Maglock vs Electric Strike: Choosing the Right Door Lock for Your Access Control System

Every controlled door in an access control deployment requires a lock type to be specified. In most commercial installations, that specification comes down to two options: a maglock or an electric strike. The two operate on different principles, suit different door configurations, and carry different implications for fire-code compliance under Singapore’s SCDF requirements.

What Is a Maglock?

A maglock, or electromagnetic door lock, is an access control lock that uses an electromagnet mounted on the door frame and a steel armature plate fixed to the door. When energised, the magnet bonds to the plate and holds the door closed with a specified holding force, typically rated at 300 lbs, 600 lbs, or 1,200 lbs.

Unlike a mechanical lock, electromagnetic door locks have no moving parts, no bolts, and no latches. The entire locking action is the magnetic field itself. This makes them mechanically simple but entirely dependent on continuous power to maintain the bond.

Maglocks are one of two dominant lock types in modern electric lock systems. The other is the electric strike, which works on a fundamentally different principle.

How Do Maglocks Work, and How Is a Strike Lock Different?

A maglock works by continuously drawing current to maintain the magnetic bond between the electromagnet and the armature plate. The operating sequence is straightforward:

• Power flows from the access control panel to the electromagnet mounted on the door frame.
• The magnet bonds to the steel armature plate on the door, holding it shut at the rated force.
• On a valid credential/access card read or fire alarm trigger, power is cut, and the door releases immediately.

An electric strike lock operates in the opposite direction. The door’s existing latch or deadbolt remains the primary locking element. The strike plate itself contains an electric mechanism that pivots open on signal from the access control panel, allowing the door to be pushed open without retracting the latch.

The practical distinction matters at the specification stage. Maglocks are inherently fail-safe: when power is lost, the magnetic bond releases and the door opens. Electric strikes can be specified as either fail-safe or fail-secure, where fail-secure means the door remains locked during a power outage. That flexibility gives electric strikes a wider range of applications where asset protection during power loss is a priority.

Mag Lock vs Electric Strike: Which Suits Your Door?

The choice between a maglock and an electric strike depends on three factors: door type, fire-code requirements, and the security profile of the opening. Neither is universally better.

A magnetic lock is the stronger fit when:

• the door is glass, frameless, or lacks a compatible latch mechanism for a strike to engage with
• holding force above 600 lbs is required, as at perimeter doors, server rooms, or high-traffic entry points
• designated egress paths under Singapore’s Fire Code demand fail-safe behaviour, with the door releasing immediately on alarm activation
• surface-mounted installation is acceptable or aesthetically preferred.

An electric strike suits the opening better when:

• the door already has a functioning mortise lock or latch worth retaining
• fail-secure behaviour is needed, for example where the door must remain locked during power loss to protect assets
• the opening carries a fire rating, and the strike is listed for that specific rating
• existing door hardware should be preserved without adding surface-mounted components.

Where both lock types could technically serve the opening, the deciding factor is usually the fail mode. Doors on egress paths default to fail-safe. Doors protecting restricted zones or high-value assets lean toward fail-secure.