Maglocks for Glass Doors: What to Know Before Installing

We know glass doors offer a modern and elegant appeal to your business, but when it comes to security, looks are not just enough. Your business needs more, so enter the Maglock, a modern and sleek electromagnetic locking system that provides an extra layer of security too without compromising aesthetics. 

Whether you are renovating your office, high-end store, etc., installing maglocks for doors is more than just wiring and drilling. Before you choose the maglocks, ensure maglocks for glass doors are compatible with other devices. In this blog, explore everything you need to know before installing the maglocks for glass doors and make a smart investment decision. 

Table of Contents

Introduction

Understanding Maglock for Glass Door?

Benefits of Installing Maglocks for Glass Doors 

Things to Remember before Installing Maglocks for Glass Doors

Process of Maglock Door Installation 

Common Troubleshooting Challenges 

Best Practices for Maglock Door Installation

Conclusion

Understanding Maglocks for Glass Doors?

The Maglocks for Doors are an electromagnetic lock system that helps businesses to secure the entry from unauthorized access, as compared to traditional glass doors. The maglock for the door works with a powerful magnetic force that helps to keep the door closed. These systems have two main components, such as the electromagnet and armature, which keep the door attached. 

This system offers a fail-safe mechanism as the door unlocks automatically in the event of a power outage, which offers better security in case an emergency exists. The maglock door flow goes like this: 

• The electrical current goes to the magnet. 
• It then creates a field that attracts and holds the armature plate. 
• This, in turn, locks the door tightly. 

Benefits of Using Maglocks on the Glass Entrance

Here are the various benefits of using maglocks for glass doors at your business entrance. 

• Reliable and Strong Security

The Maglocks have a strong holding force, which ranges from 600 to 1200 pounds, ensuring that any access is impossible without having proper credentials. This system makes maglocks ideal for high-traffic office spaces, restricted areas, and server rooms. 

• Contactless Operation

There are various contactless technologies such as key cards, fingerprint access control, sensors, biometric scanners, etc. Maglocks ensure only authorized people enter the premises without requiring physical contact with the lock mechanism. These systems are ideal for high-traffic areas where maintaining social distancing is crucial. 

• Seamless Integration with Smart Access Control System

Maglocks can easily be integrated with existing access control systems, such as door access control systems, facial recognition, biometric scanners, etc., that allow for centralized security monitoring and management. These systems are used for selective access control, where only authorized people can access the restricted areas. 

• Easy Maintenance and Longevity 

Maglocks for glass doors are not just simple to install, but also to maintain. These systems use fewer mechanical parts as compared to traditional locks, which need minimal maintenance. Their electronic nature allows for remote monitoring and diagnostics, which makes it a long-term and cost-effective solution for various businesses. 

Things to Remember before Installing Maglocks for Glass Doors

Before installing maglocks on glass doors, it’s crucial to understand that the existing setup is compatible. Here is the quick pre-installation checklist to ensure your Maglocks are ideal for business. 

• Check Door Thickness

When installing Maglocks, it’s important to check the door thickness, as the ideal thickness must be 8mm to 12mm. For thin and frameless glass doors, installers must add mounting brackets or reinforcement plates as required. Verify that the door thickness must support the magnetic plates without having risk of damage. 

• Hire Professionals for Installation

Consider hiring professional experts, as the wrong mounting or drilling may crack the door. The certified installers have in-depth knowledge of access control systems and ensure better security, reliability, and safety for both your employees and customers. 

• Ensure Door Alignment

The main door must align evenly with the frame to ensure proper contact between the magnet and armature plates. The uneven or sagging doors also cause poor bonding, which reduces the holding force of the maglocks.

• Comply with Local Building and Safety Codes

Verify the local building codes and safety codes for electromagnetic locks that are integrated into the exit doors or emergency exits. The specific region also requires maglocks to integrate with fire alarms or emergency exit buttons for fast release during emergencies. 

• Plan for Access Control Integration

It’s important to know whether you will integrate the maglock with smart access control such as RFID, keypads, or biometric Access Control fingerprint readers. The business must ensure that they have proper space for devices near the entry point and do not interfere with the glass design or visibility. 

• Assess Door and Frame Material 

For seamless installation, it’s important to determine if your glass doors have a metal or aluminium frame. If the glass door is frameless, be it L or Z, you need to mount the maglock safely. As the weak or loose frame may not hold the magnet properly, that hampers the lock performance. 

Process of Maglock Door Installation 

Before installing the maglocks on glass doors, businesses must understand their security needs and how maglocks’ holding force works, and ensure compatibility with the other access control systems. 

Here is the process of installing the maglocks for doors to ensure smooth operation and advanced security. 

Step 1: Preparation and Planning

The Maglock Door installers must gather quality materials such as brackets or armature plates, power supply, wires, mounting screws, screwdrivers, drills, and much more. Choose the right installation locations, which can be simply integrated on the door frame and armature plate on the door itself. 

Step 2: Install the Bracket or Armature Plate

The installers must pre-drill the holes for setting up the screws, which make sure they are angled outward from the surface and do not exert too much pressure on the magnet. It’s also important to install the specific mounting plate that is designed to use maglocks to better distribute the magnetic force over a wider area and for security. 

Step 3: Install the Maglocks

Mark the correct location of the maglock on the door frame, which ensures it aligns with the armature plate on the door. Also drill the necessary holes for the maglock mounting screws. Then secure the maglock to the door frame using screws. 

Step 4: Connect the Wires

After installing the maglocks for doors, run the wires from the maglock to the power supply. The maglock installers must follow the wiring diagram provided with the maglock and use wire nuts to connect the wire to the power supply. 

Step 5: Test the Maglock

To test the Maglock, close the door and test the maglock by using the power supply. It should engage and hold the door properly when closed. Open the door and test the maglock again to ensure it opens and releases the door smoothly. 

Common Troubleshooting Challenges 

The following are the common challenges in the Maglocks for Doors faced by businesses.

• Door Not Locking Properly

A door detached prematurely or not aligned with the strike plate to lock fully may lead to a power supply failure. Check the cabling, voltage regulation, and connection. There are broken mechanical components. such as bolts, strike plates, or other damaged parts. If the door is not locked properly, then door alignment will fail and also exceed the weight capacity as compared to the original rating. 

• Electrical Failure

There is a total power failure stemming from wiring issues, drained batteries, or bad regulators. The electrical failure led to bad wiring or loose splices, dead battery backups, and a faulty power supply to replace the regulator assembly. It’s important to restore the electricity using a wired AC source or battery swap. 

• Lock Sticking or Jamming

The magnetic locks are sticking or jamming and not releasing the access credentials, which may be caused by a mechanical shear pin break. To replace the damaged internal component, dirt/debris must be cleaned out of the dust and lubricants, and insufficient lubrication. 

Best Practices for Maglock Door Installation

For seamless Maglock Door Installation, the maglock installer needs proper alignment, mounting, and testing to ensure security and convenience. 

Adhere to these best practices for Maglock Door Installation for seamless integration. 

• Proper Mounting of Lock

Ensure to mount the surface that offers a rigid and flat installation for a stable lock housing fixture. Use the machine screw with an anchor meeting or exceeding weight loads. Follow the best practices to drill pilot holes, which reduce the chance of surface cracks. 

• Right Alignment with Door Frame

The precise alignment allows reliable and secure functionality, which prevents wear and tear to boost visuals. Measure the strike plate distance before drilling or installing. Integrate the shims or spacers in gap areas to refine the alignment and ensure the metal strike plate has less gap tolerance. 

• Correct Wiring and Power Supply

For maglock door installation, it’s crucial to select the right wiring and voltage that safeguards against disruption, equipment failure, or fire risks. Select the wire gauge that meets the wire length, code, and power loads. Also, make sure to splice connections with a protective junction.

• Integrate with Quality Access Control System

Adhering to seamless installation, it’s important to integrate a quality access control system. These control systems include mobile access apps, RFID readers, or biometric fingerprint systems. High-quality access control systems not only improve security but also create audit trails to track entry and exit activity. 

• Incorporate Emergency Release Option

The best practice to implement is to install the emergency exit devices, such as Motion sensors for hands-free exit, push-to-exit buttons, and fire alarm integration to unlock automatically. The Maglock door installer must know safety and fire codes to ensure legal compliance. 

Conclusion

The Maglocks for Glass Doors are the ideal solution for your business as they offer a sleek, secure, and smart option that protects your door entry point. But for successful maglock door installation, it’s important to choose the right lock for your business and commercial spaces. 

Partner with the professional service provider to get the installation done. The professional ensures long-term security and safety with a modern look.