Electronic Access Control Hardware: Locks, Controllers, and Door Hardware
This domain tests the physical layer: locks, strikes, controllers, power supplies, request-to-exit devices, door position switches, and fire-rated door hardware. You must connect electrical behavior to life-safety and security outcomes.
Lock behavior
- Fail-safe locks unlock when power is lost; they are common on egress doors but can weaken security during outages.
- Fail-secure locks remain locked when power is lost; they are common where security outweighs outage convenience.
- Electric strikes replace part of the frame; magnetic locks hold the door by electromagnet; electrified mortise locks and latch-retraction devices are other options.
- Access-controlled egress doors generally need a compliant exit mechanism, request-to-exit detection, and release on fire alarm. Confirm exact requirements with the adopted code and authority having jurisdiction.
Supporting hardware
A door position switch reports open, closed, held, and forced conditions. A request-to-exit sensor releases the lock from the inside without a credential. Power supplies must be sized for continuous and peak current, with battery backup where required. Controllers provide relay outputs, supervised inputs, and tamper detection.
Worked example
A stairwell door protects a secure floor but is also a required egress path. The designer selects a fail-secure electrified lock so the door stays secure during normal power loss. Because occupants must always exit, the design adds a request-to-exit sensor, a compliant manual release, and a fire-alarm interface that unlocks the door on alarm. Door position monitoring detects propping. The reasoning balances security with life safety rather than choosing a lock by habit.
Traps
Do not use a magnetic lock without compliant egress release and detection. Do not reverse fail-safe and fail-secure. Do not forget fire-alarm coordination on egress doors. Do not undersize power or omit door position monitoring.