Keeping equipment, valuables and important or sensitive paperwork safe is important for any organisation, but with many premises still using mechanical locking systems where keys can easily be lost or stolen, security installers and building owners are starting to embrace electric solutions.
The most effective electric locking can be delivered with either solenoid or motorised locks.
Solenoid locks work by controlling either the latch or the handle, and are suitable for internal doors of public buildings, offices, schools or hospitals, and external doors of apartments and detached houses.
These handle operated locks are ideal for use in medium traffic areas where security and accessibility are important.
Easily controlled
These locks can be easily controlled by an access control system or through remote control equipment like a push button, keypad or timer.
An example of a solenoid lock is the Abloy EL560, which can be set as fail locked or fail unlocked.
Compliant with EN12209 for mechanical resistance as well as EN179 for use on an emergency exit door and EN1125 for panic doors, this solenoid lock also offers monitoring of the bolt position and handle operation.
Motorised locks work by motorising the bolt back once a proximity card is presented or a request to exit device is used.
Without a handle, which is the most vunerable part of a door, motorised locks are hands free making them a more reliable alternative to a solenoid.
Abloy offers the EL520 motorised lock, which is most suitable for use on high traffic exit doors or access-controlled doors. This lock also offers compliance to EN12209, EN179 and EN1125.
Why not an electric strike?
While electric strikes can be a cost effective solution for some applications, they cannot offer the level of compliance that solenoids and motorised locks achieve, which is particularly important when looking at securing public buildings.
Electric strikes are also more susceptible to the build up of side load pressure that can cause door misalignment and, ultimately the locking function to fail resulting in a security breach.
Motorised locks and solenoids offer aesthetic benefits compared to electric strikes, with no unsightly surface mounted components.
Energy saving benefits
Motorised locks and solenoids also offer a more cost effective and environmentally friendly solution that uses less energy when compared to door magnets.
While the temptation will always be there to try and cut costs, the growing importance of EN standards in helping buildings make the grade, along with the whole life benefits of greater reliability make motorised locks an ideal solution for high value, high risk applications.
