What happens to your doors in a power outage?
For property managers, building operators and front desk staff. Applies to any access control brand.
The quick answer
It depends on the lock. Fail-safe locks, like most magnetic locks, unlock when power is lost so people can get out. Fail-secure locks, like many electric strikes, stay locked from the outside but still let people exit with the handle. Battery backup keeps doors working normally for a while.
We’ll do it for you
Want more backup time, or doors that behave differently in an outage? We’ll check your locks and batteries.
Before you start
Works with: Any brand
Who it’s for: Property managers, building operators and front desk staff
Last updated: October 19, 2026
Lock types
| Lock type | With no power | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Fail-safe (most maglocks) | Unlocks | Exit doors and doors that must release on a fire alarm |
| Fail-secure (many electric strikes) | Stays locked from outside; the handle still lets people out | Entrances, suites, storage and IT rooms |
Either way, people inside can always get out.
How long backup lasts
It depends on the batteries, the UPS and how much equipment is connected. Ask us and we’ll help you work it out. See UPS beeping, system down if your UPS is beeping.
During a long outage
- Keep exits clear.
- Post staff at main entrances if fail-safe doors are unlocked.
- Call us if doors don’t return to normal when the power comes back.
What our technicians do
- Check how each door behaves with no power, and whether it suits the door.
- Add or replace batteries and UPS units for more backup time.
- Set up UPS alerts so you know when the system is on battery.
- Test doors after an outage.
Doors not back to normal?
We’ll check the locks, power and batteries, and test every door.
Stuck with a system nobody will fix?
We repair and take over cameras, access control, intercoms and alarms installed by other companies, when your current provider has fallen short.
Questions
Will we be locked in?
No. Exits always let people out, with or without power.
Why did our front door unlock during the outage?
It probably has a fail-safe lock, such as a maglock, which unlocks with no power so people can get out.
Can you add more battery backup?
Yes. We add or upgrade batteries and UPS units sized for your doors and equipment.
More answers: Access control questionsGlossary: credentialfail-safe vs fail-secure
Ask about your doors and backup power
Tell us the building and what happened to the doors in the outage. We’ll follow up to sort it out.
Call and a real person answers, 24/7 for emergencies.