Electromagnetic Locks
THE RELIABLE, LONG-LASTING CHOICE IN FAILSAFE SECURITY
Electromagnetic locks are highly reliable and long-lasting compared to other electric locking devices because there are no moving parts involved in their operation. Life safety reliability is ensured because there is no mechanism that can cause sticking or binding.
Prefer print?
Download White Paper PDF
The versatility of electromagnetic locks allows them to be used almost anywhere electric strikes and electric bolt locks are used, but with these feature advantages:
- Cost effective retrofit installations
- Durability – no moving parts
- Voltage tolerance
- Minimal maintenance & adaptable to door misalignment
Table of Contents
How Electromagnetic Locks Came into Existence
Prior to the 1970's it was illegal to lock perimeter exit doors from the interior side. All that was permitted was an exit device to insure uninhibited egress at all times while locked on the exterior. This left facilities vulnerable to employee theft and to breaking and entering, and it was not uncommon to find exit devices on perimeter doors illegally chained and/or padlocked during certain times of the day or after hours.
In 1969, our founder, Arthur V. Geringer, visited the California State Fire Marshal in Sacramento to discuss the creation of a failsafe bolt lock for perimeter doors. He invented SDC's FS23 Series electric bolt lock in 1971 – the world's first failsafe electric lock for after-hours locking of perimeter doors – and patented the design in 1972. Also in 1969, Locknetics founder Irving Saphirstein designed the first electromagnetic lock approved for locking perimeter doors after business hours. Unlike an electromechanical lock, it had no moving parts to bind or wear, making it ideal for fire life safety applications.
Holding Force, Security and Application
Electromagnetic locks are appropriate for interior doors, perimeter exit doors and entrances that require failsafe emergency release capability. Depending on the level of security required, they come in several levels of holding force. Careful concern should be given to the choice of holding force and the need for battery back-up when using electromagnetic locks for many access control applications. Battery backup is recommended to compensate for the inherent failsafe operation in applications with higher security requirements, particularly on interior doors – building and safety codes require magnetic locks to release during a power loss and signal from the life safety command center.
Traffic Control
Any magnetic lock under 1200 lbs should only be used for traffic control – 650 lbs is typical. A low holding force magnetic lock will release without damage and the door will simply relock when closed.
Medium Security
Magnetic locks mounted on aluminum glass doors are capable of medium security, since the glass door is more likely to shatter before a 1200 lb lock releases – sufficient for aluminum and glass openings and many commercial interior installations.
High Security
For Herculite glass doors, hollow metal frames or wood doors, a lock with at least 1500 lbs of holding force is recommended. "High security" here refers only to failsafe magnetic lock applications, which cannot compare to electromechanical locking devices.
| Holding Force | Mag Type | Security Level |
|---|---|---|
| 650 lbs | Traditional | Traffic Control |
| 1200 lbs | Traditional | Medium Security |
| 1650 lbs | Traditional | High Security |
| 2000 lbs | Shear | High Security |
| 2700 lbs | Shear | High Security |
For example, in psychiatric facilities, aggressive patients have been known to force open doors equipped with 1200 lb holding force magnetic locks – it's not uncommon for such facilities to upgrade to 1650 lbs after experiencing more than one breach. While many installers feel 1200 lbs is ample for any installation, when overcome with force, the door simply closes and relocks with no one the wiser about the security breach.
Electromagnetic Shear Locks
Traditional electromagnetic locks are exposed (surface mount), whereas electromagnetic shear locks may be concealed, semi-concealed or surface mounted. Shear locks have more critical alignment issues than typical surface mount magnetic locks – a valuable tip for trouble-free installation is the use of a Positive Centering or Heavy Duty door closer for double acting aluminum glass and Herculite doors, which causes the door to quickly rest in the center position and greatly reduces service calls.
Concealed
Used for openings that require an architecturally superior appearance. On hollow metal frames with wood or hollow metal doors, a 2000+ lb shear lock can withstand a force that will deform or destroy the door before it releases.
Semi-Concealed
Accommodates offset hung glass doors and provides a high security alternative to surface mount locks on hollow metal frames. The magnet is concealed in the frame while only the small armature housing is surface mounted to the top of the door.
Surface Mount
Almost half the size of a typical surface mount electromagnetic lock, surface mount shear locks provide a higher level of security for glass doors or metal doors and frames.
Electromagnetic locks are virtually problem-free. Ninety-five percent of the time, post-installation issues are either improper voltage input or an improperly mounted armature – be sure to follow the manufacturer's installation instructions and allow the armature to float freely.
SDC Electromagnetic Locks & Application Attributes
SDC's electromagnetic locks are suited for interior doors, perimeter exit doors and entrances that require failsafe emergency release capability. Our patented EMLock® design represents the pinnacle of magnetic lock evolution with modular assembly that makes them easy to stock, install, upgrade and maintain. The Excel™ product line is an economically priced, fully featured alternative to low-cost imports. All SDC EMLocks® are compatible with any access control system and covered by a lifetime warranty.
Traditional Electromagnetic Locks Specifications Summary
| Series | Trademark | Holding Force | Single / Double | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1510 | EMLock® | 1,650 lbs | 1511 / 1512 | Lifetime |
| 1570 | EMLock® | 1,200 lbs | 1571 / 1572 | Lifetime |
| 1580 | EMLock® | 650 lbs | 1581 / 1582 | Lifetime |
| E1200 | Excel™ | 1,200 lbs | E1200 / ----- | 5 Year |
| E600 | Excel™ | 600 lbs | E600 / ----- | 5 Year |
| E6200 | ----- | 1,200 lbs | E6200 / ----- | 5 Year |
The E6200 is a weatherized, epoxy sealed stainless steel industrial electromagnetic lock recommended for both interior doors and outdoor gates, and retrofits Securitron M62 and Locknetics 70.
Specialty Electromagnetic Locks
Our specialty electromagnetic locks meet a variety of application requirements: the narrow 350 Series for high profile openings meeting 6'8" height requirements; 1575/1576 Series (1200 lbs) for pedestrian and vehicle gates, compatible with manual, automatic, swinging, sliding, tubular and iron gates; the compact 1590 Series (850 lbs) for high frequency sliding or swinging doors; the E300 Series (300 lbs) to expand access control to drawers, cabinets and lockers while satisfying HIPAA privacy requirements; and the EP17624 Series for hazardous locations – Class 1, Division 2 clean rooms, chemical plants and refineries.
HiShear® Electromagnetic Shear Locks
SDC's HiShear® electromagnetic shear locks are designed, engineered and built in America for openings that require an architecturally superior appearance, available in concealed (1560 Series, 2000/2700 lbs), semi-concealed (1562SC Series, 2000 lbs) and surface mount (1561S for push side of an outswing door / 1561TJ for pull side of an inswing door, 2000 lbs) models. The patented design incorporates a floating armature assembly and alloy steel locking tabs adjustable both vertically and laterally to compensate for wide door gaps or warped/misaligned doors, plus advanced electronic circuitry with a door static, alignment and timed relock sensor.
Listing and Performance Specifications
ABOUT ANSI AND BHMA
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has adopted design and performance standards established by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA).
ANSI/BHMA A156.23 for Magnetic Locks details minimum mechanical, electrical and holding force requirements, placing electromagnetic door locks in three cycle-performance categories. All SDC EMLocks® are Grade 1 Compliant.
- ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 – 1,000,000 Cycles (SDC)
- ANSI/BHMA Grade 2 – 500,000 Cycles
- ANSI/BHMA Grade 3 – 250,000 Cycles
REQUIRED UL LISTINGS
Confirms the magnetic lock design is electrically safe and tested for its intended purpose.
- GWXT Auxiliary Lock
- CVXJ Burglary Resistant Electrically Operated Door Lock – required on all locks with 1200 lbs or more holding force, indicates the lock has passed UL test criteria for tampering.
- UL10C Positive Pressure Compliant
BHMA Certification
BHMA Certification indicates the magnetic door lock complies with all ANSI and BHMA performance criteria, and has passed an independent static pull test and a dynamic impact test for holding force. Locks are periodically re-tested by Intertek Laboratories to ensure continued compliance with ANSI/BHMA A156.23 and A156.5 – the only industry certification that verifies the lock design and holding force continues to meet standard.
MEA Listed: Required for the City of New York by the Department of Buildings Materials & Equipment Acceptance Division.
California State Fire Marshal Listed
This listing is required for California installations. The State of California is well known for consistently setting the highest standards for fire life safety in the world.
