Patent protection offers the ultimate in key duplication restrictions. Patented keys are guarded and protected by the manufacturer that holds that patent. These manufacturers license locksmith dealers, distributors, and end-user facilities to store and cut their own keys. It is not unusual to require a contract to be signed by all users of their patented system. This would be the same as a licensing agreement granting a manufacturer the right to fabricate patented products. When we say patented key system we do not necessarily mean expensive key system. If you compare a standard cylinder to a patented high security cylinder the list price is usually double but the difference is astronomical in benefits. Most high security manufacturers produce cylinders that will retrofit your existing hardware. This expense is then limited to the key cylinder. The manufacturers contracts give you the option to phase in the cylinders over three to five years so that your normal maintenance budget can absorb the conversion and sensitive areas are protected immediately.

Another area of concern should be the key itself. Is your key unique to your facility? Who else has access to the key blanks? The truth is when you contract with high security cylinder manufacturers that offer patented key control, they can guarantee where your key is used. Because all high security patented keys are different in some uniquely patented way, there are different restrictions on their use by the licenses. Some manufactures can guarantee that your new facility key will only be controlled by you for a geographic area, like the state your located in and the surrounding states. There is also national restricted keys that give you the entire United States. If you are a North American company you may want a North American Exclusive key for your use. If you are the Department of Defense with Worldwide bases you would want a worldwide exclusive key for your use. The manufacturers can do this because of the patented features built into their cylinders and/or keys. Most of the high security key manufacturers hold World Patents on their products for your protection.

There is nothing worse than to invest in a new key system only to have the keys bend, twist, and even break during normal use. High security keys inherently are thicker, larger, and are more durable then their counter-part standard keys. Some of the leaders of these high security keys guarantee their keys for the life of the key system against key breakage. You might ask yourself, “Is this important?” If the manufacturer guarantees that their keys won’t break, then you can be assured that these types of keys have been tested and the factory stands behind its product with seventeen to twenty years. Asking when the patent expires on the key system before you purchase it is very important, but also ask how the company handled their old patented system when it expired. Was the transition to the new system costly? Did it require additional labor to upgrade? And of course the most important exactly what is patented. Is the key patented, the cylinder, or both. This is very important to maintaining key control. If the cylinder is patented but not the key, nothing stops someone from fabricating the key and gaining access to your facility.

Does your existing key system meet all of the demands of security and maintenance? When you review your current or potentially new system, look for these questions to be answered. Do I have future expansion built into my keying system? A good rule of thumb would be a minimum of twenty-five percent of your current system. Do I have the correct level of master keying for our needs? Is there cross keying in the system that could cause us a liability problem? Cross keying is when two or more individual keys operate in the same lock cylinder. Cross keying should always be kept in an absolute minimum. Your system designer can tell you where cross keying appears in your system. You should eliminate all cross keying for these reasons, excessive wear on the cylinder, and keys that are not part of the cross keying operation the lock cylinder (big liability problem). When the factory keying department ads cross keying to a master key system they remove all key combinations that would unknowingly operate that cross keyed cylinder. This in turn reduces the number of usable keys in the master key system. Master key systems are mathematical formulas that are built on the characteristics of the manufacturers keying specifications. All manufactures are not equal in keying capacity of their systems. A good rule of thumb is to ask how many usable keys you can have under a single master key section. Here are some common answers, 200,000; 150,000; 90,000; and 3,000. The latter is what standard keys systems can give you. If your facility has 15,000 keyed doors then the 3,000 number will not work for you. So ask the question.

Evaluating a facilities first line of defense, you key system should always be a serious undertaking. Deciding whether to use high security, patented technology, or a combination of each. Your first concern should always be the safety of your employees and visitors and right behind that is the security of your facility and everything contained within. Using physical key control will insure a save secure working environment. Always remember the rule of ones. For every one thousand unauthorized key duplications you will have one hundred minor incidents, and from that you will have ten major violations that will result into one catastrophic liability problem. Stop key control problems early by setting up good standards in key control. Don’t forget your electronic control cabinets and secure them as you would your doors. Your key system should always have durability, usability, and convenience built in so that you have flexibility. Key tracking, managing and key user awareness is very important in keeping your facility secure. You cannot maintain a key system without factory training. Knowing how to service and maintain your system adds years of good reliable dependable service. Re-keying your key system is very important if you have little to no control over keys. Always remember a secure facility is a safe facility.