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An electromagnetic door lock system, or "mag lock" in short, is an extremely reliable security and access control system used by many commercial spaces today. These magnetic door lock systems are such an integral part of building security because they allow you to limit access only to authorized personnel or, at the very least, keep track of who can and does access specific areas at any given time.
Today, mag locks are all but paramount for high-security facilities such as airports, banks, pharmacies, and private companies dealing with proprietary products or services.
What Is a Magnetic Door Lock System?
Magnetic door lock systems or mag locks are access control systems that use low-voltage power between DC 12 and DC 24 volts to keep locks closed. The magnetic lock operates through a key card that can be disabled when swiped or keying in a specific number on a keypad. Mag locks connect to a secure access control system. Some even have apps that allow for remote access control.
While it's true that some facilities still rely on the traditional lock and key that has worked well for so long, it's also true that most forward-looking companies are switching to magnetic door lock systems. This is mostly because it is a more intelligent access control system that offers better security than traditional lock and key can offer.
Here are some excellent reasons you should be switching to a magnetic door lock system.
1. No More Lost Keys
One of the biggest problems with traditional lock and key systems is that no matter how careful each employee is, at some point, someone is going to lose their key or keys. This can pose a tremendous security threat to the company. Replacing these keys is also a rather costly affair. Other than losing them, keys can be copied without the employee's knowledge.
With a magnetic door lock system, you don't have to worry about this issue as any lost key cards can be deactivated and barred from accessing the premises. It's also easier and more cost-effective to issue the employee in question with a new key card in minutes.
2. Remote Access Control
No matter how carefully you vet your employees, people can be corrupted for one reason or another. This is especially true when your company deals with proprietary information. You can minimize the risk paused to your data by setting up remote access control through your magnetic lock system.
This is simple enough to do. You can configure the system to lock everyone out if there are certain hours when your employees have no authorized reason to access the premises.
3. Long Term Cost Savings
A robust magnetic door lock system can offer you long-term cost savings in several ways. The first and most obvious way is through key-cutting cost savings.
Every company or business will experience employee turnover. You will need to take the key from the departing employee and give a new one to the incoming party whenever this happens.
The issue with this is that you often can't know whether or not the outgoing employee made copies of the keys that they are handing back. As such, they may pose a threat to your security.
Another issue is that creating new copies for the incoming employee can be costly and time-consuming, depending on how complicated your locking system is. In many cases, you might be forced to change certain locking systems entirely just because an employee quit or changed jobs.
These are not costs you have to worry about when using a mag lock. The key cards can be re-magnetized and re-configured multiple times. It just takes a small bit of time for the security expert to put everything in order.
4. Better Data Collection and Usage
Sophisticated mag lock systems automatically record the information whenever key cards are used to swipe in and out of the building. This information can help you as the building manager or business owner to root out inefficiencies in your employee working system.
It can also help you save money on other aspects such as heating, lighting, cooling whenever employees aren't using a specific office area.
5. Safety
Mag locks work by combining the power of magnets and electricity. As long as the power is one, the mag locks will remain secure. However, should the power fail, these locks will release automatically, which means that neither you nor your employees will remain stranded in the building in case of a power outage.
This "fail open" mechanism is also crucial whenever there's an emergency such as a fire. While mechanical locks also have safety features, the quick "fail open" action by mag locks saves precious seconds, which could mean life or death during such emergencies.
6. Durability
One major issue with typical mechanical locks is that they experience a lot of wear and tear over the years. This means that they are more prone to failure and will require replacing from time to time, which can be both expensive and inconvenient.
Mag locks, on the other hand, are extremely durable. The best of them can be expected to last a lifetime on the door.
7. Easy to Install and Customizable
A typical mag lock system offers tremendous locking power. Many are rated between 600 and 1200 pounds, while some are rated even higher. The rating determines how much force the lock can withstand without breaking.
This variation in locking force allows you to choose a magnetic locking system that suits your specific security needs. Furthermore, a magnetic locking system is easy and fast enough to install.
The sophistication level of the different types of magnetic lock systems varies greatly. What is constant is that these types of locking systems are more secure and more advantageous than traditional mechanical locks.
