What do “fail-safe” and “fail-secure” actually describe—the door, the lock, or the whole system?

September 14, 2025

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In an access-control system, what do “fail-safe” and “fail-secure” actually describe—the door, the lock, or the whole system?
They describe the lock’s personality when the power off.
Fail-secure (a.k.a. fail-locked) is the stubborn bouncer: lose power and it keeps the gate shut. Outsiders stay outside; insiders can still twist the knob and leave. An electric strike wired this way locks automatically during a blackout; a maglock would need a battery to mimic the same stubbornness.
Fail-safe (a.k.a. fail-open) is the courteous fire-marshal: kill the power and it steps aside, letting the door swing open for instant egress. Maglocks are born polite—electricity keeps them gripping the armature; no power, no grip, no barrier.