Facility managers are often the first to hear about a door that won’t unlock, a card reader that keeps failing, or an ADA operator that stopped responding. They’re also the ones who discover the uncomfortable truth behind many of these issues: the wiring pathways inside the frame were never designed with long-term service in mind. What should be a quick fix becomes an afternoon of tracing hidden wires, sorting through old drawings, and trying to guess where the conduit actually runs.
Access-controlled openings are meant to operate for decades, yet the infrastructure that supports them is frequently treated as an afterthought. Facility managers deserve better than that, and the industry has the tools to deliver it.
The Hidden Headache Behind Access-Controlled Openings
Most buildings look clean and organized on the surface. Behind the walls, however, wiring conditions vary widely from one opening to the next. Some doors have neatly routed cabling. Others have wires jammed into narrow frame cavities or fed through holes made on the fly. Very few match whatever was originally shown in the drawings.
When equipment needs service, these inconsistencies become a real burden. A tech may open one door and find clear access to the cabling. The next door might require removing finished wall surfaces around the frame, drilling holes, or pushing a snake through a wall cavity that was never designed as a wiring pathway and that no one has touched since construction. This slows repairs, drives up maintenance costs, and makes even simple tasks disruptive to building operations.
Most importantly, it’s avoidable.
Why the Problem Exists in the First Place
The serviceability problem starts long before a facility manager gets involved. During construction, wiring pathways fall into a gap between trades. Electricians expect the frame to be prepped; integrators expect the conduit to be in place; frame installers rarely include conduit unless it’s called out. The result is an opening that is cobbled together and functions well enough to get by on day one, but is difficult to impossible to work on later.
Because there is no consistent pathway standard, every opening is built differently. During the build, that might not matter. Three years later — when an access control panel is upgraded or a card reader fails — the lack of structure becomes a daily frustration.
What “Serviceability” Should Actually Mean
A serviceable opening reflects whether the project was designed with a full lifecycle in mind. A well-planned wiring pathway allows technicians to identify conduit locations quickly, pull new cables without opening walls, and replace devices without modifying rated frames.
Serviceability also supports safety. When techs are forced to drill into frames or fish wires through unknown cavities, they risk damaging fire-rated assemblies. Over time, those hidden field modifications can lead to inspection failures or the need for costly corrective work. Good serviceability is simply good design — predictable, accessible, and consistent.
How Frame Frog Fixes the Serviceability Gap
Frame Frog addresses this problem directly by creating a clear. repeatable wiring route inside the frame. Each unit includes standardized ports for internal and external routing, as well as internal walls that organize cables as they move through the frame. Whether installed at the factory or in the field, the infrastructure remains known and traceable for the life of the building.
For facility managers, this means fewer surprises. When a card reader needs replacing or a new device must be added, the technician knows exactly where the pathway begins and ends. No cutting into finished walls. No guesswork. No improvisation that might compromise code requirements.
Because Frame Frog offers UL fire-rated configurations, service work stays compliant, even years after installation. Once the pathway exists, the building can grow from it without disruption.
Designing for the People Who Maintain It
Facility managers are responsible for keeping systems running long after the construction team has moved on. They deal with the consequences of buried wires, inconsistent conduit paths, and undocumented shortcuts. When openings are built with a standardized wiring route from day one, that burden disappears.
Frame Frog gives owners the chance to deliver buildings that don’t just work on opening day. They work smoothly through every hardware and technology upgrade, device replacement, and service cycle that follows.
Facility managers deserve better, and it starts with building openings that take long-term service seriously.