There are several classes of commercial door lock systems on the market and in each class, there are thousands of models to choose from. Selecting the type and brand that will best suit your needs and budget is, therefore, a complex process, but we hope we can make it easier for you. First, let’s look at what’s out there.

The six types of commercial locks

— All locking systems fall into one of these categories: commercial strike, keyless entry, magnetic locks, restricted key systems, master key systems and door closers.

— Commercial strike locks are operated electrically and allow you to respond to an intercom or bell by opening the door at the press of a button.

— A keyless entry lock is controlled by a passcode.

— Magnetic locks have no functional levers or door handles but use a sensor to operate the mechanism.

— A restricted key system uses a more traditional entry control but places a limit on the number of times a key may be copied.

— A master key system uses a similar restrictive method but focuses on limiting the access of individuals to certain areas of the premises and maintains a log of who has entered these areas.

—In simple terms, door closers simply lock the door behind anyone who enters a building or room.

Many of these options can, of course, be used in conjunction with each other and there is no single solution for all circumstances. In many cases, the restrictive systems may not be necessary or feasible, while the more mechanical ones may be perfectly sufficient. However, you should also consider the demands of practical everyday use to ensure your commercial locks do not interfere with your routine activities and prevent you from reaching important customers or colleagues.

How to check your commercial locks?

Like all equipment, locks need monitoring and servicing. Never risk compromising the security of your premises, so it is useful to design and maintain a strict regime of testing.

Designate a regular day and time for testing, whether it is weekly or monthly, and stick to this time. Making it part of your routine has the benefit of ensuring you don’t forget or delay the procedure. It also means your employees will know when the drill is happening, so their movements won’t interfere.

Although your locks are at the sharp end of your security and should therefore be the focus of all testing, they don’t operate in isolation. You should draw up a checklist of all the other security resources you use, such as cameras, alarms and motion detector lights, ensuring they are checked as regularly as your locks.

Maintaining security is not solely dependent on testing. Establish a regular testing schedule and adhere to it. Even the smallest events that occur in the interim can affect their performance. A power failure for example, however brief, could cause any feature which relies on electricity to stop working properly unless it is reset.

For advice on choosing commercial locks, how to assess their effectiveness and the best way to test them, please speak to the professionals at Pro Locksmiths.