Having the proper fire safety measures in place gives us peacefulness, especially with our family in the home. When it comes to doors securing important areas, a reliable fire rated digital lock provides that extra sense of security.
However, with so many locking options on the market today, deciding what works best for your unique needs can feel overwhelming. In this post, we simplify the process by sharing some valuable tips and lessons.
We’ve learned from our own experience installing these locks and major by seeing the problems that our customers faced. We aim to help you feel confident your property and family are protected.

7 Essential Considerations: Valuable Tips You Need to Know

Selecting the Ideal Fire Rated Digital Lock for You

When installing a fire rated digital lock, the first step is to ensure you select the appropriate lock for your specific application. We’ll go through some factors to consider:

1. Door Type: Determine if your door is Plain traditional wood, metal, Veneer or Laminate type to get a lock compatible with its composition. Fire rated digital locks are rigorously tested for the materials they will be installed on.
2. Traffic Level: How many people will be accessing the door daily? High traffic doors demand a durable lock that can withstand frequent use.
3. Power Requirements: Do you need batteries, or can you wire the lock to an existing power source? This will impact installation complexity and ongoing costs.
4. Features: Consider needs like remote access control, keypad codes, card readers, or biometrics. More advanced features mean a higher cost but more convenience.

A Bonus Tip!

If you are in Singapore and looking for the best digital lock suppliers, visit Go Digital Locks. We are popular for our ‘Buy Now Install Next Day’ campaign.

Ensuring Compatibility of Your smart Lock with Your Door

Once you’ve selected a lock, the next important question is whether it is approved for use on your specific door. We don’t want to install an incompatible lock only to find it fails during a fire test!

Some compatibility aspects to check include the following:

• Measure your door and compare dimensions to the lock’s specs and installation template.
• Check if the lock requires drilling or changes to the door that could impact the fire rating.
• Review any additional requirements from the door manufacturer regarding approved locks.

Check if the Fire Rated Digital Lock is Tested and Certified

It is critical that any fire rated lock bears the mark or relevant certifications.
We recommend:

• Looking up the model online to find documentation of certification or make sure it is listed with a valid Certificate of conformity
• Check with the manufacturer that the specific unit purchased is covered under the certification.
• Considering locks that maintain their rating, you must choose 30-minute fire rated Digital lock for HDB and BTO Flats. Otherwise, you can select a 60-minute Fire rated Digital lock if you live in a Condo and landed property doors.
• Ensure the lock you choose has undergone rigorous Cyclic testing of 100k-200k times. You can stay away from those locks which are not cyclic tested or below the 100k mark.

Taking these steps upfront gives you confidence the lock will perform as needed if the unexpected occurs.

Ensuring Proper Setup of Your Digital Door Lock

Proper installation is key to ensuring the lock maintains its fire rating certification.

Some tips for getting it right:

1. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely – don’t improvise!
2. Use the supplied template and hardware to drill holes in the right spots.
3. Double-check that wires are not exposed where they could be damaged.
4. Make sure the lock is securely fastened and won’t detach easily during a fire.
5. Perform a test fit before fully tightening to confirm everything lines up.

Test the Fire Rated Digital Lock Immediately After Installation

While you may be eager to start using the new lock, take a few minutes to perform some initial tests:

-Program a basic code and try accessing the door – does it unlock correctly?
-Verify any linked alarm or remote access features are operating as expected.
-Try an emergency or supervisory code – are you able to override if needed?
-Simulate a power outage. How long until the backup battery takes over?
-Spotting any issues now makes fixes simpler before the lock goes into full service. It’s better than finding problems down the road!

Choose Fail-Safe and Auto Re-Lock Features

Fire Rated Digital Locks often have options like fail-safe and auto re-lock that improve safety.

We recommend selecting locks with:

-Fail-safe mode, allowing the door to open automatically in an emergency without a code or card.
-Automatic re-locking timed at 30 seconds to keep doors securely closed unless actively opened.
-Does the extra peace of mind outweigh the slightly higher cost? For most applications, the answer will be yes.

Seek guidance on compatibility

While manufacturers provide specifications, unforeseen compatibility issues can still potentially arise.

To avoid any nasty surprises, we recommend:

-Consulting with the door provider about approved Digital locks and any special considerations.
-Checking if the door or frame uses materials that could interact negatively with lock electronics or mechanisms over time.
-Speaking to a qualified electrician when installing wiring, especially if integrating with existing access control systems.
-Viewing example projects online that pair the same lock and door construction for real-world examples.
-Asking the Certified engineer familiar with fire rated digital locks about the door opening and which lock models specifically apply to that setup.
-Consider a professional installation (Like what Go Digital lock does) if complex door or site conditions exist.

Being thorough with your due diligence pays off in avoiding rework costs and ensuring lifesaving safety systems operate dependably for many years. When in doubt, don’t chance it – seek input from experts. Lives are worth getting helpful guidance.

Conclusion:

Installing a fire rated digital lock is an important safety decision, but one well worth taking the time to get right. By considering compatibility, durability, and emergency features upfront, you can ensure the system is tried and tested to withstand the rigors of daily use and a potential fire emergency.
Don’t cut corners on installation or testing either. We hope you find these recommendations helpful as you take steps to secure your doors while meeting fire codes.
Our homes should be havens where we feel safe and protected. Please let me know if you have any other questions!