A good lock is a necessary requirement for ensuring a secure commercial property. No matter whether you run an office, a shop, a restaurant, a warehouse, a medical center, a school or an apartment building, all entrances should be equipped with reliable locking mechanisms to endure intensive usage and protect the staff, visitors, equipment and confidential information.

Installing a commercial lock is quite different from installing an ordinary residential lock, mostly because of how business doors are being used, which is more frequently and may also have extra requirements for fire, accessibility, insurance and emergency exit. A commercial locksmith will inspect your property and choose locks that are appropriate for door type and traffic.

Choosing the Right Locks for Your Business

There are different kinds of commercial locks and each of them is aimed at fulfilling different purposes, they include:

• Mortise locks

• Cylindrical lever locks

• Commercial deadbolts

• Keypad locks

• Electronic access control systems

• Smart locks

• High security restricted key locks

Mortise locks are usually mounted on office buildings, hotels, schools, and places with high traffic since they are durable and made for heavy use. Cylindrical lever locks are applicable for interior offices, employee rooms and storages. High traffic exterior doors require reinforced deadbolts, high security cylinders or electronic access..

Besides, the materials and the condition of the door play a huge role in choosing the right kind of the lock. Hardware and installation procedure vary for aluminum storefront doors, steel doors, wooden office doors, glass doors and fire rated doors. Installing the wrong lock will damage the door and make it dysfunctional.

Why Professional Installation Is Necessary

Even the most expensive commercial lock won’t offer much protection in case it is installed incorrectly. Weak screws, improperly installed strike plates, weak door frames and misalignment of the latch can facilitate forced entry into the property.

Unlike residential lock installations, a commercial locksmith assesses the whole entry way and not just the lock. He examines the door, its frame, hinges, latch, strike plate, door closer and existing hardware. After that, the lock is installed and checked for proper functioning of the door.

Professional installation can also prolong the life of the lock, in case of misalignment, the employees will have to push, pull and even lift the door in order to lock it, this extra pressure will damage the key, cylinder, latch and hinges.

Keyless Entry Systems vs. Traditional Locks

Traditional keyed locks are still a cheap and reliable choice for many businesses, they are easy to maintain and can be configured into master key systems that allow the owners/managers to unlock several doors and limit the access to certain areas for the employees.

Keyless entry systems provide even more options, an employee can use a code, a card, a key fob, a mobile device or a biometric identification to gain entry, so if an employee quits his job, you don’t have to change all locks, you can simply remove the access to him.

Some of the systems keep the log of all entries made by each of the credentials which is very convenient for server rooms, inventory areas, cash offices, supply rooms etc.

Time for Upgrading Commercial Locks

Businesses should consider upgrading or replacing the locks after:

• Moving to a new property

• Losing an important key

• Employee/management turnover

• An attempt of burglary

• Renovations of the property

• Having a lot of issues with locks

• Discovered outdated or damaged hardware

Not every door requires the same degree of protection. A locksmith will be able to identify those areas of the property that need extra protection and suggest the cost efficient solution for them without replacing the locks throughout the entire building.

Get Your Commercial Locks Installed Professionally

Installing commercial locks professionally can improve the access control and lower the risk of unauthorized entry into the building. It will give more security to both owners and employees.

Professional commercial locksmith will be able to choose the appropriate lock for you, install compatible hardware, configure the master key system and design a security system for your property.