EM Lock Bracket Guide: L, Z, U and GG Brackets Explained
Short answer: most framed doors that open away from the lock side need no bracket. Use a Z + L bracket when the door opens towards the lock side, an L bracket when the frame is too narrow, a U bracket for a frameless glass door, and a GG bracket when the glass door has no frame at all.
An EM lock (electromagnetic lock) has two halves. The magnet is fixed to the door frame and a steel armature plate is fixed to the door. When the door closes, the plate sits flat against the magnet and the lock holds. A bracket is simply a fitting that gives these two halves a flat place to meet when the door's shape does not.
Quick chooser: which bracket fits your door?
| Your door | Bracket | NavKar model |
|---|---|---|
| Wooden or metal door in a frame, opens away from the lock side, frame wide enough | None | — |
| Same door, but the frame is too narrow or not flush | L bracket | BRL-EM |
| Door opens towards the lock side (you pull it from the inside) | Z + L bracket | BRZ-EM + BRL-EM |
| Frameless toughened glass door with a wall, beam or frame above | U bracket | BRUG-EM |
| Frameless glass door next to fixed glass panels, no frame at all | GG bracket | BRGG-EM |
| Armature plate needs a mounting groove (600 lbs locks) | I or UI bracket | BRI-EM, BRUI-EM |
| Drop bolt lock on a glass door | Drop bolt U bracket | BRU-DB |
First, find out which way your door opens
Stand on the inside of the door, where the lock will be fitted. If you push the door to open it, the door opens away from the lock side. If you pull it, the door opens towards the lock side. This one detail decides whether you need the Z + L set.
L bracket: for narrow frames
The L bracket is an L-shaped plate that fixes to the frame and holds the magnet below it. Use it when the top of the frame is too narrow for the magnet, or when the magnet cannot sit flush with the door. It is also the second half of the Z + L set.
Z + L bracket: for doors that open towards the lock
If the door swings towards the side where the magnet is fixed, the magnet would block the door. The Z bracket moves the armature plate to the top edge of the door, and the L bracket holds the magnet, so the two meet while the door swings freely. Order both the Z bracket and the L bracket.
U bracket: for frameless glass doors
Toughened glass cannot be drilled after it is made. The U bracket clamps onto the glass and gives the steel plate a place to fix. The magnet goes on the wall, beam or frame above the door.
GG bracket: glass to glass
Some frameless glass doors sit between fixed glass panels with no frame or wall above. The GG bracket fixes both halves of the lock to glass, so an EM lock can still be used.
I and UI brackets: armature plate holders
The I and UI brackets give the armature plate an installation groove for 280 kg (600 lbs) magnetic locks. Ask us with a photo if you are not sure whether your door needs one.
What else your door needs
A bracket is only one part. Every access-controlled door also needs a reader, an electric lock, an exit switch on the inside and a 12 V access control power supply. Build the whole set in our access control kit builder, which picks the right bracket from your answers.
Shop all brackets: EM lock brackets. Choosing the lock itself? Read the EM lock buying guide (300 vs 600 vs 1200 lbs).
Frequently asked questions
Do I always need a bracket for an EM lock?
No. A framed door that opens away from the lock side, with a wide enough frame, needs no bracket.
What is the difference between a Z bracket and an L bracket?
The L bracket holds the magnet on a narrow frame. The Z bracket holds the steel plate on the top of a door that opens towards the lock side. For such doors you use both together.
Can I fit an EM lock on a glass door without drilling the glass?
Yes. A U bracket clamps the plate to frameless glass, and a GG bracket is used when there is no frame at all.
Which bracket do I need for a 600 lbs EM lock?
NavKar's L, Z, U and GG brackets are made for 600 lbs EM locks. Choose by door type and opening direction using the table above.
I am still not sure. What should I do?
Send us one photo of the top of the door from the inside on WhatsApp. Our team will tell you the exact bracket.
