Separate power from connectivity
A lock may continue operating locally when the internet is unavailable, while remote control and notifications stop. Battery behaviour varies by product. Ask how low battery warnings appear and how a depleted lock can be powered or opened. Keep a record of the manual method somewhere accessible to the right people.
Test each way in
Walk through arrival with a phone, without a phone, and during a network interruption. Check that emergency egress is never made harder by an automation rule. A door controller may also depend on the condition of the existing door, strike and alignment.
Choose a maintenance owner
Someone must replace batteries, review software updates and remove old users. Assign that responsibility before a failure. Schedule a periodic physical test of the latch and manual override; a dashboard’s “locked” state does not always reveal a poorly seated door.
QUESTIONS TO TAKE INTO A PROJECT
Before you choose a product
- Can occupants leave without a phone or network?
- How is a depleted battery handled?
- Who tests the physical latch and fallback?
This guide is a planning concept, not a product recommendation or a promise of service availability. Site conditions and applicable requirements should be checked for each project.