The door is held by magnetism alone. Cut the power and the door is free to open.
These two devices solve the same problem — controlled access — but they behave differently during a fire, a power outage, or a panic exit. Choosing the wrong one can put a building out of code compliance.
Fail-Safe vs. Fail-Secure
This is the most important distinction in electrified door hardware:
- Fail-safe: When power is removed, the device unlocks. The door is secure only while power is on. Maglocks are always fail-safe. Some electric strikes are fail-safe.
- Fail-secure: When power is removed, the device stays locked. The door is secure by default and unlocks only when power is applied. Most electric strikes are fail-secure.
The choice depends on what the door does. A stairwell door in a commercial building should fail-secure — during a power outage, the stairwell stays secure from the outside while still allowing egress through the exit device on the inside. A perimeter door with a maglock should fail-safe — during a fire alarm, the maglock releases so people can exit without any hardware to push.
Fire alarm integration determines which type you need. In most jurisdictions, when a fire alarm activates, maglocks must release. This requires a direct connection from the fire alarm control panel to the maglock power supply. Fail-secure electric strikes, on the other hand, stay locked during a fire alarm because they are paired with mechanical exit hardware that always allows egress.
When to Use an Electric Strike
Electric strikes are the right choice when:
- The door already has a mechanical lock or exit device that provides egress.
- The door is fire-rated and the strike is fire-rated (UL listed for the door’s rating).
- You want the door to stay locked during a power failure.
- The door gets heavy traffic and you need durability.
Electric strikes work with the existing lock. A tenant uses a key or a credential reader to enter. The strike releases for a few seconds, the latch retracts, and the door opens. From the inside, the person pushes the exit device or turns the lever and leaves. No power needed for egress.
For storefront doors in South Florida — the narrow-stile aluminum doors common in retail and restaurant spaces — electric strikes are the standard choice. They fit into the aluminum frame, pair with a rim exit device, and maintain egress even during a power outage. Hesitation strikes, which delay the latch release by a fraction of a second, are used on pairs of doors to prevent the inactive leaf from opening before the active leaf.
When to Use a Maglock
Maglocks are the right choice when:
- The door has no mechanical lock and you need access control only.
- The door is a perimeter gate, a rear entrance, or a server room.
- You need the door to release automatically during a fire alarm.
- The door is too narrow or too thick for an electric strike.
Maglocks are not allowed on fire-rated doors in most jurisdictions because they provide no mechanical latching. A fire door must latch mechanically to maintain its fire rating. If you install a maglock on a fire-rated door, you have voided the rating — even if the maglock releases during a fire alarm.
Maglocks also require a secondary means of egress. You cannot rely on a credential reader or a motion sensor alone. The door must have a manual release — typically a push-to-exit button or a pneumatic breakaway switch — that requires no power and no special knowledge to operate. This is a life safety code requirement under NFPA 101.
REX Sensors and Door Position Switches
A request-to-exit (REX) sensor detects when someone approaches the door from the inside. The most common type is a passive infrared (PIR) motion detector mounted above the door on the secure side. When it detects motion, it signals the access control system to release the lock. This lets people exit without pressing a button.
A door position switch (DPS) — also called a door contact — tells the access control system whether the door is open or closed. This is used for two purposes: to force the lock to re-engage when the door closes, and to generate an alarm if the door is opened without authorization.
For a complete access control installation on a single door, you need four components: the electric strike or maglock, the REX sensor, the DPS, and the credential reader. If any one is missing or incorrectly wired, the system has a gap.
Power Supplies and Code Requirements
Electrified hardware requires a dedicated power supply. The power supply must be listed for the application, typically UL 294 for access control systems. For fire-rated doors, the power supply must also meet UL 228 requirements for door holding and release devices.
NFPA 72, the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, requires that electrified door hardware on fire-rated assemblies be connected to the building’s fire alarm system. When the alarm activates, the hardware must release in a fail-safe manner. This means fail-secure electric strikes on fire-rated doors must be wired to release on fire alarm — even though they stay locked during a normal power outage.
The power supply should have battery backup if the door needs to remain functional during a power outage. Battery capacity must support the full load — lock, reader, REX, DPS — for the duration required by local code, typically 4 hours for commercial buildings.
South Florida Installation Considerations
South Florida buildings present specific challenges for electrified hardware. The combination of humidity, salt air, and seasonal storms affects both the hardware and the wiring.
For coastal buildings in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Pompano Beach, stainless steel strikes and sealed maglock housings resist corrosion better than standard plated finishes. Conduit runs should be sealed at both ends to prevent moisture intrusion, which causes shorts and false alarms. Outdoor maglocks — on gates or perimeter doors — should be fully enclosed and rated for wet locations.
Hurricane preparedness adds another layer. Buildings with impact-rated doors and hurricane shutters need strikes with extended throw to account for thicker door profiles. After a storm, power disruptions can last days. Fail-secure strikes keep doors locked during outages, but if the access control system runs on a UPS that dies after 4 hours, the building is either unlocked or inaccessible depending on the configuration.
Pro Locksmith Fort Lauderdale is a licensed and insured commercial locksmith serving Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Work is performed by employees, not subcontractors. A certificate of insurance is provided for commercial properties. Call (954) 406-8266.