Electrified Door Hardware and Access Control Integration
Electric strikes, electrified locks and latch retraction let a door respond to a card reader, intercom or push button. We choose, install and coordinate the hardware so the door unlocks, opens and secures in the right order.
Call our Calgary team403-650-5232Unlock first, then open
When a locked door has an automatic operator, the order matters. The latch has to release before the operator starts pushing, or the door fights itself and the hardware wears out. An electric strike or electric latch retraction releases the door first.
Electrified lever trim alone won't do it. It unlocks the lever, but the latch stays in until someone turns the handle. We look at the door, frame, locking function and power supply together, and pick hardware that works with the operator and the access control.
How a coordinated door works
Signal
A card reader, intercom, push button or timer sends an authorised signal.
Release
The electric strike frees the latch, or latch retraction pulls it into the exit device.
Open
The automatic operator opens the door once it's released.
Close and secure
The door closes, latches and locks again, and monitoring confirms it.
Fail safe, fail secure and fire doors
From Allegion's technical guidance on electrified hardware.
Fail safe unlocks without power
A fail safe product is unlocked when power is removed. Fail secure stays locked. Both terms describe the secure, outside face of the door.
Allegion, fail safe vs. fail secureFail secure doesn't trap people
Fail secure describes the outside. Most arrangements still let people exit mechanically from inside when the power is off.
Allegion, fail safe vs. fail secureLatch retraction on fire doors
Fire-rated exit devices can have electric latch retraction if they're wired to the fire alarm, which cuts power so the latch stays engaged in a fire.
Allegion knowledge baseElectrified hardware we supply
- Electric strikes. Matched to the lock or exit device, the frame, the voltage and the power-loss function.
- Electrified locks and trim. Electronic control of entry while keeping mechanical exit.
- Electric latch retraction. For exit devices on doors with automatic operators or remote release.
- Electromagnetic locks. Only where the application allows, with the release arrangement egress requires.
- Power and transfers. Power supplies, power transfers and electrified hinges that carry wiring into the door.
- Monitoring. Door position switches and request-to-exit devices for the access control system.
Tell us how the door should work, and we'll plan the hardware and the sequence.
Can an automatic opener work on a locked door?
Yes, with the right release hardware and sequence. An electric strike or latch retraction frees the door before the operator starts. See automatic door openers.
Do you program the access control system?
We supply, install and coordinate the door hardware. Where a separate access control company manages the readers, credentials and software, we work with them so the door and system behave as intended.
Do washroom control kits use electrified hardware?
Yes. A barrier-free washroom kit uses an electric strike with the operator and push buttons. See restroom control kits.