SDC Security Door Controls EH1024120A EH10 Flush Lock/Strike

SDC EH1024120A Flush Electromagnetic Door Holder

The SDC EH1024120A is a flush-mounted electromagnetic door holder engineered for networked access control systems where synchronized door release and integrated credentialing are operational requirements. Unlike traditional strikes, the EH1024120A actively holds the door in position via solenoid engagement and releases on authenticated reader signal or fire life-safety trigger. Zinc alloy construction with 2 1/32" projection accommodates standard commercial door frames, and field-selectable holding force eliminates the need for hardware swaps when door weight or security posture changes.

Key Features

• Multi-Credential Support: Accepts DESFire, MIFARE, NFC (13.56 MHz), and 125 kHz Proximity cards. Single reader integrates legacy RFID badge inventory with modern NFC mobile credentials without parallel infrastructure.
• OSDP and TCP/IP Protocols: Direct integration with networked access control platforms (Hirsch, Honeywell, Salto, Genetec) via open standards. Eliminates proprietary gateway dependencies.
• 10-Door System Capacity: Supports up to 10 electromagnetic door holders across a single networked access control installation, typical for mid-scale institutional and multi-tenant commercial deployments.
• 250,000 User Records: Credential database capacity scales to large organizations without requiring distributed reader infrastructure.
• Field-Selectable Holding Force: Adjustable solenoid strength accommodates varying door weights and frame conditions without component replacement or re-manufacture.
• Flush Mounting Design: Low-profile integration into standard door frames minimizes aesthetic impact and reduces tampering surface exposure. Zinc alloy construction provides durability in high-traffic institutional environments.
• Wired Connectivity: Hardwired power and signal — no wireless latency or battery management overhead. Suitable for continuous-duty access control where power reliability is non-negotiable.
• Lifetime Warranty: Manufacturer warranty covers full product lifespan, reducing long-term component replacement risk across distributed door populations.

The EH1024120A is a holding electromagnet, not a strike plate. It actively grips the door in the open position when powered and energized, then releases when the access control system commands de-energization. This topology is common in fail-safe egress scenarios where doors must stay unlocked during power loss or fire alarm activation. Verify your door frame depth accommodates the 2 1/32" projection and plan conduit routing before installation — flush mounting requires in-frame power delivery.

Credential flexibility is the operational differentiator here. If your organization carries a mix of DESFire corporate badges, legacy 125 kHz proximity cards from a prior system, and staff with NFC-enabled mobile devices, the EH1024120A reader eliminates the need for credential conversion, multi-reader stacks, or reader replacement cycles. A single reader port handles all four formats, reducing per-door hardware cost and simplifying reader management in distributed locations (satellite offices, warehouse sections, multi-tenant hallways).

OSDP and TCP/IP integration ensures compatibility with major networked access control platforms without closed-ecosystem lock-in. If you're running Honeywell Pro-Watch, Hirsch Momentum, Salto, or Genetec Security Center, the EH1024120A integrates directly via standard protocol. This matters during system expansions or if you eventually migrate platforms — you're not stranded with proprietary hardware. Centralized credential management flows from your access control server to all 10 doors simultaneously, eliminating manual badge provisioning at each reader.

Field-selectable holding force is a practical design detail often overlooked. Standard applications run one holding-force setting; if you later upgrade a door to a heavier frame, encounter a swinging-door scenario that demands higher grip, or adjust your fail-safe posture, you tune the electromagnet strength without pulling hardware or calling the manufacturer. Single-coil architecture simplifies wiring compared to dual-coil variants, reducing installation labor and ongoing troubleshooting complexity.

Compliance positioning: The EH1024120A is OSDP-certified, which increasingly matters in federal and institutional RFPs that mandate open-protocol access control to avoid vendor lock-in. Coordinate release timing and fail-safe behavior with your fire alarm panel and life-safety consultant — holding electromagnets must integrate cleanly with fire code egress logic, and holding force must not exceed egress-door opening force limits. Verify your AHJ's door-hardware approval before final spec.

Jerry Tildsen

Perspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.

We've installed the EH1024120A across campus facilities, multi-tenant office parks, and warehouse entry points where the credential flexibility and networked control matter operationally. The real advantage isn't the electromagnet itself — holding electromagnets are commoditized — it's the multi-credential reader integration and OSDP backbone. On a typical 10-door institutional deployment, you're consolidating badge formats, eliminating parallel reader infrastructure, and gaining centralized audit trails from a single access control platform. That translates to lower per-door capex, fewer reader replacements during credential migrations, and cleaner life-safety integration than point-to-point wiring. The field-selectable holding force has saved us installation rework when door weights or swing characteristics turned out different than spec'd; rather than waiting for replacement hardware, we tune the solenoid on-site and move forward.

Technical Highlights:

• OSDP Certification: Native OSDP support ensures no proprietary gateway or closed API. Integrates directly with Hirsch, Honeywell, Salto, and other major platforms. If your organization is moving toward FIPS-compliant or federal-compliant access infrastructure, OSDP avoids vendor lock-in and future-proofs hardware investment.
• Multi-Credential Reader (DESFire, MIFARE, NFC, 125 kHz): A single reader port handles four credential types simultaneously. This matters tremendously on campus or multi-tenant sites where you can't force everyone to upgrade badges at once. Phased migrations (legacy proximity → DESFire → NFC mobile) happen at credential issuance, not at door hardware.
• 250,000 Credential Capacity: Sufficient for enterprises with 50,000+ employees and contractors across distributed sites. Eliminates credential storage bottlenecks and supports large-scale deployments without requiring additional reader nodes per door.
• Field-Selectable Holding Force: Adjusts solenoid strength without parts replacement. We've used this to tune for different door weights, reduce noise in quiet environments, and accommodate ADA-compliant opening-force limits without hardware swaps.
• Wired Hardline Connectivity: No wireless latency, no battery backup requirement, no RF interference risk. Suitable for high-security areas, fail-safe egress scenarios, and continuous-duty hold-open applications where power uptime is assured.

Deployment Considerations:

• Flush mounting requires in-frame power routing — verify door frame depth and conduit pathway before order. If your frame is shallow or conduit access is blocked, consider a mortise or surface-mount alternative instead of forcing a retrofit.
• Holding electromagnet behavior differs from traditional strikes. Door remains held open while powered; it does not latch. Confirm your fail-safe strategy (normally energized vs. de-energized on power loss) aligns with fire code and life-safety panel logic before wiring.
• 2 1/32" projection fits standard frames but may interfere with double-swing doors or narrow-stile frames. Measure frame geometry and mock-up clearance before commitment; we've seen improper projection cause friction and premature wear.
• Single-coil design simplifies wiring but offers no redundancy within the electromagnet itself. Pair with a hardwired access control panel that supports monitored door-lock outputs; a failed coil should trigger immediate alarm and credential denial.
• Coordinate release timing with fire alarm integration. Many jurisdictions require holding electromagnets to release within 100-200ms of a fire alarm signal. Verify your fire panel supports supervised relay outputs to the access control system and test fail-safe behavior before occupancy.

The EH1024120A is the right fit for organizations running 5-15 doors on a networked access control platform, carrying mixed credential formats, and prioritizing cost-per-door and central management over distributed reader complexity. If you're standardizing on OSDP and phasing out legacy readers, this reader architecture accelerates migration without rip-and-replace labor. See the SDC catalog for complementary door control and credential hardware.