Quick Guide to Magnetic Locks

Who is responsible for locking up your office at the end of the day?  I’m sure it’s someone you know and trust, but do you trust other people with whom they interact? And if you own a larger property, how do you control access to different areas of the building, especially when the property houses a variety of tenants?

Luckily, there is an alternative to the old-fashioned “key holder.”  Magnetic locks use electromagnetism to control the entire locking mechanism. Like your TV, fridge, or any other electronic appliance, these locks rely on electric power. Of course, just like all your other electronic appliances, some run the risk of failing during loss of power. But other more high-tech models are wired using an alternate power source and will remain locked when the power goes out.

The great thing about magnetic locks is their versatility. They can be programmed using a variety of different coding mechanisms, including smart cards, proximity readers and keypads. Best of all, they can easily and efficiently be reprogrammed if a tenant or employee misplaces a smart card or forgets the keypad code.

In the event of a fire or other emergency, magnetic locks are easily deactivated with a manual unlocking device, usually a push button. Also, if your home is wired with a fire alarm, the system can be activated to automatically unlock the doors.

Consider adding magnetic locks to your property as part of your overall security plan.  Magnetic locks have a number of advantages over the conventional locks with which we’re more familiar, but as with any other upgrades you make to your property, it’s important to hire a licensed professional for the installation and ongoing management.