For a UK private gym we fit one setup: a 2N keypad outside the door and a magnetic lock (maglock) on it, fitted by a qualified access-control installer. Every booking gets its own PIN, valid only for the booked slot, and the customer receives it by text message straight after paying. The installer wires the lock to meet local fire regulations, so the door always opens from the inside: it releases when the fire alarm goes off or the power fails, and it has an exit button and a green break-glass. We connect the keypad to your booking system and set everything up.
How customers get in
- The customer books a slot on your booking page and pays online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
- A text message arrives straight away with a PIN and the time it is valid, for example 18:00 to 19:00 on Thursday.
- At the door, the customer types the PIN on the keypad and the maglock releases. Outside the booked time, the same PIN does nothing.
You don’t send codes by hand, check who paid or change codes after each visit. Each booking is recorded, so you always know who had the gym at any given time.
A backup code stored on the keypad covers internet outages, so nobody is left outside.
Why a keypad and maglock, not a smart lock on your existing door
Many UK units have a uPVC or composite door with a multipoint lock, where you lift the handle to throw the bolts before turning the key. Battery smart locks that turn the existing key cylinder are built for houses. On these doors they often don’t work reliably, and in an unstaffed gym a customer can tamper with them, by leaving the door on the latch or knocking the lock out of calibration.
A keypad with a maglock avoids both problems. The maglock holds the door shut with no moving parts for customers to interfere with, and the keypad sits outside on the wall, built for constant use and the British weather. It runs for years with no batteries to change and no lock to re-calibrate. It is the same kind of entry system used on offices and commercial buildings, so installers know it well.
We check your door during setup: the material, the frame, the existing lock and the space for the maglock and the exit hardware. You’ll know before anything is ordered whether the door is suitable as it is, or what your installer needs to change.
Fire safety
A locked door in a gym with no staff must never trap anyone inside. Your installer is responsible for meeting the fire regulations that apply to your building, and a well-fitted system does four things:
- Releases on fire alarm. If the building has a fire alarm, the maglock is wired to it, so the door unlocks as soon as the alarm goes off.
- Releases on power loss. The maglock needs power to hold the door. If the power fails, the door unlocks. Ask your installer whether a backup power supply suits your door, and how it would behave in an emergency.
- Exit button. A push button inside, next to the door, lets customers leave at any time without a code.
- Break-glass. A green emergency door release next to the door cuts the power to the lock if the exit button ever fails.
As the person responsible for the premises, you also need a fire risk assessment, and it should cover the locked entrance. Give your assessor the installer’s description of how the door releases. If your landlord or building manager has their own fire strategy for the building, your installer should see it before starting work.
Use a qualified access-control installer or an electrician who fits access control regularly. Ask them to confirm in writing that the installation meets the fire regulations for your building.
Landlord consent
A maglock and keypad mean drilling, cabling and a change to the entrance, so you need your landlord’s consent before any work starts. Most commercial leases require written consent for alterations, and some also say what has to happen when you leave. Get the consent in writing. Send the landlord a short description of the work: a keypad outside, a maglock on the inside of the frame, an exit button and a break-glass, wired by a qualified installer. Mention that it is all removable at the end of the lease.
If the landlord needs a certificate or a copy of your fire risk assessment, your installer and assessor can provide it.
Shared building entrances
Many small gyms sit in a building with a shared front door: a business centre, a block with a managing agent, or an industrial estate with a gate. Customers then pass two doors, the shared entrance and your unit.
We agree the right option with you during setup, at no extra cost:
- The shared entrance is open during the hours you take bookings, and only your unit door has the keypad.
- The landlord allows a keypad on the shared entrance too, and the same booking PIN opens both doors.
- The building has its own entry system and the landlord agrees a way for your customers to get through it.
Whatever you agree, put it in writing with the landlord or managing agent, including the hours the shared door is open.
What we handle
During setup we:
- check your door and entrance and tell you what is needed
- tell your installer exactly which keypad and lock to fit and how it connects
- connect the keypad to your booking system, so each booking creates its own PIN for the booked time
- set up the text message customers receive, with your gym’s name as the sender
- set up Stripe with cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, paid out in pounds
- test the whole flow with you, from booking to the door opening
Multiple doors and additional locations are included. You add new locations yourself in the admin.
Setup costs £890 one-off, then £22 a month for Operations (hosting, maintenance and your SMS sender name), plus £0.04 per text message. Your installer quotes the door hardware and installation. For all the costs of opening, see how much it costs to open a private gym in the UK.
Common questions
Can customers let friends in?
A customer can bring guests within their own booked slot if your house rules allow it. The PIN only works during that slot, so it is no use to anyone afterwards.
What happens if a customer is still inside when the booking ends?
The maglock only controls the way in. Customers can always leave with the exit button, whatever the time.
Do I need a fire alarm?
That depends on your building and your fire risk assessment, not on the lock. If there is an alarm, the maglock should be wired to it.
Can I see who came in?
Every booking is recorded with the customer’s name, phone number and time slot. A camera at the entrance comes with data protection rules; see camera in an unstaffed gym.
Ready to talk through your door? Get in touch and send us a photo of the entrance, or see Sparekey for UK private gyms.