The Alternative to EM Locks: Fail-Secure Electric Strike Technology
VIRO is an Italian lock manufacturer with a long history in mechanical and electromechanical security hardware. Their electric strike range is the product Securevision specifies when fail-secure behaviour is the priority: when the client wants the door to remain locked during a power failure, rather than releasing automatically the way an EM lock does.
The electric strike works differently from an EM lock. It is fitted into the door frame in the position where the door's latch or deadbolt engages: typically at the top edge of the door. When the door is closed, the latch bolt engages into the strike. In the locked state, a solenoid holds the strike keeper closed, preventing the latch from withdrawing. When a valid credential is presented to the access control reader, the solenoid releases, the strike keeper pivots, and the latch can withdraw: the door opens. Crucially, the door does not spring open by itself. It stays closed until the person physically pulls or pushes it. And when they let go, it stays in whatever position they left it: closed but unlatched, or open. This is a key behavioural difference from an EM lock, where the magnetic bond re-engages the moment the door returns to the frame.
Securevision Scope
Securevision installs VIRO electric strikes as the locking mechanism on doors and gates where fail-secure behaviour is required. Most commonly used for Singapore landed home side gates and garden doors: where the homeowner wants the gate to remain locked during a power failure and can use the mechanical key override to enter if the access control system is unavailable. For condominium and commercial applications where high-traffic automatic re-locking is the priority, EM locks are more commonly specified.
Two Fundamentally Different Lock Technologies: Choosing the Right One
The choice between an EM lock (Ebelco) and an electric strike (VIRO) is one of the most common questions in access control design. The right answer depends on what happens during a power failure and how the door is used day-to-day.
Power Failure Behaviour: Fail-Safe vs Fail-Secure
EM lock (Ebelco): fail-safe: When power is lost, the magnetic bond releases. The door can be pushed open without any key or credential. This is the fire safety default: in an emergency evacuation, every EM-locked door becomes a free exit. Battery backup provides 2–4 hours of continued operation before this state is reached.
Electric strike (VIRO): fail-secure: When power is lost, the solenoid de-energises and the strike keeper locks shut. The door cannot be opened electrically. It can only be opened with the mechanical key override built into the VIRO strike. This means that during a power failure: a blackout, a tripped circuit, a flat battery: the gate or door remains physically secured. For a Singapore landed home gate where the homeowner is worried about security during a power failure, this behaviour is the right choice. The mechanical key provides the backup access method.
Auto Re-Locking: The Key Practical Difference
EM lock: When the door returns to the closed position, the armature plate contacts the magnet and the bond re-establishes immediately and automatically. The door is locked the moment it is physically closed. No action required from the person passing through: the lock re-engages itself.
Electric strike: After a credential releases the strike and the person passes through, the door needs to be physically closed for the latch bolt to re-engage the strike. The door does not re-lock itself unless it is pulled or pushed closed and the latch bolt catches. This is an important distinction for high-traffic applications: a condominium entrance or a busy office door where every person passing through reliably closes the door behind them is less certain than a door that locks itself magnetically the moment it returns to the frame. For this reason, EM locks are generally preferred for condominiums and multi-user commercial premises. Electric strikes are preferred where fail-secure is the priority and traffic is lower: typically landed home gates and office side doors.
Which to Specify: Securevision's Guidance
Specify VIRO electric strike when: The installation is a landed home gate or side door. Security during power failure is a priority. The traffic is low enough that manual closing after each pass-through is reliable. A mechanical key override is a useful backup for the homeowner.
Specify Ebelco EM lock when: The installation is a condominium common door, stairwell, or office entrance with regular traffic. Auto re-locking on door close is important: it removes the dependency on each user closing the door properly. Fire safety requirements mean fail-safe is preferable. Battery backup is acceptable as the power failure contingency.
SECURE™ Integration
VIRO electric strikes are wired into the access control controller output: ZKTeco InBio Pro, Suprema, or EntryPass: the same way as an EM lock. When the controller accepts a credential and triggers the door relay, the relay signal releases the VIRO strike solenoid. The wiring and integration are identical from the controller perspective; the difference is entirely in the physical lock behaviour at the door.
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