What This Guide Covers
This article helps contractors, facility managers, and architects correctly specify electromagnetic lock (maglock) kits for controlled-access door openings. Whether you are securing a school entrance, a healthcare corridor, a retail back-of-house door, or an industrial access point, selecting and configuring the right maglock kit involves more than picking a holding-force number. Egress code compliance, power supply integration, and credential hardware choices all factor into a successful installation.
What Is a Magnetic Lock Kit?
A magnetic lock kit bundles the core components needed for a complete electromagnetic locking solution into a single order. A typical kit includes the electromagnetic lock body, an armature plate, a power supply, and one or more release or credential devices such as a weatherproof keypad or a push-to-exit button. Buying components as a coordinated kit reduces compatibility guesswork and helps ensure the electrical ratings of each piece are matched before the hardware ever arrives on the jobsite.
Electromagnetic locks hold a door closed by maintaining a strong magnetic bond between the lock body (mounted on the frame) and the armature plate (mounted on the door). When power is interrupted, the bond releases immediately. This fail-safe behavior is a defining characteristic of maglock systems and a central consideration for egress compliance.
Understanding Holding Force: How Much Is Enough?
Commercial maglock kits are commonly available in holding-force ratings ranging from around 600 lb to 1,500 lb or more. A 1,200 lb holding force is a widely used benchmark for single commercial doors subject to moderate to high security demand. Higher-force models are available for wider or heavier door leaves, pairs, or high-traffic applications.
Holding force alone does not define the right spec. Consider:
- Door weight and width: Heavier or wider leaves can generate more leverage against the lock under load.
- Traffic volume: High-cycle applications in schools or healthcare corridors demand robust, well-supported mounting.
- Environmental exposure: Exterior or vestibule applications require weatherproof-rated components throughout the kit.
- Security level: Matched holding force to the threat profile of the opening, not just the door size.
Egress Code Requirements for Electromagnetically Locked Doors
This is where many projects run into problems. Because maglocks are fail-safe by nature, they must be released in a code-compliant way any time an occupant needs to exit. Both the International Building Code (IBC) and NFPA 101 address electromagnetically locked egress doors, and requirements can vary by edition and occupancy type. Always verify the adopted code edition with your Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) before finalizing a spec.
The Three Main Release Methods
Code generally recognizes three approaches for releasing a maglock on an egress door:
- Sensor release (access-controlled egress): A passive infrared or similar sensor on the egress side detects an approaching occupant and unlocks the door automatically. A manual push button labeled "PUSH TO EXIT" must also be provided, mounted 40 to 48 inches above finished floor and within 5 feet of the door. The button must directly interrupt lock power, independent of any access control processor, and the door must remain unlocked for a minimum of 30 seconds. Fire alarm or sprinkler activation must also unlock the door.
- Listed hardware with built-in switch: A lever handle, pull handle, or panic bar fitted with a listed request-to-exit switch directly interrupts lock power when the occupant operates the hardware normally. Under IBC 2012 and later, this method is permitted even on doors requiring panic hardware, provided the panic device itself carries the listed switch. NFPA 101 has allowed this on panic-equipped doors for longer. This is often the cleanest, most user-intuitive solution.
- Power failure (fail-safe): All electromagnetically locked egress doors must unlock automatically upon any loss of power to the lock. This is not optional and is inherent to proper maglock system design.
Fire Alarm Integration Is Not Optional
On virtually every code pathway, fire alarm activation must release the electromagnetic lock and keep it released until the alarm system is manually reset. When specifying a maglock kit, confirm that the power supply or controller includes a dry-contact or relay input compatible with your fire alarm panel. This wiring coordination needs to happen at the design stage, not during punch-list.
UL 294 Listing
Access control systems, including maglock assemblies, are expected to be listed per ANSI/UL 294. When writing specifications or submittals, verify that the complete assembly, including the lock body and power supply, carries appropriate listings. Your AHJ may specifically ask for this during inspections.
Choosing Credential Hardware: Keypads and Beyond
The access side of a maglock installation requires a credential device to authorize entry. Common options include:
- Keypads: PIN-based entry is cost-effective and widely understood. Weatherproof keypads are essential for exterior applications, vestibules, and loading dock entries. Look for vandal-resistant construction in schools and industrial facilities.
- Proximity or card readers: Suitable for facilities with existing access control infrastructure. Coordinate reader voltage and wiegand or OSDP output with your access control panel.
- Intercom or video-intercom: Common in healthcare reception areas and secure facility entries where visual verification is required before admitting visitors.
In many cases, a maglock kit that bundles a weatherproof keypad with the lock body and power supply simplifies procurement and helps ensure electrical compatibility out of the box. Still, review the power supply output to confirm it supports any additional readers or REX devices you plan to add.
Power Supply Sizing and Wiring Considerations
A maglock system is only as reliable as its power supply. Key points for contractors and designers:
- Confirm the power supply output voltage and current match the lock body specification. Mismatched voltage can reduce holding force or damage the lock.
- Account for voltage drop over long wire runs. Heavier gauge wire or a power supply positioned close to the lock body helps maintain consistent performance.
- If the installation requires battery backup (common in healthcare and life-safety contexts), choose a power supply with a built-in battery backup circuit or add an appropriate UPS in the circuit.
- For multi-door installations, avoid daisy-chaining locks off a single undersized power supply. Use a panel-style power supply with individually fused outputs, or a dedicated supply per door.
Application Contexts: Where Maglock Kits Are Commonly Specified
Schools and Educational Facilities
Controlled vestibule entry is now standard practice in K-12 construction and renovation. Maglock kits at main entrances allow office staff to buzz in visitors via intercom while keeping the door secured from the outside. ADA-compliant push-to-exit buttons on the egress side, integrated with the fire alarm, keep the installation code-clean. Budget-conscious school districts often find a bundled kit more economical than specifying components separately.
Healthcare Facilities
Hospitals, clinics, and behavioral health settings use electromagnetic locks at pharmacy entries, server rooms, staff-only corridors, and some patient-care areas. Life-safety code compliance is non-negotiable: fire alarm and sprinkler integration must be verified, and controlled egress provisions in Groups I-1 and I-2 impose additional requirements (such as the ability to unlock from a nurses station or fire command center) that go beyond the standard maglock code path. Coordinate with your life-safety engineer early.
Retail and Commercial Office
Back-of-house doors in retail, loading dock entries, and tenant-space access points are common maglock applications. A weatherproof keypad on a rear exterior door keeps unauthorized entry out while giving authorized staff simple, keyless access. Entrance doors in Groups A, B, and M must not be secured from the egress side during business hours open to the public, per IBC requirements.
Industrial and Warehouse Facilities
Industrial maintenance teams often deal with maglock replacements after a lock body fails or a power supply ages out. When replacing, confirm the replacement lock body dimensions and armature plate footprint match the existing cutout to minimize frame work. If the original spec used a bundled kit from a less-service-friendly product line, this is a good opportunity to standardize on a kit that uses a more stable, parts-accessible platform.
A Note on Preferred Product Lines
DoorwaysPlus stocks electromagnetic locking hardware from product lines chosen for long-term parts availability and stable design cycles. When specifying or sourcing a replacement, ask about options from lines with demonstrated service-friendly track records, reducing the risk that a manufacturer redesign forces a full system replacement instead of a simple component-level repair. Our team can help match your project to the right kit and credential hardware for the application.
Summary: Spec Checklist for a Maglock Kit
- Confirm required holding force for door width, weight, and security level
- Identify adopted IBC or NFPA 101 edition and AHJ preferences for egress release method
- Specify a listed egress release: sensor plus push-to-exit button, or listed hardware with built-in switch
- Verify fire alarm and sprinkler integration at the power supply or controller
- Confirm UL 294 listing for the complete assembly
- Match power supply voltage and current to the lock body; account for wire run length
- Select weatherproof credential hardware for any exterior or vestibule application
- Plan battery backup if occupancy type or AHJ requires it
Questions about sourcing the right maglock kit for your project? Browse electromagnetic locking hardware at DoorwaysPlus.com or contact our team for specification assistance.