By Kent · Lock Depot Staff Writer

The maglock is the easy part

A Securitron magnalock is a simple thing. A magnet on the header, an armature plate on the door, power to the magnet. The hard part of a maglock job is almost never the lock. It is the frame. The header is too narrow, the door stop is in the way, the frame is full of concrete, or the door swings the wrong way for a straight mount. That is what brackets are for, and Securitron makes a bracket for nearly every one of those problems.

This article sorts the five most common ones by the problem they solve: SFP, HEB, CWB, ZA and ASB. Start with the frame in front of you. The part number follows from that.

The five brackets, matched to the problem

Part	What it is	The problem it solves
SFP-1/2BK-12	Stop filler plate, 1/2 x 1-1/4 x 12 in.	A door stop that leaves no flat surface to mount on
HEB-1BK-12	Header extension bracket, 90 degree angle, 1 x 1 x 12 in.	A header too narrow for the lock
CWB-32BK	Concrete wood bracket, 8 in., for M32	A wood frame or a concrete-filled metal frame
ZA-32/62BK	Adjustable Z-bracket kit for M32/62	An inswing door with an F-type lock
ASB-32BK	Aluminum frame spacer bracket, 8 in., for M32	A blade stop that forces the lock to sit lower

All five are listed in black anodized.

SFP: when the stop is in the way

A maglock wants a flat surface. A door stop on a hollow metal frame is not one. The stop filler plate is a bar, 1/2 in. thick and 1-1/4 in. wide, that fills or extends the door stop so that the lock has something flat to bolt to. The listing says it is made for a 1-1/4 in. stop surface and works with the M32, M62, M82, M38, M68, M370, M380, M670 and M680 series. It is the least exciting part in the group and the one that saves the most grief. Measure the stop. If it is not 1-1/4 in., this is not your part.

HEB: when the header is too skinny

A narrow header will not take a full-size maglock. The header extension bracket is a 90 degree angle, 1 in. by 1 in. and 12 in. long, that extends the header so the lock can be mounted properly. It lists the same series as the SFP. It is the part for aluminum storefront headers and for older frames with very little header to work with. If you cannot get the lock to sit flat and square with the armature plate, the lock is not the problem.

CWB: when the frame is wood or filled

A hollow metal frame is not hollow when somebody has filled it with concrete or grout, and a wood frame has no place to put a blind nut. The CWB is made for wood or concrete-filled metal frames and gives you a concealed wire chamber. The listing says it is easier than blind nuts in some cases. Note that it is listed for the M32 series, not the whole group. If you have an M62 or an M82, this is not the part for it unless the listing for that lock says so.

ZA: the inswing door problem

An inswing door is the case where a straight header mount may not work, and the lock has to be offset from the door and the header. The Z-bracket kit is listed for inswing doors with the F-type magnalock, 8.5 in. overall length, and for the M32 and M62 series. It gives 1.25 in. of lateral movement, which lets you set the lock at 2-1/4 in. to 3-1/2 in. from the door or header. It also includes an oversized dress cover. That adjustment range is the reason to choose it. Doors and frames are rarely square, and adjustment is how you get the armature plate to meet the magnet flat.

ASB: when a blade stop lowers the lock

Some frames carry a blade stop that is too tall for the lock to sit at the top. The aluminum frame spacer bracket is listed for exactly that case: when a blade stop requires the magnalock to be lowered. It is pre-drilled for the mounting bolts and wire, and it provides a blind nut for a surface strike. It is listed for the M32 series and measures eight inches.

A short field routine

1. Look at the header. Wide enough and flat? No bracket. Narrow? HEB.
2. Look at the stop. In the way? SFP.
3. Know the frame material. Wood or concrete-filled? CWB.
4. Check the swing. Inswing? ZA with the F-type lock.
5. Check for a blade stop. Lowers the lock? ASB.
6. Confirm the lock series. Some brackets are for M32 only, some for M32/62. Read the lock label before ordering.

Match the lock series to its holding force first. Our piece on matching M32, M62 and M34R by holding force covers that. And if the door has no place to mortise anything, read why a maglock is the answer on a door you cannot mortise. When the lock is on, add a door position switch so the system knows the door is actually closed.

Common questions

Which bracket works with the M32?

All five in this article list the M32 series: SFP, HEB, CWB, ZA and ASB. The ZA is listed for M32/62.

Which are listed for more than one series?

The SFP and the HEB list M32, M62, M82, M38, M68, M370, M380, M670 and M680.

What does the Z-bracket do?

It sets the lock on an inswing door, with 1.25 in. of lateral adjustment and an oversized dress cover.

Do the brackets include the lock?

No. Each listing is the bracket only.

Does anything come with a warranty?

The listings mention the MagnaCare lifetime replacement warranty. Read the manufacturer terms for exact coverage.

The full range is on our Securitron page. Send us the lock model and the frame, and we will match the bracket before you order.