Touting numerous technology improvements and standing up to the most challenging door access control tasks, it’s interesting that a product with no moving parts has found such steadfast following among installers and continues to grow in use and popularity – even over decades.
Electromagnetic locks, also referred to as maglocks, boast durability, reliability and require little to no maintenance while meeting the latest life safety and fire codes. What’s new is that locksmiths and systems integrators can select among a wide array of configurations, options, styles and finishes – customizing on the job with programmable and intelligent features.
The common thread in the popularity of maglocks is strength and versatility – coupled with continued innovation that includes smaller, aesthetic footprints along with the ability to integrate access control platforms in an enterprise-wide system. No moving parts means simpler service and maintenance, for solid ROI and a long-term stable project for years to come. These entrance control solutions offer a high level of security, functionality and sustainability, with devices incorporating eco-power energy-savings for green and sustainable buildings.
This ongoing innovation has transformed maglocks into a flexible product that can be used in projects ranging from simple access control to more complex, regulated installations, like mantraps or hazardous industrial markets.
Intelligence and Beauty
Have you seen the latest maglocks? They have a modern, streamlined profile with rounded corners and come in finishes like black suede or other new colors with a wide range of accessories to handle any specification. Components have shrunk while becoming more advanced, yielding a product that covers a smaller footprint and blends with the environment.
One of the biggest changes in the product category has been the move to integrating more components into smart maglocks, like motion sensors. Now that components are smaller, it’s possible to have the motion sensor and maglock in one unit, as opposed to two separate pieces, resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing opening that’s unobtrusive and secure. In earlier maglock products, the motion sensor was traditionally mounted above the door, triggering the magnet to unlock when the passive infrared sensor was activated or engaged by pushing a button on the side of the door. Having the motion sensor built into the maglock also means less wiring, since everything is in one compact unit, adding to installation efficiencies.
Intelligent maglocks also regulate power at the door, significantly lowering energy consumption and bringing maglocks into the category of sustainable products. Features like lock sensors with built-in door prop sensing de-energize the maglock when the door is held or propped open for long periods. This reduces power draw to as low as 20mA at 12V – resulting in up to an 80 percent reduction in energy usage in a typical application. In addition to an optional integrated passive infrared request to exit sensor which can be customized onsite, maglocks include built-in smart voltage sensing, tamper sensor and an updated strike plate mounting template for quick set-up.
Holding Force for Every Opening
Maglocks are a workhorse with configurations available to fit any door, including single and double door configurations, or specialty applications like gates and fences. Flexible mounting options support applications for hollow metal, concrete filled metal, wood, or glass with aluminum frames and frameless glass doors. The holding force of maglocks is varied and comprehensive: 170-300 lbs. for cabinets and drawers; 600 lbs. for traffic control; 1,200 to 1,800 lbs. for high security; and 4,000 lbs. for detention, institutional and critical infrastructure.
Changes and ongoing improvements in maglocks continue to broaden the applicability of the products in more places. For detention-grade or high-abuse facilities, the Securitron MM15 features a unique hybrid design with spring-loaded, hardened steel jaws for two tons of holding force and a three-hour fire rating. When the maglock is met with a forced entry attempt, the mandibles on the lock rotate inward, clamping down and capturing the edges of the armature for unmatched holding power. Maglocks like the Securitron M62G-EX Series now handle harsh environments; for example, Class I hazardous locations like industrial, petrochemical and mining, further expanding installation possibilities. These maglocks also include door position switch contacts and tamper monitoring options.
Glass and sliding doors also make use of maglocks – their small form fitting recessed inside the frames to securely lock sliding openings. Maglocks are an easy solution to add access control to sliding doors as opposed to hook bolts, deadbolts and electric strikes. They can be used on Herculite and other glass/delicately framed doors with special mounting brackets, strike plates and accessories for access control that’s beautiful and secure. Shear locks in the top of the glass door maintain holding power while keeping the aesthetics.
Sliding doors can also use shear aligning maglocks that boast 1,200 lbs. holding force. This concealed maglock is ideal for traffic control or medium security and has flexible mounting options for the most challenging door control. The shear aligning maglock includes mounting options for a single door or each leaf on a pair of doors and can be installed on sliding, in-swing, out-swing or swing-through doors. It mounts fully concealed into wood, steel or other doors, latching in any position: at the header, door edge or threshold.
Maglocks can be directly mounted in the door frame, securing single sliding doors with strength and reliability within a monitored perimeter. The recessed design conceals the maglock inside the frame when the door is closed for hidden protection that blends with the entrance. Noise suppression with built-in Metal-Oxide Varistors (MOV) provides voltage suppression by absorbing spikes or surges and dissipating them as heat so doors move quietly and smoothly.
Still Growing: Feature-Rich Delayed Egress
Delayed egress maglocks, which delay the opening of secured doors, continue to gain market share and now include features like audio voice message alerts and digital countdown LED displays. These maglocks offer the ability to select from egress time delays and other built-in capabilities and options to customize the opening to the requirements of the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
Delayed egress devices address specific state and local municipal codes like the California Fire Code and the Chicago Fire Code. As the codes change, maglocks change too, making sure they meet or exceed codes and standards to prevent any delay in installation.
Fully integrated delayed egress maglocks can be installed on interior and perimeter exit and single, out-swinging doors without special tools for fast field configuration. The systems integrator can select among delay times and other configurable timing options. Field-configurable settings include: voice message language; voice and alarm tone or alarm tone only; bypass delay times of 0, 10, 15, 30 seconds; door movement activation; and auto or manual relock. Delayed egress maglocks may also incorporate eco-power to minimize power usage and current draw for energy savings.
Maglocks are available in many different categories and product specifications to cover every customer application. Whatever the door, there’s a maglock to beautify the opening while you’re adding durable, long-lasting access control.
