Maglocks are generally great problems solvers, but they also create problems. One significant problem is the fact that they are usually installed on the header, and therefore only lock the top of the door. If the only lock on the door is a magnetic lock and the door is fairly flexible, a reasonably strong person may be able to pull the bottom of the door open four or more inches.
One solution to this problem is to install mags top and bottom on the lock side leg of the frame rather than on the header. If you have an opening that measures at least 35 inches from stop to stop and you use magnets that are three inches wide or less, you can install mags in the opening and still have 32 inches clear to comply with the American Disabilities Act. The problem with this idea is that no matter where they are installed in the opening, users are likely to bump into them with some body part or other.
Enter the full height housing for electromagnetic locks, an enclosure that houses one or two maglocks and mounts on the stop of the lock side leg of the door jamb as illustrated below.
The illustration above is one I prepared for a customer so that I could order a custom built, full height housing for two electromagnetic locks. The drawing shows the dimensions I requested as indicated by the lines with arrows at both ends: height of the opening from threshold to header stop; distance from header stop to center line of upper maglock prep; distance from threshold to center line of lower mag prep; and distance between the center lines of the mag preps.
Provided the opening is at least 35 inches clear and the housing is no more than three inches wide, the opening will still comply with ADA after the full height housing system is installed.
access control, ADA, American Disabilities Act, builders hardware, door hardware, electric locking, hardware specification, security hardware
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