Unlocking the World of Commercial Locksmithing: Skills, Techniques, and Key Differences

In this article we’ll cover the core aspects of Commercial Locksmithing. While not unlike residential locksmithing, the commercial aspect of the trade begins to dive into more technical skills, metal working, and master keying. Many of the skills learned as a residential locksmith transfer over to commercial tasks, however there are some key differences.

Installation & Repairs

It goes without saying that just like its residential counterpart, commercial locks will break as well. However commercial hardware tends to be more complicated, at least in North America, where you begin to get into products like door closers, panic hardware, electric strikes, and heavy duty mortise cassettes. Commercial locksmiths require a keen eye for metal working, and the ability to use multiple types of power tools such as angle grinders and die grinders. This is when we’ll start to see products like SFIC cores and High Security cores being far more common than in residential locksmithing.

Lock Outs

While not as common as home lockouts, people do get locked out of their business’ from time to time. Sometimes they’ve lost their keys, but generally speaking it's more common for failed hardware to be the cause of the lockout. A firm understanding of the product will be the difference between a successful open up and a bitter struggle. We all know that one business owner that’s put off repairing the door for a year, and now it’s 6am and you and your coworkers are sitting in front of the shop in the snow.

Master Key Systems

A stark difference in rekeying businesses and homes are master key systems. While not unheard of the master a residential property, it is far more common for a master key system to be used with say a chain of stores. By mastering the locks, the owner can have one key to work at all locations, while each manager can only enter their own location, and even have another for the regional manager to only visit their region. This is incredibly useful and saves the stress of trying to remember which key goes to where in your bundle of keys.

Conclusion

While it has its challenges, commercial locksmithing is highly rewarding. This would be the middle tier when it comes to difficulty in locksmithing. Certainly harder than residential locksmithing, but still not as complicated as things like vaults or safes, which has increasingly become more of its own trade. At least on the banking level of things. You’ll need to drop a few more dollary-doos on your tools in order to effectively be a commercial locksmith, but it’s worth it.

Are you in the Langley area and need a commercial locksmith? At Crono Lock we offer a wide range of commercial locksmithing services. Whether you need new locks, or are looking to master key your chain of stores, give us a call today.