4 Types of Commercial Locks – Which is best for your business?

When considering door lock technology for your office, commercial space or multifamily living complex, there are several options depending upon your needs. There are primarily four different types of locks for commercial doors: keyless entry, electric strike, restricted, and magnetic. Let’s take a deeper look into each for the best application.

Keyless Entry Commercial Locks

Keyless entry locks have many benefits, the most important being the obvious. The lock does not require a key. Key fobs, entry key cards, and touchless entry options are common in this category. This eliminates the chances of duplicate keys existing without your knowledge, improves ROI with a reduced expense and improves the experience of employees who no longer have to fumble for keys (Open Path n.d.). When an individual leaves the organization, no need to retool the locks in the office. Revoking access is as easy as taking away fobs or clicking a button.

Electric Strike Locks

Electric strike locks are ones that ensure a door is always locked from the outside. When an individual opens the door and enters the building, the door will automatically lock behind them. This is an excellent option for schools and other public buildings that require security on only one side of the door. Simply put, the door is outfitted with a metal latch that locks the door in place until an electronic signal triggers a release (like from a key fob or other electronic key) (Granger n.d.). A strike lock can also be a highly affordable option for any commercial building. A lockset or panic bar for manual opening should also be included to open doors from the inside of the building in the event of a power outage.

Restricted Key Systems

As locksmiths, we see this one a lot. This highly secure commercial key systems does not allow for duplicate keys to be made unless by an authorized dealer, the manufacturer or a specialty key maker/locksmith. Duplicate keys being made without your knowledge is not the only benefit of restricted key systems, however. These keys are more difficult to pick open, restrict access to areas of the business and can allow for a master key with unique keys made for each holder (KennysLock 2019).

Magnetic Locks

Magnetic locks, or mag locks as they are common known, use electromagnet technology to keep a door locked. A magnet is attached to each side of the door frame with an electric current holding them in the locked position until a key fob, electronic key card, keypad entry or access code is applied. Mag locks are often coupled with other access control systems to provide for remote lock down options, activity monitoring, and biometric entry needs (Vardhan 2019). When an individual leaves the organization, a code is easily turned off instead of chasing them for keys.

 

Locking up your office or commercial space effectively can reduce chances of burglary, access by ex-employees, and costs associated with lost keys. You can more easily manage access control, improve security, and create remote lock down environments in the event of an emergency. Working with a professional lock and security company can ensure that you have the peace of mind to easily control your work space. Contact All Secure Lock & Security to discuss your commercial locking needs. Ask us about new technology advances to turn your locking systems into security systems!

References

Granger, J. Electric Locks vs. Magnetic Locks: What’s The Difference. n.d. https://butterflymx.com/blog/electric-locks-vs-magnetic-locks/.

KennysLock. 5 Advantages of Restricted Key Systems. 2019. https://kennyslock.com/5-advantages-of-restricted-key-systems.

Open Path. Benefits of keyless door entry systems for businesses. n.d. https://www.openpath.com/blog-post/keyless-door-entry-system.

Vardhan, A. The Working and Advantages of Magnetic Locks. 2019. https://247cerrajero.com/enciclopedia/working-and-advantages-magnetic-locks.