Due to large traffic and different access requirements of users, the office is an ideal place to benefit from smart locks. There are two main types of office smart locks: modified smart locks that can turn existing locks into smart locks, and native smart locks that install the new smart lock system.
The adaptive smart lock has less interference in the office environment, which means that the existing physical keys can be used by employees, contractors, etc. However, if a new lock system is needed, the native smart lock solution may be better. Similarly, whether the door is internal or external will determine which intelligent lock solution is most suitable for your office.
Intelligent lock solutions can be installed on metal/aluminum office doors. In theory, all lock solutions for wooden doors can also be applied to metal doors. However, solenoid bolts and magnetic locks are more suitable than others.
Wooden office doors are more flexible than metal/aluminum doors, so more lock solutions can be used if necessary. For example, night bolts, plug pins, door bolts, electric multi-point locks, magnetic locks, solenoid bolts, etc. An electric multi-point lock is a good solution because it provides a robust and safe lock solution.
When selecting smart locks for your office door, it is worth considering the current access management mode, management mode, and the way employees handle access. Intelligent locks can improve operational efficiency significantly when combined with access control systems.
When installing the smart lock in the office, the professional installer will first plan the installation to meet the requirements of the office space and the people who use it. After that, they will ensure that the office staff are satisfied with the installation and can work normally.
1. Type of Office Smart Lock
There are two main types of office smart locks:
1) Smart Lock for Office
Retrofitting smart locks is a popular solution for office smart locks because your existing locks still exist and an electrical component is added to make these locks smart. The adaptive smart lock can be used with your existing lock and access control system.
Native smart locks replace existing office locks with smart locks. Because everything is packed in a lock, they are larger than the existing locks. The local smart lock replaces the current lock on your office door. Therefore, we need a deeper understanding to find the most suitable type of smart lock for your office.
2. What Type of Smart Lock is Recommended to Protect the Office Door?
When selecting smart door locks for your office, you need to consider two main issues.
1) Is the modified smart lock or native smart lock most suitable for your office?
A smart lock solution that suits your office door is the most convenient solution for equipping it with smart locks. That’s because the modified smart door lock can turn your existing lock into a smart lock. This always makes the installation process easier and management more direct (because the existing physical key can still be used as a backup solution).
In addition, the smart lock solution for office doors also provides the option of upgrading locks to better meet the needs of employees and enterprises. A native smart lock for your office is an alternative to smart door locks. In order to install these, the existing office door locks will be removed and replaced with local smart locks.
Therefore, there is usually a big interruption in the installation, which may mean that more work needs to be done around the door to maintain the appearance of the office. The original smart door lock is usually larger than the current office lock, so the appearance of the door will change.
2) Are you looking for smart door locks for internal or external office doors?
Smart locks may be safer to use if the external office door (the door connecting the office to the street entrance) does not have a door lock of higher security.If you want smart lock solutions for departments in the office, security may not be the most important, so if you want to install new locks in the office, night locks, latches and locks may be enough.
Then you can simply add the adjusted smart lock solution to any of these locks to provide the required smart access. The smart lock you choose may be different, depending on whether you need to install it on the inner door or the outer door
3. How Does the Smart Lock Work on the Metal/Aluminum Office Door?
The modified smart door locks are applicable to metal office doors because they can be used with the existing locks on the door. The smart lock solution can be adapted to existing metal or aluminum door locks if they need to be upgraded.
Therefore, in theory, all locks you use on wooden office doors can be installed on metal doors, such as electric multi-point locks, mortices, latches, magnetic locks, etc. If you already have a metal door and a door bolt lock, it is probably the case of installing a new lock.
When choosing a lock for your metal office door, the choice depends on the budget, security requirements, traffic volume, etc.
1) Aluminum Smart Lock
Aluminum is not as strong or strong as steel, but it is more malleable, so it is easier to complete the installation. However, these characteristics also make it more difficult to fix things on the aluminum office door. Your choice of metal door lock depends on your budget, safety requirements, traffic volume, etc. The best intelligent door lock solution for metal/aluminum office doors
Over the years, we have added intelligent lock solutions to many metal doors. This can be done with existing locks on metal/aluminum doors, or if the customer requires, new locks can be installed to better meet the office requirements, and then these locks can be adapted to smart locks.
2) Magnetic Lock
According to our experience, the best locks for metal office doors are usually electromagnetic bolts or magnetic locks. It is usually difficult to install new locks on metal doors – however, some electromagnetic bolts and magnetic locks can be surface mounted, which means that locks can be added to the door, and then cable cables can be connected to the bolts with trunking to make the cables neat.
A simple way to provide intelligent lock solutions for metal office doors is to install Klevio equipment nearby and turn locks into intelligent locks. Electromagnetic bolts usually have a higher retention force than magnetic locks, which may be the decisive factor in the intelligent lock solution for metal office doors.
Better retention will help prevent the door from being pushed/kicked open. Since the solenoid bolts are electric mechanical locks, the locks will be unlocked if the power is cut off, which is why they are usually equipped with backup batteries. Due to the special performance of aluminum office doors, electromagnetic bolts can be used, but the fasteners are slightly different from those used on steel doors.
3) Other Options
Other options for installing the smart lock on the metal office door will be more difficult to install because it needs to be tenoned on the metal door to install the lock. For some metal office doors, this will be relatively simple, but for others, it will be very difficult.
4. How Does the Smart Lock Work on the Wooden Office Door?
Due to the nature of wooden office doors, it is easier to install intelligent lock solutions on them than metal/aluminum or uPVC office doors. Therefore, these doors have more choices.
For example, for an ordinary wooden office door, any intelligent lock solution can be relatively easy to install – for example, night latch, core latch, door bolt, electric multi-point lock, magnetic lock, solenoid latch, etc.
1) Electric Muliti-point
A good solution for wooden office doors is an electric multi-point. This will provide a powerful and secure solution and provide a smooth Klevio experience. For example, when the office door is closed, three points are locked instantly. Slide on the mobile app and the door will unlock immediately.
In this case, it is not necessary to press the exit button or emergency door button and other hardware. In general, this will provide a better user experience of manual intelligent locks, because people will instinctively know how to open the door.
2) Direct Electric Shock
As an alternative, direct nightingale and electric shock will be good choices. This will be a more affordable and convenient solution than an electric multipoint. However, this option is only applicable if the night latch is installed on the door.
3) Intelligent Lock
Any intelligent lock solution can be installed on wooden doors relatively easily.
5. Cost of office smart lock
A simple way to find out how much it costs to purchase a smart lock solution for your office is to get pricing here. The price will depend on the number of offices you want to add smart locks to and the number of key holders who may need access rights.
6. How Do You Choose Smart Locks for Your Office?
All offices have different situations and requirements, so the right solution is most suitable for:
- Your specific office environment and building
- Employees working there
- The administrator of the management office
- Combine office smart lock with access control
Due to the relatively high passenger flow in the office, and different people often come and go in a week (staff, contractors, cleaners, visitors, etc.), it is difficult to track who should enter, which areas, and when. Access control solutions and smart locks can help offices run more efficiently in these situations.
The office smart lock solution will enable people to access it on demand. At the same time, access control can make it easier to ensure that the right people can access the right floors, rooms, and offices at the right time. The type of smart lock you choose depends on your office environment, the number of employees, and who is the administrator.
7. How Do You Install Smart Locks in Your Office?
In order to install the modified smart lock in the office, professional installers usually complete several steps to ensure that the correct smart lock solution is successfully installed in the office:
- Evaluate the needs of employees and enterprises to determine the smart lock solution that best suits their needs.
- Once the lock is selected, the installer will be familiar with each lock and which office doors each lock will be used for. This may include obtaining the measurements and the best photos of the existing doors and possibly conducting a field survey of the office. If necessary, then make adjustments to ensure that the planned solution is suitable for the office, locks, etc.
- If any door of the office needs to be locked with mortise, special tools are needed. These will be ready before the installation date.
- Once arriving at the official site, the installer will plan the position of each component before starting any work, for example, the position of any button or power supply, equipment, or unit.
- The installer will begin to install relevant locks and equipment for the office door.
- Locks and smart devices will be tested to ensure they work as required.
- If the office staff or manager/administrative staff are in the office, they will be able to check whether everything is working properly and whether they are satisfied.
- Once installed and employees are employed, the selected smart lock should be easy to use.
The easiest way to install smart locks is to hire professional installers.
