Magnetic Locks Explained: A WA Security Guide for 2026
If you manage a commercial property in Perth, there's a good chance your door security problems don't start with break-ins. They start with keys. Staff leave, contractors need temporary access, tenants lose fobs, cleaners come after hours, and someone always ends up asking who still has a copy.
That's usually the point where people stop thinking about locks as hardware and start thinking about access as a system. Magnetic locks sit right in that shift. They let you control a door with power, credentials, schedules, exit devices, and emergency release logic, instead of relying on whoever happens to hold a key.
Rethinking Door Security Beyond the Key
A lot of business owners first look at magnetic locks because something in their current setup is already failing. The front entry is secure enough during the day, but after-hours access is messy. A storeroom key has been copied. A tenancy changes hands and nobody is confident all old keys were returned. In strata and commercial sites, the problem gets worse because responsibility is split between managers, tenants, contractors, and maintenance staff.
Mechanical keys still have their place. But once a building needs controlled entry, auditability, or easy lock release in an emergency, keys start creating friction instead of solving it. That's where magnetic locks make sense. They're not just another locking option. They're part of a broader move into electronic access control.
The modern direct-pull electromagnetic lock dates back to 1969, when Sumner Saphirstein created the design that established the fail-safe architecture still associated with maglocks today, as outlined in this history of locks overview. That matters because the basic idea still suits how Australian sites operate now: card readers, PIN entry, scheduled access, and controlled release based on power rather than a keyed cylinder.
For many Perth sites, the primary attraction is practical. You can tie the lock into readers, intercoms, request-to-exit devices, and emergency release functions. If you're weighing that broader move, it helps to understand what an access control system is before choosing door hardware.
Magnetic locks make the most sense when the problem isn't just locking a door. It's controlling who enters, when they enter, and how the door behaves in an emergency.
That's also why people sometimes ask the wrong first question. They ask, “How strong is the magnet?” when the better question is, “Is this the right locking method for this door, this traffic pattern, and this compliance requirement?”
How Magnetic Locks Create Holding Force
A magnetic lock works like a powered clamp. One part is the electromagnet mounted to the frame. The other is the armature plate mounted to the door. When electrical current flows through the magnet, it creates a magnetic field that pulls the armature plate tight against it. That contact is what keeps the door shut.
This visual gives a simple overview of the process.
The basic operating principle
Unlike a latch or deadbolt, a maglock doesn't throw a mechanical part into the frame. It relies on electromagnetism and clean contact between two surfaces. If the door is presented properly and the lock is powered, the magnet grabs the plate and holds it firmly.
Commercial units are built around specific holding-force ratings. Examples cited in a technical summary include 275 lbf (1,220 N) for smaller units and 650 lbf (2,900 N) for standard models, which is why these devices can resist substantial opening force while still releasing when de-energised, according to this electromagnetic lock reference.
Those numbers are useful, but the concept matters more than the maths. A maglock is either energised and holding, or it isn't.
Why fail-safe matters
The defining feature of magnetic locks is that they are fail-safe. If power is removed, the magnetic field disappears and the door releases. That's not a flaw. It's the design.
That behaviour makes magnetic locks suitable for many doors where safe egress matters. People can exit when the system drops power, whether that's because of a release device, a fire interface, or a power failure. This is one of the biggest differences between maglocks and hardware that stays locked in a different power state.
Practical rule: If a client wants a door to remain locked during a power loss, a magnetic lock usually isn't the first option to consider.
The short version looks like this:
- Power on and the electromagnet activates.
- Magnetic field forms and pulls the armature plate in.
- Door stays secured while power is maintained.
- Power interrupted by authorised access, exit request, alarm interface, or outage.
- Magnetic field collapses immediately.
- Door opens without a latch needing to retract.
A video demonstration helps if you prefer to see the concept in motion.
Matching the Maglock to Your Door and Environment
The right magnetic lock depends less on catalogue language and more on the actual door in front of you. Material, swing direction, frame depth, traffic, exposure to weather, and how the door is used every day all matter. A lock that works well on an internal office entry can be the wrong choice for a gate, a frameless glass door, or a tenancy door with poor closing action.
Common door scenarios
In the Australian market, magnetic locks are commonly discussed by holding force. Typical single-door units are around 270 to 280 kg, and heavier-duty options go up to 1,200 lb for more demanding openings, as shown in this single-door magnetic lock datasheet.
That gives you a rough guide, but selection still needs to match the opening.
Standard commercial swing doors
These are the usual office entries, store rooms, or internal tenancy doors. A common single-door maglock is often suitable if the frame is sound and the closer returns the door consistently.Frameless glass doors
These often need dedicated brackets or glass-door mounting hardware. The lock itself may be straightforward. The mounting method is where the project succeeds or fails.Inward-swinging doors
These typically need bracket arrangements that let the magnet and plate meet correctly. Without that, you can have a lock that looks installed but never performs properly.External gates or exposed openings
Weather, dust, salt air, and heat all affect product choice and service life. Perth conditions can be hard on access hardware, especially near the coast or in industrial areas.
What buyers should ask before choosing
If you're comparing options, don't ask only for “a maglock for the door”. Ask the installer to assess the door and frame as a working assembly.
A useful checklist is:
Door construction
Is it timber, aluminium, steel, or glass, and is the frame strong enough for the mounting load?Traffic pattern
Does the door close gently a few times a day, or is it opening constantly with staff, visitors, deliveries, and trolleys?Access method
Will the lock work with a PIN pad, card reader, intercom, or a broader commercial access control system?Environment
Is the opening sheltered, exposed, corrosive, dusty, or subject to vibration?
A magnetic lock should be selected for the actual opening, not the floor plan. Two doors next to each other can need very different hardware.
Where people go wrong is assuming a stronger magnet fixes every problem. It doesn't. If the door is wrong for the application, or the mounting arrangement is compromised, higher holding force on paper won't rescue the result.
Magnetic Locks vs Electric Strikes A Decision Framework
This is one of the most common comparisons in commercial security because both products can work with access control, but they solve the problem differently. A magnetic lock secures the door by magnetic holding force. An electric strike releases or secures the latch mechanism already built into the door hardware.
Neither one wins every time. The better option depends on the opening, the life-safety requirements, and what happens during a power loss.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Magnetic Lock | Electric Strike |
|---|---|---|
| Locking method | Holds door shut with an energised magnet and armature plate | Controls release of a mechanical latch or bolt at the frame |
| Power-loss behaviour | Typically fail-safe, so it releases when power is cut | Can be configured differently depending on hardware and application |
| Best fit | Glass doors, aluminium shopfronts, doors where surface mounting is practical, doors needing integration with egress release logic | Doors with suitable latching hardware, openings where retained lock state during certain power conditions may matter |
| Installation work | Usually easier on the frame itself, but needs correct mounting surface and alignment | Often requires more invasive frame work and compatibility with latch hardware |
| Door dependency | Very dependent on door closer performance, alignment, and solid contact | Dependent on latch alignment and the condition of the mechanical lockset |
| Appearance | Surface-mounted and visible unless using a specialised arrangement | Often more concealed within the frame |
| Use in high traffic | Works well if the door closes consistently every time | Works well where latch engagement is reliable and hardware is in good condition |
| Exit path considerations | Strong option where fail-safe release is appropriate and properly integrated | Needs assessment based on hardware, egress function, and compliance pathway |
When a magnetic lock is the better choice
Maglocks usually suit sites where simple surface mounting and electronic control are priorities. They're often the practical answer for aluminium-framed doors, glazed entries, and places where you want straightforward integration with readers, intercoms, schedules, and emergency release hardware.
They also make sense when the door doesn't lend itself neatly to a strike preparation. On some openings, cutting in an electric strike is more disruptive than fitting a maglock bracket assembly.
When an electric strike may be the better choice
An electric strike is often worth considering when the door already has suitable mechanical latch hardware and you want to preserve a more conventional locking arrangement. It can also be useful where the project brief pushes away from fail-safe operation on that particular opening.
The trade-off is that electric strikes usually ask more from the frame prep and the existing latch geometry. If the latch and strike alignment are poor, you can end up chasing intermittent faults that look electrical but are really mechanical.
The decision should start with door function, not brand preference. Ask what the door must do during business hours, after hours, and during an alarm or outage.
For a high-traffic glazed office entry, magnetic locks are often the cleaner option. For a solid storeroom door with suitable latch hardware, an electric strike can be the more natural fit. The right answer is usually obvious once someone inspects the opening properly.
Professional Installation and System Integration
A magnetic lock is only one piece of the job. The installation succeeds or fails on mounting accuracy, door behaviour, wiring quality, and how the lock interacts with the rest of the access control system. This is why two doors with the same lock can perform completely differently.
Contact and alignment are everything
With magnetic locks, rated holding force depends on full-face contact between the magnet and armature plate. Manufacturer guidance for commercial hardware notes that even small gaps, misalignment, or movement in the door and frame can reduce real-world performance, which is why adjustable mounting hardware matters, as shown in this maglock specification sheet.
That point gets missed all the time. Owners compare lock ratings, but the lock can only do its job if the door closes squarely and the plate lands flush every time.
A proper install usually includes:
Mounting assessment
The installer checks the frame strength, door type, swing, and clearance before drilling anything.Bracket selection
Z brackets, L brackets, glass-door fittings, and other mounting accessories are chosen to suit the opening rather than forced into place.Armature setup
The plate needs enough freedom to self-align when the door closes, but not so much movement that it chatters, twists, or lands off-centre.
The lock has to work with the whole system
A maglock isn't just connected to power and left alone. It normally forms part of a larger chain that includes the power supply, the credential device, the egress hardware, and often emergency release logic.
That can include:
- Access credential input such as a card reader, PIN reader, or intercom relay.
- Request-to-exit devices so occupants can leave without delay.
- Power management, often with battery-backed equipment depending on the site design.
- Fire or emergency release integration where the opening must open under specified conditions.
- Testing and commissioning to confirm the door behaves as intended.
If the project includes electronic entry, the work should be treated as a system installation rather than a door hardware swap. That's why many sites need specialist access control system installation rather than a general lock replacement.
A magnetic lock that isn't commissioned properly can look perfect on the wall and still fail the first time the door starts drifting out of alignment.
The finish quality matters too. Neat cable routing, correct power segregation, solid fixings, and proper testing are what separate a reliable access door from one that causes callouts.
Meeting WA Compliance and Life Safety Standards
In WA, the biggest mistake people make with magnetic locks is treating compliance as an add-on. It isn't. If the door sits on an egress path, serves the public, or forms part of a commercial tenancy, life safety drives the design just as much as security does.
A magnetic lock being fail-safe is only the starting point. Yes, it releases when power is cut. But that alone doesn't mean the door is compliant for the building's use, occupancy pattern, fire strategy, or exit requirements.
Why compliance decisions come first
For Australian projects, a key issue is making sure magnetic locks meet fire and egress expectations through proper system design, coordinated power arrangements, compliant release devices, and professional commissioning, as discussed in this guide to how electro-magnetic locks work.
That translates into practical questions on site:
- Can occupants exit without delay?
- Does the door release appropriately during alarm conditions?
- What happens if the local power arrangement changes state?
- Have the lock, reader, release devices, and fire interface been tested together?
If those questions aren't answered early, the project can end up with a strong lock and a weak compliance outcome.
What usually matters on real projects
On WA commercial jobs, the issue is rarely the magnet itself. The issue is whether the whole opening has been designed and commissioned as a compliant egress point.
A sound approach usually includes:
Appropriate release hardware
Exit buttons, break-glass units, or other approved release methods need to match the use of the door.Alarm integration where required
If the building strategy requires release on alarm, the maglock has to respond correctly.Commissioning, not assumptions
Every door should be tested in its final operating condition, not assumed compliant because the product is labelled fail-safe.
Security hardware should never force a choice between protection and safe exit. On a compliant job, both happen together.
Local advice is especially pertinent. A door that seems simple on paper can become complicated once tenancy access, after-hours operation, fire interfaces, and shared building responsibilities are added.
Maintaining Your Magnetic Locks for Long-Term Reliability
Most maglock failures in the field aren't dramatic electrical failures. They're slow mechanical problems around the door. The lock gets blamed because it's the visible part, but the actual cause is often a sagging leaf, loose closer arm, bent bracket, worn hinges, or a frame that no longer holds alignment.
That's why maintenance for magnetic locks should focus on the whole opening, not just the magnet body.
What usually causes trouble
Operational guidance on magnetic lock faults commonly points to poor alignment, door condition, and hardware problems rather than internal lock weakness. For WA property managers, preventive maintenance on the full door assembly is often more important than chasing a higher holding-force rating, as explained in this magnetic lock troubleshooting article.
That aligns with what technicians see on site. A magnet can be electrically healthy and still underperform because the armature no longer lands flat.
Common causes include:
Door closer issues
If the closer doesn't return the door cleanly, the magnet and plate won't meet properly.Hinge or frame movement
Small shifts are enough to create a gap that weakens holding performance.Loose fasteners
Brackets and plates can work loose over time, especially on busy doors.Dirty contact surfaces
Dust, paint contamination, adhesive residue, and corrosion all interfere with proper face contact.
A simple maintenance routine
Property managers don't need to strip down every lock, but they should make basic inspection part of routine building maintenance.
A useful checklist looks like this:
Listen to the close
The door should shut cleanly and engage with a firm, consistent contact. If it bounces, drags, or needs a push, something is off.Check the armature plate
Look for looseness, twist, visible wear, or signs it isn't landing flush.Inspect the closer and hinges
If the door doesn't control properly, the lock won't compensate for it.Clean both contact faces
Keep the magnet face and armature plate free from debris and buildup.Watch for recurring callouts
Repeat faults usually point to a door-condition problem, not bad luck.
If a maglock starts “working sometimes”, treat the door as the first suspect and the magnet as the second.
On single sites, that approach prevents nuisance faults. Across multi-site portfolios, it prevents a pattern of avoidable service visits and tenant complaints.
Frequently Asked Questions About Magnetic Locks
Are magnetic locks suitable for every external door
No. They can work very well on some external openings, but they aren't automatically the best answer for every front door or perimeter entry. Because a maglock releases when power is removed, the application has to suit that behaviour and the site has to be designed around it. For some openings, especially where retained lock state is a priority under certain conditions, another hardware type may be more appropriate.
Can magnetic locks be used on glass doors
Yes, often very effectively. They're commonly chosen for glazed and aluminium-framed entries because they can be surface-mounted with the right bracketry. The catch is that glass-door applications depend heavily on correct fittings, clean alignment, and a door that closes consistently. The lock body alone doesn't make the solution work.
What happens during a power outage
A magnetic lock releases when power is lost. That's the normal fail-safe behaviour. Whether that creates a security issue depends on the broader system design, including site procedures, power arrangements, and the role of that door in the building.
Are monitored locks worth it
In many commercial settings, yes. A monitored maglock can provide lock status or door status information back to the access control system, which helps with troubleshooting, alarms, and proving the opening is secure. On higher-risk or high-traffic doors, that visibility is useful because it tells you whether the door is shut and the lock is behaving as expected.
Do magnetic locks use a lot of power
They need continuous power while locked, because the electromagnet must stay energised to hold the door. The exact draw depends on the lock model and system design, so it should be checked at product-selection stage rather than guessed. On a properly designed system, that load is accounted for in the power supply and integration design.
Are they noisy in daily use
Usually no. Most magnetic locks are fairly unobtrusive in operation. What people tend to notice instead are door-condition issues such as a closer slamming, a rattling frame, or a plate that isn't seating cleanly.
How can I tell if my current door is a good candidate
Start with the basics:
Check the door action
It should close smoothly and consistently without dragging or bouncing.Look at the frame and head section
There needs to be solid mounting space for the lock body and suitable fixing support.Think about egress and emergency behaviour
The lock has to suit how occupants leave and how the opening should respond in an emergency.Review the access method
If you want fobs, PIN entry, intercom release, or scheduling, magnetic locks are often part of that conversation.
If any of those points are uncertain, the right next step is a site assessment, not a product guess.
If you're planning, upgrading, or troubleshooting magnetic locks in Perth or regional WA, Securitec Security can help with practical advice, compliant system design, professional installation, and ongoing maintenance. Whether it's a single entry door or a multi-site access control rollout, their team works on the whole opening and the whole system so the result is secure, reliable, and fit for purpose.