Electric Strike vs Maglock vs Mortice Lock: Which Lock Fits the Door?

Choosing an electronic lock is not just about selecting the highest holding force or the simplest installation. The right option depends on the door construction, existing hardware, access control requirements, power-loss behaviour, monitoring needs and fire or emergency egress obligations.

This guide compares electric strikes, maglocks and electric mortice locks using active products from FSH, dormakaba, Trimec and Lockwood, available through Essential Security Supplies.

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Start with the door, not the lock body

The best electronic lock is the one that works with the door's movement, frame, hardware and escape requirements. Before specifying a model, confirm whether the door is timber, aluminium, steel or glass, whether it opens in or out, and whether it already has a latch, lever, panic device or mechanical mortice lock.

Also establish whether the opening needs fail-safe or fail-secure operation. Fail-safe locks release when power is removed, which can support emergency egress but may require battery backup or another security measure. Fail-secure locks remain locked when power is removed, but they must still provide a compliant means of escape where required.

For fire doors, access-controlled exits and other regulated openings, confirm the complete door assembly, hardware compatibility and current New Zealand Building Code requirements before installation. The New Zealand Building Code guidance from MBIE is a useful starting point for compliance checks.

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Electric strike: the practical retrofit choice

An electric strike replaces or works with the existing door strike plate. It releases the latch when access is authorised while allowing the door to retain its existing lever, knob or panic hardware. This makes an electric strike a strong option for retrofits where the mechanical door furniture is already suitable.

Electric strikes are commonly selected for offices, commercial entrances, apartment doors, gates and controlled internal doors. They are particularly useful when the installer wants access control without replacing the complete lockset.

The dormakaba KES100 is an ANSI-size electric strike supporting 12 or 24 VDC operation. It provides interchangeable fail-safe and fail-secure operation, a 16 mm keeper allowing a 19 mm latch throw, a listed holding force of 700 kg, and long and trim faceplates. Optional lip extension brackets are available for wider door jambs. View our product

Select an electric strike when the existing latch and door furniture are in good condition. The main installation risks are incorrect latch throw, poor door alignment, insufficient frame depth and selecting a fail mode that does not match the opening's egress requirements.

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Maglock: surface-mounted electromagnetic holding force

A maglock uses an electromagnet and armature plate to hold the door closed. There is no mechanical latch to retract, so the lock can be suitable for retrofit work, glass doors and openings where a surface-mounted solution is easier than cutting a strike pocket into the frame.

Maglocks are fail-safe by design. When power is removed, the magnetic bond releases. That makes power supply design, emergency release, fire alarm integration and battery backup especially important. A maglock should not be treated as a complete escape solution without checking the requirements of the door and building.

The Trimec LT770600-012 is a single-leaf Z8 electromagnetic lock with a stated holding force of 550 to 580 kg. It operates at 12 or 24 VDC, includes Hall-effect bond sensing and reed switch monitoring, and measures 266 x 72 x 40 mm. The product record lists fail-safe operation, self-alignment and an operating temperature range of -10°C to 55°C. View our product

Choose a maglock when surface mounting, simple mechanical door preparation or high holding force is more important than retaining a conventional latch mechanism. Always check the mounting brackets, armature alignment, door construction, release hardware and emergency override method before final specification.

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Electric mortice lock: integrated security and cleaner hardware

An electric mortice lock is fitted into the door stile rather than mounted on the surface. It can provide a more integrated appearance while combining electric access control with a mortice lock body, latch or locking bar. This approach is often preferred where the project requires stronger integrated door hardware, monitoring and a cleaner finish.

The FSH FEL990M is a monitored electric mortice lock with field-selectable fail-safe or fail-secure operation. The product record lists non-handed installation, 12 to 24 VDC input, 350 mA momentary current draw and 100 mA holding current. It also supports door-position monitoring, lock-status monitoring, request-to-exit functionality and selectable vestibule or combination locking.

Available variants include 60 mm, 70 mm, 89 mm and 127 mm backsets, so the installer should confirm the door preparation and required backset before ordering. View our product

The Lockwood 5782ELNZSS is a 30 mm backset electric mortice primary lock with variable 9 to 28 VDC operation. It supports field selection of power-to-lock fail-secure or open fail-safe operation and provides monitoring for request to exit, dead latch, door position, key override and locked status.

The Lockwood record also lists a motor-driven mechanism, 300 mA maximum current, stainless steel latch bolts, reversible handing, compatibility with narrow-stile hinged doors and supplied short and long faceplates. View our product

Electric mortice locks are a good fit when the door can be prepared correctly and the project calls for integrated locking, monitored status or compatibility with a specific lever, cylinder or exit arrangement. They generally require more installation planning than a surface-mounted maglock.

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How to choose between the three lock types

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Choose an electric strike when retaining existing hardware matters

Select an electric strike when the door already has suitable latch hardware and the project needs a controlled release rather than a complete lock replacement. It is often the most efficient option for retrofit access control, provided the frame can accept the strike and the latch throw is compatible.

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Choose a maglock when surface mounting and simple release are priorities

Select a maglock when the opening suits a surface-mounted solution, especially where frame cutting should be minimised or where a glass-door bracket system is required. Maglocks are also useful when monitored magnetic bond status is important. They must be paired with suitable emergency release and power-loss planning.

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Choose an electric mortice lock when integrated hardware is required

Select an electric mortice lock when the door needs a concealed or integrated lock body, monitored locking status, controlled lever operation or compatibility with a defined backset. This is usually the best route for new door sets or higher-specification commercial openings where the door can be prepared during manufacture or installation.

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Check fail mode, egress and fire-door compatibility first

Do not select fail-safe or fail-secure operation based on habit. Confirm the required behaviour during power loss, the method of emergency release, the access control panel output, the fire alarm interface and the complete door assembly. The lock, door closer, exit hardware, power supply and monitoring devices all need to work as one system.

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Confirm monitoring and power requirements

Monitoring can identify whether a door is closed, whether a magnet is bonded, and whether the locking mechanism has reached the expected position. Check whether the selected lock provides reed, Hall-effect, bond, door-position or lock-status monitoring, then confirm that the access control system has the inputs and programming needed to use it.

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Product Specifications

Specification	Detail
Electric strike	dormakaba KES100, ANSI-size electric strike with 12 or 24 VDC operation, interchangeable fail-safe or fail-secure operation, 700 kg listed holding force and 16 mm keeper with 19 mm latch throw.
Maglock	Trimec LT770600-012, single-leaf Z8 electromagnetic lock with 550 to 580 kg stated holding force, fail-safe operation and APS plus DPS monitoring.
Electric mortice locks	FSH FEL990M with selectable fail-safe or fail-secure operation. Lockwood 5782ELNZSS with a 30 mm backset and field-selectable power-to-lock or open fail-safe operation.
Power supply	KES100: 12 or 24 VDC. LT770600-012: 12 or 24 VDC. FEL990M: 12 to 24 VDC. Lockwood 5782ELNZSS: variable 9 to 28 VDC.
Locking mechanism	Electric strikes release a mechanical latch. Maglocks use an electromagnetic bond and armature plate. Mortice locks use an integrated locking body, latch, bolt or hook mechanism.
Monitoring	LT770600-012 provides Hall-effect bond sensing and reed switch monitoring. FEL990M provides door-position and lock-status monitoring. Lockwood 5782ELNZSS provides request-to-exit, dead latch, door position, key override and locked-status monitoring.
Dimensions and door preparation	LT770600-012 measures 266 x 72 x 40 mm. FEL990M variants include 60 mm, 70 mm, 89 mm and 127 mm backsets. Lockwood 5782ELNZSS has a 30 mm backset. Electric strikes require compatible latch throw and frame preparation.
Operating conditions	LT770600-012: -10°C to 55°C with 0 to 95% stated operating humidity. Lockwood 5782ELNZSS: -15°C to 60°C. Confirm environmental suitability for the final installation location.
Material and finish	Lockwood 5782ELNZSS includes stainless steel chassis plates and stainless steel latch bolts. Confirm faceplate, bracket and finish requirements for the selected door.
Current draw	FEL990M: 350 mA momentary and 100 mA holding current. Lockwood 5782ELNZSS: 300 mA maximum, with 20 mA continuous current when LEDs are activated.
Supply and lead time	Lead-time information was not included in the retrieved product specifications. Confirm current availability and project lead time before final scheduling.

For model-specific dimensions, wiring, accessories and installation requirements:

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Installation checklist for installers and specifiers

• Confirm the door material, frame profile, handing, opening direction and available preparation depth.
• Check the existing latch, keeper, latch throw, backset and door alignment before selecting an electric strike.
• Confirm maglock bracket requirements, armature alignment and the door's ability to support the mounting load.
• Verify mortice lock backset, door stile dimensions, cylinder or lever compatibility and power transfer requirements.
• Match the lock voltage and current draw to the access control power supply and cable run.
• Confirm fail-safe or fail-secure behaviour during power loss, fire alarm operation and emergency release.
• Connect and test door position, bond, lock-status and request-to-exit monitoring where provided.
• Test the complete door under normal power, standby power, alarm release and manual egress conditions.

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Which lock fits the door?

For a straightforward retrofit that keeps existing door furniture, an electric strike is usually the most practical starting point. For surface-mounted installation, glass-door applications or high holding force, a Trimec maglock may be the better fit, provided emergency release and power-loss requirements are addressed.

For integrated commercial hardware, monitored locking and a cleaner door finish, an FSH or Lockwood electric mortice lock is often the stronger specification. The final choice should be based on the door assembly and the required behaviour during both normal operation and power failure, not on holding force alone.

Essential Security Supplies can help installers and specifiers compare FSH, dormakaba, Trimec and Lockwood lock formats, accessories, monitoring options and voltage requirements for the opening.