A master key system is an effective and convenient way to increase security standards in your property or business. It’s important to balance security and convenience when designing your master key system, so you can ensure everyone has access where they need it while maintaining the highest level of security for sensitive areas. Our master keying consultants will help you to work through all these considerations and come up with a solution that is best for your specific situation.
A good way to think about a master key system is that it allows you to grant access to multiple doors with a single, specialised key. These specialised keys are called ‘change keys’, and they are designed to operate only a single lock within a set. They are ideal for communal areas, with a master key enabling access to all communal spaces while a personal combination can be used for individual offices or spaces. This system is highly flexible and also helps reduce the number of keys in circulation, meaning there are fewer chances that they will fall into the wrong hands.
For larger sites with a large number of entry points that need to be keyed, a master key system is an excellent choice to simplify the control of access permissions. This is because the system works on the concept of security hierarchies, with different levels of authority able to access more and more locks as they move up or down the hierarchy. This allows the owner of a building or complex to maintain control while also allowing the security manager to grant access to more and more people as their position in the organisation changes.
The process of implementing a master key system begins by defining the security access requirements for your company and mapping out all the spaces that require keyed locks. Then it’s time to consider the access needs of your employees, including their roles and responsibilities. Whether they are storing official documents, technical equipment or simply need to get to their office quickly, a good key management system will allow you to separate secure and unsecure areas.
Ultimately, a good master keying system will be based around your property rather than your staff, so it’s essential that the plan you devise accounts for all your spaces. This will include determining what zones and areas of the property are required to be keyed, as well as any additional areas that may need to be secured in the future. Ideally, you’ll be able to use serial numbers to track the keys in your system and make sure they’re returned promptly.
Industries and businesses that can benefit from a master key system include medical facilities, retail shops and warehouses, educational institutions, offices and any other large site with a need to restrict access to sensitive areas. These types of sites often have a lot of valuable stock, machinery, documents and other assets that need to be securely stored. For the ultimate in security, you can opt to choose a system with patented keys so that only authorised locksmiths are able to duplicate them. This will deter theft and other methods of illegal entry, such as bumping or lock picking.