Master key systems and master key suites.

Master key systems and master key suites are two different ways of describing the same type of security key systems.

A master key system allows a suite of locks to be made in a certain way; this can allow its different level of users access to a variety of locks. The master keyed locks can be on a variety of doors, cupboards, gates, garages, sheds.  Anywhere that needs a lock could have a master keyed lock fitted.

Master key systems can be used in a wide array of premises from hospitals, offices, school’s, nursing homes  and many other situations where controlling access into rooms or areas is needed.

Master key system for a house.

An example of a small premise wanting a master key system could be a house.

The owner may have a front door, back door and side gate. All these locks are on the master key suite which the owner has a master key for, sometimes called a “grand master”.  The master key works all the locks at the property.  He wants to give the gardener a key to the side gate but not the whole of his house too, so he gives the gardener a differ key that only works the side gate. 

The owner adds another lock to his master key suite for the garage; this is where the owner keeps the lawn mower. So now the owner’s master key still works all locks and the garage could be keyed alike to the gate, so that the gardener already has the key but the owner wants to give a mechanic a key to the garage but not the gate.  The owner decides to make all outside locks onto a sub master system,  The gardener has a new key that works the side gate and garage and the mechanic has just a differ key for the garage.

Master key system for a block of flats.

In this scenario we have a block of three flats.

The owner of the block owns all three flat he/she doesn’t want a big bunch of keys so Invests in a master key suite for all doors.

The front communal door has two locks on it, there is a cleaning cupboard and electrical cupboard.  Each flat has two locks on their flat front door.

The owner of the block of flats has a master key that works all locks and doors.

Flat 1 has a one key that works their two locks on the flat door, the communal front door and the electrical cupboard to read the metres.  To repeat they only have one key that works all the locks and not separate keys to each lock. This could be called a sub master for flat 1 or flat 1 sub master.

Flat 2 and 3 both have the same setup as flat 1 but obviously their keys only open their flat keys and the communal areas.

The block owner employs a cleaner to clean the communal areas so the cleaner only has a key to open the front door and the cleaning cupboard door.

The block owner who has an electrician who needs to do yearly electrical checks. He has a key that works the front communal door and the electrical cupboard.

Hopefully you can see the convenience and benefits for using a master key system for a small or large block of flats.

Master key system for nursing home.

As always there many ways you can have a master key suite setup to suit your needs/requirements.

In this scenario the care home has 30 bedrooms  rooms with clients in them, there are 10 bedrooms on the 1st  floor, there are 10 bedrooms on the 2nd floor and 10 bedrooms on the 3rd floor. There are 3 cleaning cupboards 1 on each floor.  There are 3 electrical cupboards 1 on each floor. There are also 3 outside doors, front door, back door and side door.

The manager has a key that works all doors; this is called the “master key”.

Each of the 30 clients has a one key that opens their room door and the 3 outside doors. This is called a “user key “.

In this scenario they have a career for each floor who has one key that controls everything on their floor. This is called a “floor 1 sub master key” or “ floor 2 sub master key” or “floor 3 sub master key”.

The cleaner has a cleaning key that opens all cleaning cupboards on each floor.

The electrician has an electrical cupboard key that works all 3 cupboards.

Hopefully by now you are getting to understand a bit more about the use/uses of a master key system.  In the last example we are going to look at a hospital scenario.

Hospital master key system.

In this made up hospital scenario the hospital has 4 floors with 8 wards.  2 wards on each floor and 2 departments.

The master key suite of locks can be configured in any way to suit the hospitals needs. 

The master key or grand master key can open all doors in all departments and wards.

Ward 1 could have various doors, cupboards, cabinets and rooms.

The sister or head nurse could have a sub master that would open everything in this ward.  This could also be called ward 1 sub master.  Each room could have its own individual user key that people can use to access them individually.

All other wards and departments can be set up in the same way.

Each ward and department has its own cleaning cupboard.  You could have each cupboard with its own user/individual cleaning cupboard key, and/or split each floors cleaning cupboard into their own sub master cleaning cupboard key.  This key could access just the cleaning cupboard on that floor, which would include 2 wards and 2 departments.

There also could be a cleaning cupboard master key that could access all of the cleaning cupboards on all of the floors.

If you you need anymore help or advise on master key systems or master keys suites please contact us.