Josh Mullock, director of Mullock’s Locks, explains why electronic security installers should not overlook physical door security
An access control system can make a door smarter – it cannot make a weak door strong. That is the part of the specification that often gets missed. Electronic security installers are usually brought in to solve visible problems: too many keys in circulation, poor monitoring, weak audit trails, unauthorised access or entrances that need tighter control. CCTV, access control, intruder alarms, intercoms, electronic locks and remote monitoring all have their place. But every one of those systems still depends on the door doing its job.
A client may feel reassured once a fob reader is fitted. Yet if the frame is tired, the closer does not shut the door properly, or the lock is wrong for the risk level, the building has not become properly secure. It has gained a more advanced way of managing a weak point.
This is not a criticism of electronic security. The problem comes when technology is expected to compensate for faults it was never designed to fix. It can authorise, monitor, record and alert. It cannot turn a poor door assembly into a reliable barrier.
Electronic security still depends on the door
Access control decides who should get in. The door decides whether that decision means anything.
A good electronic system can restrict users, log activity and raise alerts. What it cannot do is strengthen a damaged frame, correct a loose keep, improve a low-grade cylinder or make a misaligned door latch properly every time. The system may work exactly as specified, while the entrance remains too easy to attack.
Installers should therefore look beyond the reader and controller. The door leaf, frame, hinges, closer, threshold and surrounding structure all affect performance. A maglock fixed to a weak frame can look convincing but perform badly under pressure. An electric strike fitted to a dropped door can cause nuisance faults. CCTV may capture an incident clearly, but it will not stop the door from being forced.
Often, the weakest part of the installation is not the clever component. It is the ordinary mechanical detail that has been ignored because the project has been treated purely as an electronic upgrade.
The problem with relying too heavily on technology
Electronic security gives clients a useful sense of control, but it can also create false confidence. Once a modern system is installed, people may assume the entrance is secure in every practical sense. That is not always true.
Many breaches start in ordinary ways. Someone follows the staff through a busy doorway. A side entrance is forced. A fire exit is poorly managed. A door is left slightly open after a delivery. In each case, electronic security may record or detect the issue, but the physical weakness is what made the opportunity easier.
Recent UK crime data gives this wider context. The Office for National Statistics reported that robbery of business property rose by 66% in the year ending September 2025, reaching 22,478 offences. Shoplifting also increased to 519,381 offences. These figures do not suggest every incident came down to weak doors, but they do show that physical access and asset protection remain serious business concerns.
What installers should be looking for
Electronic security installers do not need to become door engineers. They do need to recognise when a door is likely to compromise the system being fitted.
A survey should include a simple look at how the door behaves. Does it close cleanly without help? Does it latch every time? Is the frame sound enough to support the proposed hardware? Are the hinges, locks, fixings and keeps suitable for the risk level? Even small gaps around the door can matter, especially where latch manipulation is a concern.
Secondary entrances also deserve attention. Main doors usually attract the budget and client focus. Rear doors, plant rooms, delivery entrances, shared corridors and service areas are often less carefully considered. A polished reception system does little good if the service entrance is easier to exploit.
Fire doors need particular care too. Adding access control or electronic locking without considering escape routes, fire safety, and certification can create serious problems. Any doubt should be flagged before equipment is specified.
Read the full article in the July 2026 edition of PSi magazine
