System
Access control
Capex band
$3,000–$6,500
per controlled door
Requirement basis
NBC 2020 Div. B, 3.4.6 (electromagnetic locks on egress doors, 3.4.6.16; numbering varies by edition)
Inspection
Not code-scheduled — test egress release with the annual fire alarm test
Observations
1
append-only series
Electronic door control — readers, strikes and electromagnetic locks. The security layer most insurers and tenants now expect. Not mandated by the building code for ordinary commercial occupancies — it is owner-, tenant- and insurer-driven. Where installed on egress doors, electromagnetic locks must release on alarm and on loss of power.
The requirement basis is NBC 2020 Div. B, 3.4.6 (electromagnetic locks on egress doors, 3.4.6.16; numbering varies by edition). Provincial editions adopt or amend the model code, so the clause numbering in force is the one published by the province — the edition named on this page is the one Securlor reads.
Costs are modelled as a national baseline per controlled door — $3,000 to $6,500, with a mid-band of $4,500 — then scaled by the regional labour index. Annual inspection and monitoring runs $360 to $720.
Maintenance is the other half of ownership: not code-scheduled — test egress release with the annual fire alarm test, under NFC 2020 Div. B, 6.3 (tested with the fire alarm system), tested to Verified with CAN/ULC-S536 annual test. A system that is installed but not inspected is a compliance failure waiting for an inspector to find it.
This page is a planning reference, not a code compliance opinion. The authority having jurisdiction decides what binds a specific building; confirm the requirement and the edition with a qualified professional.
Cost observation series
2026-08-22 · NAT · modelled
$3,000–$6,500 per door
Planning scope — This is a planning scope, not a code compliance opinion. Code interpretation is jurisdictional and enforced by the authority having jurisdiction — a municipal official, not this site. Confirm every requirement against the adopted code edition with a qualified professional before you design, budget or build.
How these figures were produced
- Modelled — Derived arithmetically from observed inputs using the published method; not a market quote.
- Observed — Recorded directly from the cited source series, unadjusted.
When is a access control required?
Not mandated by the building code for ordinary commercial occupancies — it is owner-, tenant- and insurer-driven. Where installed on egress doors, electromagnetic locks must release on alarm and on loss of power. Requirement basis: NBC 2020 Div. B, 3.4.6 (electromagnetic locks on egress doors, 3.4.6.16; numbering varies by edition).
What does a access control cost to install?
The modelled national baseline is $3,000–$6,500 per controlled door, region-adjusted on this page. Actual pricing requires a site review by a licensed contractor.
How often must it be inspected?
Not code-scheduled — test egress release with the annual fire alarm test, under NFC 2020 Div. B, 6.3 (tested with the fire alarm system), tested to Verified with CAN/ULC-S536 annual test.
Is this page a substitute for a code consultant?
No. It is a planning reference built from the published model code. The authority having jurisdiction and a qualified professional confirm what your building must do.
Sources
- [1] NBC 2020 Div. B, 3.4.6 (electromagnetic locks on egress doors, 3.4.6.16; numbering varies by edition) — requirement basis
- [2] NFC 2020 Div. B, 6.3 (tested with the fire alarm system) — inspection duty, tested to Verified with CAN/ULC-S536 annual test
- [3] Securlor cost observation series — append-only; every row dated
Not advice — Securlor is a data publisher. Nothing here is professional, financial, legal, or investment advice, and nothing here is an offer or a quote. Figures are indicative benchmarks for comparison and must be confirmed with a qualified professional before you rely on them. About Securlor