Maglock Systems Explained

COMMERCIAL SECURITY GUIDE

Maglock Systems Explained: Holding Force, Fire Code, and Where They Actually Fit

A closer look at electromagnetic locking — why it’s the strongest holding force in commercial access control, why it’s also the category most likely to be specified incorrectly, and how to know when it’s the right tool for a door.

Of all the systems covered in our guide to the major types of access control, maglocks are the one most often chosen for the wrong reason and installed with the least margin for error. Business owners frequently reach for a maglock because it sounds like the strongest option available — and in terms of raw holding force, it usually is. But a maglock is also the system type most directly governed by fire and life-safety code, which means the decision to install one carries requirements that have nothing to do with the lock’s strength and everything to do with how people get out of a building in an emergency.

This guide breaks down how maglocks actually work, why they intersect with fire code in a way other access control systems don’t, and the specific situations where they’re genuinely the right choice.

How Maglocks Work

A magnetic lock consists of an electromagnet mounted to a door frame and a metal armature plate mounted to the door itself. When the system is powered, the electromagnet holds the armature plate against it with substantial force — commercial maglocks are typically rated between 600 and 1,500 pounds of holding force, depending on the model. Because there are no moving parts in the locking mechanism itself, maglocks are inherently resistant to picking, and their sheer holding force makes them extremely difficult to force open through physical means.

Maglocks are released by cutting power to the electromagnet, which is what makes them fundamentally different from the mechanical locks covered elsewhere in our comparison. Release is typically triggered by a credential — a card, fob, or keypad entry — but it can also be triggered by a fire alarm signal, an emergency exit device, or a request-to-exit sensor, depending on how the system is configured.

Why Maglocks Intersect Directly With Fire Code

This is the detail that separates maglocks from every other access control category: because a maglock is only locked while it’s powered, it must be designed to fail safe — meaning it releases automatically the instant power is cut, whether that’s from a fire alarm activation, a power outage, or an emergency push button. A door that fails to release during a fire alarm event isn’t just a code violation; it’s a life-safety hazard, which is why maglock installations are subject to specific requirements under fire and building code (commonly referencing NFPA 101, the Life Safety Code, and local building code adoption) governing free egress.

In practice, this means every maglock installation needs to account for:

Fire alarm interconnection, so the lock releases automatically the moment a fire alarm activates, without requiring a credential or manual action.
A functioning request-to-exit mechanism — a motion sensor, a push button, or a panic bar — that releases the lock from the inside without a credential, so occupants can always exit freely regardless of whether they’re authorized to enter.
Backup power considerations, since a maglock that stays locked during a power failure is a code violation as much as one that fails to release during an alarm.
Signage and delayed-egress provisions, which apply in specific, limited circumstances (such as retail loss-prevention applications) and carry their own strict code requirements around timing and signage.

None of this is optional, and none of it is something a business should be configuring based on a general understanding of “how locks work.” A maglock installed without these provisions correctly integrated isn’t just a security gap — it’s a liability and a code compliance failure that can surface during an inspection, an insurance claim, or, in the worst case, an actual emergency.

Where Maglocks Are the Right Choice

Despite the complexity, maglocks earn their place in commercial access control for specific applications where their strengths are exactly what the door needs:

Glass doors and storefronts, where traditional mortise or cylindrical locks aren’t a good structural fit, and a maglock’s surface-mounted design works with the door as built.
High-security checkpoints, where the holding force needed to resist forced entry exceeds what a standard electric strike or electromechanical lock provides.
Vestibules and mantrap-style entries, where a maglock’s fail-safe release integrates cleanly with the layered entry sequences common in higher-security facilities.
Doors requiring integration with existing fire and access systems, where a maglock’s straightforward power-based release logic makes it easier to interconnect with alarm panels than some mechanical alternatives.

Where a Maglock Usually Isn’t the Right Call

Maglocks are frequently specified for doors where a different system would serve the facility better, most often because “strongest lock available” gets treated as the deciding factor rather than the actual requirement for that specific door.

Doors that don’t need that much holding force. A standard interior office or storage room rarely needs 1,000+ pounds of holding force, and a card-access electric strike or an electronic key control cylinder typically does the job with less code complexity and lower installation cost.
Remote or hard-to-wire doors. Because a maglock requires continuous power and a fire alarm interconnection, it’s a poor fit for the kind of remote, distributed, or outdoor access points — gates, equipment cabinets, secondary storage — that electronic key control is specifically built to handle without any wiring at all.
Facilities without the budget or timeline for correct code integration. A maglock done right requires coordination between the access control installer, the fire alarm system, and often a local fire marshal or code official during inspection. A facility that needs a fast, straightforward install is often better served by a different technology.

The Real Decision: Match the Lock to the Door, Not the Door to the Strongest Lock

The most common mistake in maglock specification isn’t a technical error — it’s a sequencing error. A maglock gets chosen first, based on its reputation for strength, and the fire code and egress requirements get worked out afterward, often under time pressure during inspection. The better sequence starts with the door’s actual requirement — holding force needed, egress path, whether it’s a primary means of exit — and lets that determine whether a maglock, an electric strike, or a different locking mechanism entirely is the right fit.

This is exactly the kind of decision worth making with a security provider who works across the full range of access control technology, rather than one that leads with a single product line. As covered in our broader access control comparison, maglocks are one tool among several — the right choice for specific doors, not a default for every high-security opening.

Getting a Maglock Installed Correctly the First Time

Peifer Security Solutions has been providing commercial security services throughout the Memphis area since 1985, and our team specifies and installs maglocks as part of a broader access control practice — not as a single product we default to. We work directly through the fire and life-safety code requirements that come with every maglock installation, including fire alarm interconnection and request-to-exit integration, so the system passes inspection and functions correctly from day one.

As part of our Access Made Easy™ approach, we start with an assessment of what each specific door actually needs — before recommending a maglock, an electronic key cylinder, or any other locking technology.

Considering a maglock for a high-security door — or wondering if a different system would serve it better? Schedule a free facility security consultation with Peifer Security Solutions.

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