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A convenience store entrance has two jobs that can compete with each other. It needs to make it easy for legitimate customers to walk in, while still giving employees some control when an unfamiliar or potentially threatening person approaches.
That gets harder during late-night business hours, when staffing is light and there may be fewer people around the storefront and parking lot.
A buzz-in entry system adds another layer to convenience store security by allowing an employee to control the locked entrance from behind the counter. A magnetic lock secures the door, while the access control equipment gives staff a way to release it for entry.
The key is understanding where this system fits. It can control the front door, but it does not replace cameras, alarms, cash procedures, employee training or a safe means of exit.
Start with how you want the front door to work
Before choosing a magnetic lock, decide how employees and customers should move through the entrance.
Ask four questions:
- When should the entrance be locked? All day, overnight or only during higher-risk periods?
- Who decides who enters? Will an employee visually approve customers before releasing the door?
- How will customers leave? The egress side still needs an appropriate release method.
- What happens during a power failure or emergency? The complete system needs to meet applicable egress and life-safety requirements.
For many stores, the goal is not to keep the entrance permanently locked. It is to give the employee behind the counter control over entry when conditions make unrestricted access less desirable.
NIOSH includes controlling customer entry among the environmental and engineering measures businesses can consider to reduce robbery-related workplace violence. It also recommends measures such as alarms, surveillance, clear visibility and cash-control practices rather than relying on one security device alone.
What does a buzz-in maglock system actually do?
A buzz-in system uses an electrically controlled lock at the entrance.
When the maglock is energized, the magnet holds the armature plate and keeps the door secured. An authorized employee can then trigger the access control system to release the magnetic lock and allow the customer to enter.
That employee-controlled release is the “buzz-in” part of the system.
The ASE Convenience Store Magnetic Lock Kit System With Battery Back-Up packages the main components for this type of installation. The current kit includes:
|
Component |
Purpose |
|
600 lb. UL Listed magnetic lock |
Secures the entrance |
|
Bosch DS160 motion sensor |
Detects people approaching from the egress side |
|
KS70R key switch |
Provides keyed system control |
|
Mini receiver and remote |
Allows wireless activation from the counter |
|
Battery backup kit |
Provides backup power capability |
|
Armature plate |
Creates the mating surface for the maglock |
|
Basic mounting hardware |
Supports standard outswing installations |
The kit is currently listed at $259.00. In-swing doors require compatible L and Z brackets sold separately.
Why the remote matters behind the counter
For a staffed store, the remote is what turns an ordinary maglock into a practical buzz-in system.
Instead of walking to the door or placing a release button beside the entrance, the employee can control entry from a more protected position behind the counter.
That can be especially useful overnight, when a single employee may want to look at the person outside before unlocking the entrance.
It also keeps the decision with the employee rather than with a customer-facing keypad or openly accessible release device.
But the remote should never be treated as a way to prevent someone inside from leaving. Entry control and emergency egress are separate parts of the installation.
The exit side needs its own plan
A buzz-in entrance controls who gets into the store. Anyone already inside still needs an approved way to get out.
Magnetic locks are fail-safe locking devices, and current building codes contain specific requirements for electrically locked doors used in a means of egress. For sensor-released configurations, requirements can include an egress-side sensor, automatic unlocking upon loss of power, and a separately accessible manual release device. Exact requirements vary by jurisdiction and door configuration.
That is one reason the ASE convenience store kit includes a motion sensor.
Do not design the system around the idea that an employee must press the remote before a customer can leave. The exit method should be determined by the applicable building and fire codes, the door configuration and the authority having jurisdiction.
Battery backup does not mean ignoring egress requirements
The kit also includes a battery backup system.
ASE's battery backup unit uses a switching power supply that can switch between AC and battery operation during a power failure. That can help keep parts of the security system operating through an interruption in utility power.
That does not change the need for proper emergency-release design.
Codes governing electrically locked egress doors can require locks to release under specified conditions, including certain power-loss and fire-alarm events. The complete wiring design therefore matters just as much as having a backup battery.
Have the installation reviewed against the requirements that apply to the specific store rather than assuming every maglock installation wires the same way.
Buzz-in entry is one layer of store security
Door access addresses one specific risk: controlling entry.
It does not solve every security problem a convenience store faces.
A more comprehensive security plan can also include:
Security cameras. Cameras can provide visibility around the sales floor, register, entrances and exterior areas. They can also help document suspicious activities and incidents.
Alarm systems and panic buttons. Employees should know how to summon help and what to do in the event of a robbery. NIOSH recommends that workers know the locations of exits, alarms and emergency call devices.
Cash controls. Keeping the amount of cash available as low as practical can reduce one incentive for robbery. OSHA has specifically identified limiting cash on hand, along with door-entry buzzer systems, alarms and other measures, as possible workplace-violence controls in convenience-store environments.
Exterior visibility. Lighting and clear sightlines around the storefront and parking lot can help employees see who is approaching and allow law enforcement and others outside to see into the store.
Employee procedures. Staff need training on how to respond to threats without unnecessarily escalating the situation.
These measures also address problems that access control cannot. A buzz-in door, for example, does little to prevent employee theft or inventory shrinkage after someone has legitimate access to the store. Those risks require operational controls, monitoring and inventory procedures.
When does buzz-in entry make the most sense?
The system makes the strongest case when staff need more control over the entrance than an always-unlocked door provides.
That can include:
- Stores operating late at night or 24 hours
- Locations with limited overnight staffing
- Stores with previous security incidents
- Entrances where employees have a clear view of approaching customers
- Businesses that want employee-controlled entry during selected hours
- Stores already upgrading other access control or security systems
That does not mean every convenience store owner needs a locked entrance.
The right approach depends on the site, staffing model, local crime conditions, door configuration and the experience you want legitimate customers to have.
Frequently asked questions
How does a convenience store buzz-in system work?
A magnetic lock secures the entrance while an employee uses a control, such as a wireless remote, to temporarily release the door for an approved customer. The exit side uses a separate egress method appropriate for the installation.
Can a maglock stay locked during a power outage?
Maglocks require electrical power to remain locked. Battery backup can provide continued system power during an outage, but the installation still has to comply with applicable requirements for emergency unlocking and egress. Do not use backup power to bypass required life-safety functions.
Does the ASE convenience store kit include battery backup?
Yes. The kit currently includes a battery backup system along with the 600 lb. magnetic lock, Bosch motion sensor, key switch, mini receiver, remote, armature plate and basic outswing mounting hardware.
What if the convenience store door swings inward?
The basic kit mounting hardware is intended for outswing applications. ASE specifies that in-swing doors require L and Z brackets sold separately.
Are security cameras still necessary with a buzz-in system?
They serve different purposes. Access control determines who can enter, while security cameras help employees monitor areas and record activity. Convenience store security is stronger when complementary measures work together instead of relying on one system.
Should the door stay locked all day?
Not necessarily. Some business owners may use controlled entry only during overnight or higher-risk periods. The decision should account for staffing, customer traffic, security risks and applicable local requirements.
Decide when to control entry, then build the system around the door
The order is: operating hours, entry policy, door configuration, employee control, then emergency egress.
Decide first when employees actually need control over the entrance. Then check the door swing and determine how staff will release the lock without leaving the counter. After that, confirm how customers exit and how the system responds during power failures and emergencies.
You can explore All Security Equipment's access control systems, compare magnetic locks, or start with the ASE Convenience Store Magnetic Lock Kit System With Battery Back-Up for a package designed specifically around convenience-store entry control.
For other commercial applications, you can also browse All Security Equipment's industry security solutions.
