Restricted Keys and Key Security
Posted July 20th, 2009 | 2 Comments
Effective security at home and in business does not always mean spending a lot of money. The use of Restricted Keys is a great way of improving the security of traditional door locks.
What is a restricted key?
A restricted key is a key which may only be coppied (cut) with the express permission of it’s owner.
This means that if you have locks fitted to your home or business which have restricted keys, then you can be sure that nobody will be able to have keys cut without your permission.
The advantages of this are:-
- Any key loaned to a neighbour, friend, tradesman (painter & decorator, etc) which is subsequently returned will not have been able to be copied.
- If you ever lost or missplaced your keys but then had them returned, you would be confident that nobody had been able to have copies cut.
- If a family member, child, etc. or employee lost their key, they would be unable to simply borrow another and get it cut without your permission.
- You will know exactly how many keys to your property are in existence.
- Nobody who should not have keys to your premises will have them.
Locks that use Restricted Keys
Locks which are operated by restricted keys are usually of the type which can be ‘re-keyed’, meaning that the locksmith who supplied the locks would be able to change the pinning arrangement within the lock to enable new keys to be issued for it and invalidate existing keys.
The advantages of this are:-
- If keys are lost or stolen, the locks can be re-keyd at a fraction of the cost of buying new ones.
- Locks can be ‘keyed alike’ or made to work by the same key, meaning fewer keys to carry, for ease and convenience.
- The ‘One Key House’, all doors in your house could work with the same key for convenience.
- Additional locks could be added to your suite at a later stage, thus allowing your security system to grow with you.
- Locks can be Master Keyed to offer tiered levels of security within a commercial environment or in Churches, schools or other multi user situations.
Are these locks expensive?
Locking systems with restricted keys have become much less expensive in recent years. Some reputable locksmiths now have access to keys with a ‘unique profile’ which means that the key blanks that fit their locks are only available to them, ensuring that unauthorized key cutters are not able to cut their keys illegally. These locking systems are relatively inexpensive and can in some case be provided at no more expense than readily available unrestricted systems.
Always use a Master Locksmith’s Association approved locksmith to supply your locks and associated security products, that way you will be sure that your supplier is legitimate and works within the guidelines of the locksmith’s industry lead body, who vet and regularly inspect it’s member companies.