6-minute read · Commercial hardware buying guide
An electric strike, an electrified lock, and a maglock secure the door in different ways. The right starting point is the hardware already on the door and how people should enter and leave.
Use this guide to compare the three approaches, understand power-loss terminology, and prepare a clear parts request. The reader or keypad is only one part of the access-control system.
Identify the lock, latch, and frame.
Describe entry, exit, and power loss.
Include power, wiring, and release components.
In this guide
Shop this guide: Electric Strikes · Electric Locks · Maglocks and Holders · Power Supplies and Transformers
Start with the door you have
Take photos of both sides, the edge, and the frame where the door latches. Record the existing lock or exit-device model. Also note whether the door is hollow metal, wood, aluminum, or glass; mounting space and wiring routes can differ substantially.
A working mechanical door gives you a better starting point for access control. If it drags or does not latch reliably, include that problem in the project scope.
Compare the three locking approaches
| Option | How it works | When to investigate it |
|---|---|---|
| Electric strike | A powered fitting in the frame releases a compatible latch. | You want to keep suitable existing latching hardware and the frame can accept the correct strike. |
| Electrified lock | Electrical control is built into the lock's operating function. | You are replacing or specifying the lock and want controlled entry through lever hardware. |
| Maglock | An energized magnet holds a metal plate attached to the door. | The opening and approved release design support magnetic locking. |
The fitting that moves inside an electric strike is its keeper. The plate attracted to a maglock is its armature. An integrator is the person or company coordinating the access-control devices, wiring, and programming.
Understand fail-safe and fail-secure
These terms describe what happens to the electrically controlled entry side when power is removed from the locking device:
- Fail-safe: that side unlocks when device power is removed.
- Fail-secure: that side remains secured when device power is removed.
Exit operation is a separate question. Many lock-and-strike arrangements still allow people to leave mechanically while the outside stays secured. Maglocks need an appropriate release arrangement. Allegion's explanation covers these distinctions and product-specific exceptions.
Ask the integrator to describe what happens during normal use, loss of power, and any required alarm response. Include backup power in that discussion.
Shop products for this guide
Explore electric strikes, electrified locks, maglocks, and power supplies as separate component choices. Have the final combination matched to your door, electrical requirements, and operating plan before ordering.
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What else belongs in the order?
The final system may need the items below. Ask which are already present, which need replacement, and who supplies them.
- Reader or keypad: accepts the user's credential or code.
- Controller: decides whether access is allowed and signals the lock.
- Power supply: provides the electrical power specified for the devices.
- Power transfer: carries wiring from the frame to door-mounted equipment where needed.
- Door-position contact: reports whether the door is open or closed.
- Exit and release components: support the required way of leaving and releasing the opening.
Matching a voltage label is only one check. The installer also needs current demand, AC or DC requirements, cable distance, connectors, and any specified backup or alarm interface. These details affect which power supply and accessories to buy.
Compare the installed scope as well as the device price
Ask about door or frame cutting, wiring, power transfer, controller connections, and commissioning—the final setup and operating checks. A less expensive device can require more installation work. A clear component list lets you compare the same scope in each quote.
For fire-rated, accessible, or other regulated openings, have the project team confirm the permitted device and release arrangement. This is especially important for magnetic locking, where release components are part of the design.
What to send for an access-control quote
- Door and frame photos, material, dimensions, and quantity.
- Existing lock or exit-device model and any frame strike details.
- How authorized users enter and how people leave.
- Existing reader/controller platform and electrical information.
- Required monitoring, backup power, and alarm operation.
- The installer or integrator contact and target delivery date.
More locking choices and access-control components
Compare further options within the locking and power categories discussed in this guide. Confirm compatibility and the required release sequence for the complete opening.
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Explore the full catalog for more options
Frequently asked questions
Which option is cheapest?
Compare the full installed scope. Existing hardware, frame work, cabling, power, and release requirements can change the overall cost.
Can I keep my current reader?
Possibly. Have the reader, controller output, locking device, and power arrangement checked together.
Does fail-secure mean someone is locked inside?
The term describes the controlled entry side. The required exit operation must be checked separately for the complete hardware arrangement.
Door and frame manufacturer references
Use these manufacturer resources to compare door construction, frame details and preparation before selecting the hardware for your opening.
Resources for planning and verification
- Allegion: fail safe versus fail secure — Understand secure-side behavior and the relationship to mechanical egress.
- U.S. Access Board entrances and doors — Check accessibility considerations for the complete opening.
- Steel Door Institute rated-door guidance — Review the need to maintain the performance of the assembly.
- OpenAxis access control catalog — Explore the related product categories before submitting a component list.
Build your access-control parts list
Browse the matching categories above if you have a confirmed specification. If you are choosing an approach, send the door photos, existing hardware, and entry/exit requirements so the component request starts with the actual opening.
