Door Lock Hardware · Comparison Guide
A practical comparison of electromagnetic locks, electric drop bolts and electric strikes for Abu Dhabi access control deployments. We compare holding force, fail-safe versus fail-secure behaviour, installation complexity and ADCD egress compliance.
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In short: Three electric lock families suit access-controlled doors, and each fits different doors. Electromagnetic (EM) locks clamp an armature plate to an energised magnet, are fail-safe by default (they release on power loss), have no moving parts and tolerate misalignment, but have exposed bracketry, no positive latching and need backup power for continuous security. Electric drop bolts conceal a solenoid-driven bolt for a clean look and positive locking, in fail-safe or fail-secure versions, but need precise alignment. Electric strikes replace the keeper of an existing mortise or cylindrical lock. Choose by door material, egress and fire requirements.
| Published by | Published by Emirtech Technology, an independent integrator in Mussafah, Abu Dhabi, in operation since 2018. |
|---|---|
| Where? | Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, served from Emirtech's Mussafah, Abu Dhabi base; there is no Al Ain office. In Dubai: IT AMC and time attendance by scheduled on-site visits, gate barriers, ANPR, video intercoms and turnstiles by Emirtech itself; CCTV, alarm and access control through SIRA-approved partners, with Emirtech coordinating. |
| Survey and quotation | Emirtech publishes no price list: it surveys or assesses first and then gives a written, itemised quotation. |
| Credentials | Emirtech is an independent systems integrator. It holds no manufacturer-level credential of its own, and its ADMCC approval covers security systems only, not IT services. |
| Last reviewed | 21 October 2026 |
Emirtech Technology is an ADMCC-approved Abu Dhabi access control integrator, founded in 2018 and operating from M44, Mussafah Industrial Area. Our team specifies and installs three electric lock families across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain projects: electromagnetic (EM) locks, electric drop bolts and electric strikes. Each type suits different door materials, aesthetics and egress requirements. EM locks (typical holding force 280lb single-door, 600lb / 1200lb double-door) clamp an armature plate to an energised electromagnet — they are fail-safe by default (release on power loss), have no moving parts, tolerate misalignment, and install easily on aluminium / glass / timber doors. The trade-off is exposed bracketry, no positive latching, and mandatory backup power if continuous security is required. Electric drop bolts conceal a solenoid-driven bolt inside the door or frame, throwing into a strike plate in the floor or jamb — they offer concealed aesthetics and positive locking, available in fail-safe or fail-secure variants, but require precise alignment and careful door-prep. Electric strikes replace the keeper plate of an existing mortise / cylindrical lock and release the latch on signal — they preserve the mechanical lockset, suit timber and metal doors, and are commonly specified fail-secure for storerooms (so a power cut keeps the door locked while still allowing mechanical key egress). For ADCD fire-code compliance in Abu Dhabi, doors on designated escape routes are typically specified fail-safe and integrated with the fire alarm interface so they release on alarm; storerooms and back-of-house may be fail-secure. Every electric lock door requires a Request-to-Exit (REX) device and a door position sensor for forced-door / door-held-open events. We install, terminate and commission EM locks, drop bolts and strikes commercially via authorised UAE channels — we are not a manufacturer of door hardware. For specification advice or a site survey, call +971 55 651 7843 or email [email protected].
Lock type capabilities
Single-door 280lb / 600lb and double-door 1200lb electromagnetic locks for aluminium, glass and timber doors. Fail-safe by default, no moving parts, tolerant of door misalignment, with optional door-status and lock-status monitoring.
Solenoid-driven concealed bolt locks throwing into floor or jamb strike plates. Fail-safe or fail-secure variants, suited to frameless glass doors and concealed installations where exposed brackets are aesthetically unacceptable.
Electrified keeper plate replacing the strike of an existing mortise or cylindrical lock. Preserves mechanical lockset, fail-secure default for store rooms, fail-safe option available, with optional latch-monitor and tamper outputs.
Request-to-Exit PIR or push-button, recessed or surface door-position sensor, 12V / 24V DC linear power supply, MOV / diode suppression and fire-alarm dry-contact interface — installed and tested with every electric lock door.
Use this checklist to select between EM lock, drop bolt and electric strike during the design stage. For a door-by-door specification review on your Abu Dhabi or Al Ain project, call +971 55 651 7843 or request a free door hardware consultation.
Fail mode and egress compliance
Specified for designated escape routes per ADCD fire strategy. EM locks default fail-safe. On fire alarm activation or mains power loss, the door releases freely — the standard for stairwell, corridor and final exit doors in Abu Dhabi buildings.
Specified for store rooms, server rooms, cash rooms and back-of-house doors where security must persist through power outage. Electric strikes are commonly fail-secure; mechanical key egress remains available for authorised holders.
Fail-safe locks are wired to a dry-contact relay on the fire alarm panel so that any alarm trip releases all designated egress doors automatically. Interface tested at commissioning and during planned-maintenance visits.
Request-to-Exit signals the controller to mask forced-door alarms during legitimate egress; door position sensors flag forced-door, door-held-open and door-ajar events to the access control headend and security operator.
Honest scope boundaries for our door hardware specification, installation and commissioning service in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
For a door-by-door lock schedule review, fail-mode analysis and quotation, contact our Mussafah M44 office.
At a glance
| Factor | EM lock | Electric drop bolt | Electric strike |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it holds | Magnet holds the door | Bolt drops into the frame | Releases the strike plate |
| Default fail mode | Fail-safe (unlocks on power loss) | Fail-safe or fail-secure | Fail-secure or fail-safe |
| Door types | Most doors, including glass | Frameless glass and sliding | Existing locksets and strikes |
| Best for | High holding force, glass doors | Frameless glass, sliding doors | Retrofitting existing mortise locks |
Doors on designated escape routes are typically fail-safe and fitted with a request-to-exit device, as the project fire strategy specifies. Request a free consultation and we will recommend the right fit for your Abu Dhabi site.
Common questions
EM locks are generally the most reliable because they have no moving parts — the electromagnet either energises or it does not. Drop bolts contain a solenoid and mechanical bolt that can bind if alignment drifts. Electric strikes depend on the existing mechanical lock and the strike solenoid. For high-cycle doors and trouble-free operation, EM locks are typically specified; for concealed aesthetics, drop bolts; for retention of an existing mortise lock, electric strikes.
Electromagnetic locks are inherently fail-safe — they require continuous power to hold the door closed, so any power loss releases the door. This makes EM locks well suited to escape route doors under ADCD fire strategy. If fail-secure behaviour is required (e.g. for a store room or server room), an electric drop bolt or fail-secure electric strike is the correct choice rather than an EM lock.
A standard single-leaf interior or external glass door is typically specified with a 280lb (1200N) single EM lock — sufficient to resist normal forced-open attempts. For double-leaf doors, twin 280lb locks (one per leaf) or a 600lb / 1200lb double-door bracket are specified. For high-security or high-traffic doors prone to abuse, higher-force locks and reinforcing brackets are used. Final force selection considers door weight, frame strength and the threat model.
No. Emirtech is not a channel partner, authorised distributor or authorised reseller of Securitron (ASSA ABLOY), Rofu, Magnetic AutoControl, Highpower Security, Locknetics, HES, Trine, Adams Rite, or any other door hardware brand. We install and configure these products commercially via authorised UAE distributors. We hold no manufacturer-level credential of our own; our regulatory credentials are ADMCC approval for Abu Dhabi electronic security work.
Yes — we install the dry-contact interface between the fire alarm panel and the access control power supply, so that any fire alarm activation releases all designated fail-safe locks on escape routes. We do not author the fire strategy or certify the fire alarm system itself — that scope belongs to an ADCD-certified fire alarm contractor and the project fire engineer. We test the interface at commissioning and during PPM visits and document the result in the handover pack.
Call +971 55 651 7843 or email [email protected] with your door schedule (door types, fail-mode requirements, quantities) and any architectural drawings or fire strategy extracts. You can also use the request a free door hardware consultation form. We reply the same working day to arrange a site survey at the Abu Dhabi or Al Ain location, and send an itemised written quotation after the survey including hardware, installation, REX, contacts, power supply, battery backup and commissioning.
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Door Lock Hardware · Comparison Guide
Free site survey · transparent scope · honest costs · ADMCC-approved for security systems · Mussafah M44 home base since 2018.
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