End users now demand security solutions that deliver the greatest effectiveness. This shift has remade the field of electronic access control (EAC).
Facility managers and security directors no longer settle for stand-alone devices; they demand integrated systems that link badge readers, biometric scanners, video surveillance and door hardware.
Cost pressures and stricter inspections drive demand for hardware that performs reliably under heavy use and tight fire and life safety standards.
Testing groups like Underwriters Laboratories now require electrified locksets, crash bars and closers to pass rigorous durability tests, surviving thousands of cycles without failure or extra service calls.
Still, some integrators lean on surface-mounted devices to avoid complex carpentry. Maglocks and electric strikes can go up with little door modification, though they often show off bulky mounts, exposed magnets, visible wiring and large brackets.
Architects and interior designers often push back, citing those units as eyesores that break up sleek profiles on glass, metal-framed or wood-paneled entryways.
A properly mortised electrified lock or a refined lockset with tamper-resistant features sits nearly flush, adding minimal weight and preserving clean door lines.
Maglocks remain valid choices on high-security or specialty doors. In psych wards or labs with unique safety protocols, they offer controlled egress sequences, timed release or card-based unlocks with built-in alarms.
Yet overall momentum favors hardware that meets ANSI/BHMA Grade 1, UL 294 standards for access control, UL 10C for fire rating, NFPA 101 compliance and the Americans with Disabilities Act’s low-push force limit.
This focus clarifies why integrators who master mortising, door prep and alignment deliver more reliable installations and avoid common callbacks tied to misaligned strikes, magnet misfires and wiring errors.
Take basketball: the point guard once directed every offensive set. These days many players have advanced dribbling skills, giving rise to the point forward role. Talent-level has jumped, pace is relentless and scoring comes from nearly every position.
The security integrator world has seen a similar shift. Locksmiths have evolved from back-wall support to front-line partners essential for survival in a tight economy.
Ten years ago, most projects depended on maglocks and electric strikes as go-to solutions. Today, those options have fallen out of fashion. End users want complete, ready-to-install systems that work flawlessly from the moment they power up.
One drawback with maglocks and electric strikes lies in the visible hardware. During a call with a consultant last week, he said, “Most integrators use maglocks and strikes to avoid the carpentry and precision involved in installing EAC.”
That view matches many site observations. A number of integrators lack expertise in mortising locks or fitting electrified locksets, such as a quiet electric latch retraction (QEL) crash bar, so maglocks look like the easiest path.
This does not imply that maglocks have no place. On all-glass doors with few latching choices they can meet building code. In hospitals or other venues requiring delayed or controlled egress, maglocks often prove useful under strict regulations.
But the bigger leap forward arrives through properly installed electromechanical hardware. Locks, panic devices and hinges that carry powered functions still open mechanically whenever someone pushes a lever or bar, even under emergency pressure. Every modern life safety code states egress paths must remain free of hidden buttons or sensors.
When integrators work alone, they often pick a maglock or quick strike to skip door coring or a $2,000 investment in specialized jigs and tooling for true hardware installation. Results can include crushed frames, air gaps wide enough to slide a finger inside and tricky fire-code violations.
This scenario resembles the rise of the ball-handling power forward. Nowadays walkthrough offenses start with that hybrid player. In access control, locksmiths play the same part by driving the hardware strategy, confirming life safety and supplying what integrators need.
Locksmiths deserve a spot on every project team from day one. Bringing them in early cuts down on callbacks, speeds up completion and keeps final inspections clean.
There are three core tasks for any successful door: securing it, controlling its movement and protecting its integrity. Electronic access control must fuse with mechanical parts, so locksmiths handle hardware and integrators manage electronics and software.
Eddy Dacius urged integrators to subcontract locksmiths, tap their knowledge or send staff to proper training. He encouraged locksmiths ready to advance their craft to adopt a forward-looking outlook and learn modern installation techniques.
A smart integrator pulls all components together to minimize downtime and supply richer system intelligence. Many in the sector expect this close tie between hardware and systems to drive better performance, stronger safety and lower long-term costs.
Only teams willing to rethink habits should expect gains in efficiency and revenue. Buildings deserve installations that hold up today and stand firm five years down the road.
