What is a "fail-safe" locking mechanism?

A "fail-safe" locking mechanism is designed to ensure safety by defaulting to an unlocked state during a power failure. This is particularly important in emergency situations, such as a fire or other crisis, where individuals must be able to exit a facility quickly and safely without being hindered by locked doors. The purpose of a fail-safe mechanism is to minimize risk and enhance safety by allowing free egress in case of a power disruption, ensuring that people can evacuate without obstruction.

On the other hand, a lock that secures access regardless of power would be considered a "fail-secure" lock, which remains locked during a power failure and may complicate evacuations in emergencies. A lock that requires manual operation does not inherently describe a fail-safe mechanism since it does not address how the lock responds in case of power issues. Lastly, a lock that can only be opened with a key does not necessarily denote a fail-safe function, as it does not inherently provide automatic unlock capabilities during power outages.