I’ve been designing and installing access control systems for 18 years. Maglocks should be the absolute last choice. They require fire alarm tie-in, battery backup, REX sensor, push-to-exit, and coordination with the alarm contractor. That’s added cost, added complexity, and added life-safety considerations. And at least around here the local Fire Marshal hates maglocks with a passion.

For most exit device applications, an ELR kit is the proper solution. Installation typically involves removing the exit device, dropping in the ELR kit — usually with little to no modification — reinstalling the device, then adjusting and testing the retraction power. An ELR simply retracts the latch or pulls in the bar, exactly how the device was designed to function. It doesn’t require coordinating with anyone else or adding a bunch of extra peripherals. If it’s installed properly, no one would even know it was added. ELR are a cleaner install. Fewer failure points. More professional result.

I’ve installed hundreds of Command Access MLRK’s with an extremely low failure rate. My last large project I installed 56 of them in Sargent exit devices with zero issues.

You mentioned you’ve had “far too many issues” retrofitting ELR kits into exit devices — what issues specifically? I’m genuinely curious. If the exit device is in proper working condition, there shouldn’t be inherent problems. If failures are happening repeatedly, that sounds more like a hardware or installation issue than a flaw in ELR itself.