Magnetic Locks
A magnetic lock holds a door closed with an electromagnet on the frame and a steel armature plate on the door. Cut the power and the door releases, which is why maglocks are a common choice where an access control system has to unlock a door on a credential, a request-to-exit sensor or a fire alarm signal. This collection holds the magnetic locks we stock, starting with delayed egress magnetic locks: the electromagnet holds a marked exit door for a code-set delay while an alarm and a countdown run, then releases. The maker of the ones listed here describes them as built in America.
Which magnetic lock does the opening need?
| Type | What it does | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Direct-hold surface maglock | Electromagnet on the header, armature on the door, a straight pull | Access-controlled doors that must unlock on a credential, a sensor or a fire alarm signal |
| Shear lock | Magnet and armature meet in shear, concealed in the header or the door edge | Openings where a surface lock body cannot show, or doors that swing both ways |
| Delayed egress magnetic lock | Holds a marked exit door for 15 seconds, or 30 where approved, after a push, with an alarm and a countdown, then releases; releases at once on a fire alarm signal | Exit doors where the code permits delayed egress: loss prevention, memory care, infant units, restricted corridors |
| Integrated delayed egress exit device | The delay and alarm are built into the exit device itself, and the latch still does the holding | The same openings, where changing the exit device is preferable to adding a lock; compared in the delayed egress locking guide |
What to settle before you order
Holding force. Makers rate maglocks by holding force, and the common commercial ratings run from a few hundred pounds to about 1,800 lb; match the rating to the door and the security level, not to the biggest number. Power. A magnetic lock is locked only while it is powered, so the supply, its capacity and any battery backup decide whether the door is locked at all. Specify them with the lock, since makers sell them separately, and at least one maker of delayed egress locks calls for a UL 294 listed supply. Release. Every maglock needs a release path the code accepts, and which one depends on the arrangement: a sensor on the egress side, door hardware that cuts the lock power, or a delayed egress system, each with its own conditions in the code. A fire alarm connection is part of some of these arrangements and not others, so settle the arrangement before the wiring. Monitoring. Door position and bond sensing outputs report whether the door is closed and the magnet is holding, which an access control panel or annunciator can watch. Mounting. Filler plates and angle brackets make up for a shallow stop or a narrow header, so check the frame before the lock arrives. Delayed egress. Whether it is allowed at all, for how long and on which occupancies is set by the code your jurisdiction has adopted, so read the delayed egress locking guide and confirm with your authority having jurisdiction before you buy.
Related hardware
A door that needs an alarm but no electric lock belongs with our exit control locks and door alarms. Exit doors that need panic hardware are covered by rim exit devices and vertical rod exit devices. The codes behind electrified openings are in NFPA 101 and IBC Chapter 10.
Frequently asked questions
Products
1 product from 1 company
