We have all heard the sound, the buzz that tells you a door has been unlocked. Have you ever looked around and wondered how they did it? How can you open a door with the touch of a few buttons? The answer is an electric door strike.
What is an Electric Strike?
It is hard to understand what an electric strike is on a door unless you first know what a strike is. A strike refers to the metal plate or assembly that is installed into the door frame to catch the latch or bolt and helps hold the door closed.
Electric Strikes replace a standard door strike and they are connected to a power supply. When an electric strike is activated, it releases the latch, unlocking the door. An electric strike lock remains locked from the outside at all times. When the door closes behind you, it automatically returns to the locked position, They can be opened from the inside by pressing a panic bar or other manual release.
Places Electric Strike is Common
You may not always notice but it is common to see electric strikes on businesses and buildings. Some common places that you may see these are:
- commercial buildings
- banks
- stairwells
- hotel rooms
- schools
- nursing homes
Next time you are out in town take a look around and see if you notice some buildings that have electric strikes.
Benefits of Electric Strikes
There are several benefits to having an electric strike installed on your business or home. Some of these can include:
- Security- Electric strikes are very secure and a safe option for latching a door. They must be opened with a card, pin, or remote device associated with that strike.
- Convenience- When you have the electric strike connected to a remote system you can allow someone entry from the comfort of your desk or bedroom by the push of a button. An electric strike that is connected to a pin code can also be handy since no key is necessary and you can choose who to share the code with.
- Easy Installation- Installation of an electric strike is easy and simple. The electric strike is mounted only on the door frame and installing them only requires cutting the frame,
- Low-Cost Installation- When you are paying a contractor to install an electric strike the costs should be about the same as getting a standard strike installed.
These are just a few of the benefits of having an electric strike. Our team is sure if you got one then you would find many more reasons to love it.
Challenges of Electric Strikes
Just like with anything else there is always a downfall to a product. The biggest 2 challenges that we can think of when it comes to electric strikes is:
- Card- If you are using an electric strike that requires a card to access it. Do not lose your card. The card can be expensive to replace and it could have you locked out of your business or home.
- Visible- The keypad or card reader that is used to activate the electric strike is very visible, because of this it could be prone to tampering or vandalism. It is important to remember that hacking a code is a huge challenge and probably could not be done.
Contact Us Today
If you are in the Seattle area and you are looking to add an electric strike to your home or business give us a call. The team at Sevan Locks and Doors would be happy to assist you and answer any questions you may have about our products. We look forward to hearing from you.
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