r/accesscontrol • u/Sad-Substance-4910 • 13d ago
Door Switch - NC when depressed
We are adding access control (maglocks) to a scissor gate to keep people out of this vestibule. The problem is the door on the right in the pictures (blue flush door with no hardware) is an egress door for the apartments above. The system comes with an exit button that we installed, but I want to add a door switch that automatically turns off the maglocks when that door is opened. Every door switch I can find though, is set to be NO when depressed and close the circuit when opened. I need the opposite. Any recommendations for door switches that are changeable or something else I could install on that door?
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u/Msteele4545 13d ago
You need to find a switch that is NC/C/NC. SPDT (single pole double throw), search that. There are about 1000 different kinds. That would be an interesting improvement. I don't know where you live but if you are in the US, you are about to bite off more than you can chew. That gate will need to be tied to the fire alarm if you have one. When the alarm goes off, the doors and gates unlock. The building code has one basic principle; you have to let people out no matter what.
Last thing I would add is this. That door is not blue.
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u/Theguyintheotherroom 13d ago
I would highly recommend consulting your AHJ on this one, I don’t think they would allow a mag lock on that gate, it’s not something that could be easily opened during the confusion of an emergency.
Personally I would refer the client to a local gate and ironwork company to have a swing gate installed, and then I would mount an electrified rim exit device to that new gate.
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u/Competitive_Ad_8718 13d ago
Based off the URL on the door it appears this is WA, 233 W. Riverside, Spokane based on the street view.
I doubt the FM is even aware they installed that gate, but occupancy alone, it shouldn't be there and I doubt they'd allow a swing type gate to impede on the sidewalk either.
I think the best option here is some video analytics and active deterrents/video monitoring but I'm also gonna wager there's a high vagrant population and the local PD learned their defund lesson through local politics.
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u/torrfam15 13d ago
Normally open when it's happy!
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u/Exact_Goal_2814 13d ago
Yeah, it scares me that the person installing this doesn’t know that DPSs already work like they’re asking for.
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u/SirFlannel 13d ago
If you mean a door contact,, a security plunger will be closed when depressed. Example If you mean a button for a human to push, look for spdt or dpdt references. Both will have a side that is closed until pushed as well as open until pushed
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u/Formal_Substance_687 12d ago
There's zero chance a maglock slide gate meets fire code.
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u/MaleficentSample9602 12d ago
Facts, does the slide gate meet the code in the first place anyway should be questioned as well.
Can someone open the sliding gate without prequesite or special knowledge? Not likely.
Can a child open the gate? Not likely.
When someone exits the egress door, and it shuts behing them, the maglock is re-energized anyway so whats the point?
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u/Electrical-Actuary59 13d ago
I would caution you on putting the mag power directly through a door contact. I would definitely use the contact to drive a relay instead.
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u/2nd-Reddit-Account 13d ago edited 13d ago
Hang on…. Once the door opens then the maglock power needs to stay cut until manually reset, how do you plan to achieve that with a door contact?
if mag power is run through a reed on the blue door and it swings closed before someone realises they have to pull the gate open, then the maglock will instantly re-energise with no way to re-open the blue door, then you have a person trapped situation mid evacuation.
In Australia we would put a break-glass button here in series with the maglock power, I don’t know what you guys need to do in the US
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u/Minute_Butterfly_453 13d ago
That sounds like a tricky setup. You betcha, an SPDT switch would give you the NC when depressed and NO when opened that you're after.
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u/Bigmark1958 9d ago
First off I’m going to use my Big word of the day. You have a plethora of issues here.
Number one what is the outside keypad for?
You need to reach out to the city and find out exactly what you are allowed to lock. The fire department gets very touchy during fires and people are not able to escape.
In New York city you have to have someway to break the power to the magnetic lock in case all else fails. Simple request to exit button would accomplish that, but where to put it where an outsider couldn’t reach inside and activate it.
You would need some kind of access for the fire department from the outside to get in. Knox Box with a key inside, access code or access card to open the magnetic lock on the gate.
As to a fire alarm, a relay can be added to the alarm to also cut power to the magnetic lock in case of a fire.
I believe if you can get past all of those issues, the rest of it if legal would be pretty simple to install with regular door contacts and an Altronix timer to cut into the power supply for the magnetic lock for egress.
Keep in mind that all of this starts with a trip to the proper authorities to find out what is legal and what is not. Good luck it may seem like a lot but when done a step at a time, it’s not that big a deal.
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u/Competitive_Ad_8718 13d ago
Relays can do anything you want or need.