Door Upgrades for Smarter Openings

In modern commercial facilities, the door opening has evolved from a simple passageway into a critical point of control for safety, security, and building efficiency. Advances in electrified hardware and access control have transformed openings into connected, intelligent components within the broader security ecosystem.

No longer functioning as isolated mechanical elements, today’s openings combine physical hardware, integrated intelligence, and real-world usability. The result: smarter, more efficient entry points that enhance a facility’s security posture while streamlining operations for those who manage them.

Installation innovations and upgraded hardware options now make it easier to modernize openings, address specific risks, and transition users from mechanical systems to higher levels of access control, often without major construction or infrastructure changes.

Across institutional, commercial, industrial, and specialized environments, a wide range of electrified and electromechanical solutions help organizations strengthen security, improve monitoring, and simplify upgrades.

Evaluating the Opening With a Site Survey
Every facility has unique requirements, and a successful upgrade starts with a clear understanding of the opening and its environment. A site survey and walkthrough establish the baseline – assessing the health of the opening, existing hardware, and applicable codes or regulations.

During the survey, hardware is identified and counted, the opening is tested for functionality, and factors such as preload – pressure on the door caused by HVAC systems, thermal expansion, or misalignment – are evaluated. These early findings help determine what type of electrified hardware will perform reliably in actual working conditions.

It’s also essential to review applicable life-safety and security codes. For example, will the facility require delayed egress? Are variances possible? Will a planned upgrade meet IBC/NFPA guidelines? Documenting opening counts and types, along with occupancy and code considerations, provides the foundation for selecting compliant hardware.

Different verticals have additional requirements. In campus environments, technology selections must align with published security standards and approved vendor lists. In healthcare or institutional settings, delayed egress rules may influence whether and how openings can transition from mechanical to electrified solutions. In regulated environments such as utilities or data centers, audit trails and real-time monitoring may be mandatory, making network-connected locks a valuable option.

Innovative Hardware & Access Control for Upgrading Openings
Advances in electrified and electromechanical hardware give facilities more ways than ever to increase security, improve visibility at the opening, and integrate with access control platforms. Whether the goal is a simple retrofit or a broader modernization effort, today’s solutions support durability, monitoring, and compliance across a wide variety of applications. Key upgrade options include:

Electromechanical Devices (Electric Strikes) – Electric strikes continue to be a reliable upgrade path, now enhanced with new capabilities that improve both performance and visibility at the opening. Modern strikes offer full monitoring options, field-configurable settings, and built-in preload handling to ensure consistent operation even in challenging conditions.

Electric strikes can also support a wide range of applications, from standard retrofits to more specialized installations such as all-glass entrances, where new designs allow electrification without major modification. When paired with an access control system and reader, strikes provide a flexible, cost-effective way to expand credentialed entry across facilities. Wireless options using Bluetooth^® or Wi-Fi can extend coverage to adjacent areas quickly and without the need for cable runs.

Electrified Deadlatches & Exit Devices – Electrified deadlatches and exit devices offer another strong pathway for modernizing openings. These solutions pair familiar mechanical hardware with electronic control so doors can remain latched and secure while allowing credentialed entry and free egress to meet life-safety requirements. Because they often fit existing prep patterns, electrified deadlatches provide a practical retrofit option for facilities transitioning from purely mechanical locks to electronic access control.

Electrified exit devices can support features such as remote locking and unlocking, latch retraction, request-to-exit signaling, and basic status monitoring, all integrated into the broader access control system. They are well suited for exterior entries, stairwell doors, and other high-traffic openings where reliable latching, straightforward operation, and code-compliant egress are essential.

Multi-Point Locking Solutions – Multi-point locking systems provide heightened protection for openings exposed to forced entry, environmental pressure, or high traffic. By securing the door along multiple points in the frame, these systems increase stability, improve alignment, and extend the lifespan of the opening.

Common configurations include mortise-based multi-point locks, electronic locking units, concealed vertical rod systems, and heavy-duty commercial models. Facilities with large user volumes, or openings subject to weather, pressure, or wear benefit from improved durability and consistent security performance.

Electromagnetic Locks (Maglocks) – Maglocks remain a dependable choice for a wide variety of applications, particularly where durability, simplicity, and free egress are priorities. They offer reliable performance for high-traffic entrances, glass and sliding doors, and specialized environments such as mantraps or regulated industrial or hazardous locations.

Recent designs emphasize energy efficiency and streamlined aesthetics. Intelligent power management reduces energy consumption during door hold periods, while integrated sensors and slimmer housings create cleaner installations. Maglocks are available in configurations ranging from compact models for cabinets and coolers to heavy-duty or hazardous-location units that serve industrial and critical-infrastructure settings.

Specialty Locks for Non-Traditional Openings – As security requirements expand beyond standard doorways, specialty locks extend protection to areas like gates, cabinets, and data centers. These devices often include monitoring capabilities, audit trails, and integration with larger access control platforms to deliver real-time visibility into the state of the opening.

Electronic gate locks support a range of environmental and operational needs, including dual-voltage adjustment, latch monitoring, and fail-safe or fail-secure modes. Cabinet and server-rack locks protect medications, equipment, and critical data infrastructure, providing detailed user records and centralized oversight for regulated environments.

Accessory Hardware (Readers & Actuators) – Reader technologies and request-to-exit devices play a key role in supporting electrified hardware. Push buttons, ranging from vandal-resistant to emergency-egress models, offer reliable activation options based on the environment’s needs.

Wireless readers with onboard relays provide a simple way to trigger electrified hardware in locations where wiring is difficult or impractical, such as rooftops, remote docks, or overhead doors. These components round out the system by enabling controlled activation and a more seamless user experience.

Intelligent Power – Smart power supplies and monitoring solutions ensure openings remain operational and connected. Centralized interfaces or integrated access control software can assess power status, battery health, and system connectivity, helping facility teams maintain uptime and quickly troubleshoot issues before they affect security or daily operations.

Smarter Openings, Stronger Security
Door hardware and access control solutions have evolved dramatically, giving facility teams more ways to strengthen security, support code compliance, and streamline operations. Today’s electrified and electronic solutions are designed not just to secure the opening, but to provide insight into how it’s being used and how well it’s performing.

By starting with a thorough site survey and selecting hardware that fits the environment, code requirements, and long-term security goals, organizations can move from standalone mechanical locks to connected, intelligent openings. The result is a more resilient, efficient infrastructure; one where smart door hardware, access control components, and power management work together to keep people, assets, and operations protected.

Ross Nevdahl is a Senior Product Manager at ASSA ABLOY Electromechanical Solutions Group in Phoenix, AZ.

Ollie Shouse is a Product Manager at ASSA ABLOY Electromechanical Solutions Group in Phoenix, AZ.