Magnetic Lock Installation

How a Magnetic Lock Works

A maglock has two parts: an electromagnet that mounts to the door frame and a flat steel armature plate that mounts to the door. When power flows, the magnet grips the plate and the door stays shut. There is no latch, bolt, or pin tumbler cylinder to pick or wear out, and no moving parts at all.

Holding force is the spec that matters. Common ratings are about 600 pounds for interior doors and 1,200 pounds for exterior commercial doors. Maglocks run on low-voltage 12 or 24 volt DC power, and they are fail-safe by design: cut the power and the door releases instantly.

Doors and Gates Where Maglocks Fit Best

Maglocks shine in places where mechanical locks struggle:

• Frameless glass doors. U-bracket kits clamp the armature plate to the glass with protective gaskets, so nothing is drilled through the glass itself.
• Outswing doors. The magnet mounts directly to the frame header, the simplest setup.
• Inswing doors. These need a Z-bracket to position the armature plate against the magnet face.
• Gates. Weather-rated maglocks pair well with a gate access controller.

Alignment separates good installs from bad ones. The armature plate should float slightly on its rubber washer so it seats flush against the magnet face. A plate bolted rigid at a slight angle can lose much of its rated holding force.

What a Code-Aware Installation Includes

Because a maglock has no mechanical exit, building and fire codes treat it as an access-controlled egress door. A compliant installation usually includes:

• A request-to-exit sensor that cuts power as someone approaches the door from inside
• A labeled push-to-exit button as a manual backup
• A fire alarm tie-in that releases the lock the moment the alarm activates
• A power supply with battery backup so the door stays secured through short outages

Skipping any of these pieces can trap people or fail an inspection. This wiring is the real work of the job, and it is where professional planning pays off.

Maglock, Electric Strike, or Keypad Lock?

Three electric options solve different problems. A maglock is fail-safe: it unlocks when power drops, which is what codes want on exit routes. An electric strike keeps your existing latch and can be fail-secure, staying locked with no power, which suits doors that guard property rather than people. A standalone keypad lock runs on batteries and needs no wiring at all, a simpler fit for a single office door. If people must always be able to leave, lean maglock. If the door must hold through an outage, lean strike.

What to Expect When You Call

Before any hardware is chosen, it helps to know your door material, swing direction, whether the door is a fire exit, and what should trigger unlocking, such as a keypad, card reader, intercom, or timer. Hardware and labor vary with the door type, the wiring distance to the power supply, and the access control gear you pick, so no two installs are quite alike. Call (916) 913-5080, describe your door and what you want it to do, and you can confirm whether this service fits your project before any technician is scheduled.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a magnetic lock stay locked during a power outage?

No. Maglocks are fail-safe, so they release the moment power is lost. That is a safety feature: anyone inside can always get out. If the door needs to hold through outages, installers add a battery backup power supply to ride out short interruptions, or pair the maglock with a mechanical deadbolt or a fail-secure electric strike that keeps the door latched without power.

Are magnetic locks legal on exit doors?

They can be, but only with the right release hardware. Codes for access-controlled egress doors generally require a request-to-exit motion sensor, a clearly marked push-to-exit button, and automatic release whenever the fire alarm activates or power fails. Requirements vary by building type and local code, so a locksmith can assess your specific door and confirm which release devices your setup needs before anything is mounted.

Can a maglock go on a frameless glass door?

Yes, and it is one of the most common uses. U-bracket kits clamp the armature plate around the glass edge with protective gaskets, so the glass is never drilled. The magnet body mounts to the header above the door. Kits are sized for common glass thicknesses such as 3/8 and 1/2 inch, so measuring your door before the visit speeds everything up.

Call (916) 913-5080 about magnetic lock installation.