Question 1

What is the difference between 125kHz and 13.56MHz fobs?

Accepted Answer

125kHz (EM4100 / EM4102, often sold as "proximity" or "ID") broadcasts a fixed number and can be cloned with an inexpensive duplicator. 13.56MHz (MIFARE / NFC, ISO14443A) uses an encrypted exchange and is far harder to copy. A reader accepts only the frequency it was built for, so match the fob to the reader — they look identical and are not interchangeable.

Question 2

What holding force does my maglock need?

Accepted Answer

Match it to the door, and to whether it is a single leaf or a pair. Alignment matters as much as the number: the rated force is a straight pull on an armature sitting flat against the magnet, so a bracket that corrects the alignment on an inward-opening or glass door buys more real security than the next size up.

Question 3

Are magnetic locks fail-safe or fail-secure?

Accepted Answer

Fail-safe, always — remove the power and the door opens. That is correct on an escape route, and it is why a maglock is the wrong lock for a store room or comms room that must remain locked in a power cut.

Question 4

Can a maglock be fitted on a fire escape door?

Accepted Answer

Only with a compliant release arrangement: an emergency release wired to cut power to the lock directly rather than through the controller, plus a request-to-exit device, and on many doors a link to the fire alarm. Requirements vary by building and by the responsible person’s risk assessment, so agree the arrangement with the fire officer before installing.

Question 5

Do I need a controller, or will a standalone keypad do?

Accepted Answer

One or two doors with a stable set of users are fine standalone. Once you have several doors, staff turnover, or a need to prove who opened a door and when, a controller pays for itself: one user list, one place to remove a leaver, and an event log.

Question 6

Can access control trigger the CCTV recorder?

Accepted Answer

Yes — a dry contact from the controller into an NVR alarm input bookmarks the footage at the moment of the door event, which turns "we think it was Tuesday" into a clip you can find in seconds.

Door Access Control Systems

Magnetic Lock Mounting Bracket For Electromagnetic Maglock Door Lock

No Touch Exit Button with Backplate, Rectangular - Hands-Free Infrared Door Release Switch with LED Indicator, Surface Mount, Brushed Stainless Steel

No Touch Exit Button with Backplate, Square - Hands-Free Infrared Door Release Switch with LED Indicator, Surface Mount, Brushed Stainless Steel

Press To Exit Door Release Button Green Dome Stainless Steel

Press To Exit Green Dome Button Door Release Switch DRB044S-PTE

RGL Exit Push Plate EBPP02

Smart Face Recognition Door Lock 3D Biometric Fingerprint Keypad

WiFi Tuya Access Control Keypad 125KHz RFID Standalone Access Controller System Door Opener WG26 Card Reader Smart APP Unlock

WiFi Tuya Door Access Control Keypad IP68 Waterproof RFID Keyboard Controller Reader Touch Opener APP Remote Unlock WG26/34