Locked out of a business

What has probably happened

• Keys lost, or the only keyholder is unreachable.
• A staff member left and did not return theirs.
• A commercial lock or panic bar has failed.
• An access control system or electric strike has lost power.
• A break-in attempt has damaged the lock.

What the technician does

• Opened once you have shown you are entitled to be there, which is asked for every time.
• Commercial cylinders, mortice locks and panic hardware repaired or replaced.
• Master key systems set up or altered, so one person's key can be removed without rekeying the building.
• Access control and electric strikes looked at where the lock is not the actual fault.
• Board-up and make-safe advice after a break-in.

Questions people ask

Can you change one staff member's access without redoing everything?

With a master key system, yes — that is what it is for. Without one, it usually means rekeying the locks that person could open, which is a good argument for setting a system up.

Our door has a panic bar and it has stopped latching.

That is common and it is repairable. It is also a fire safety matter, so it should not be left or worked around.

Do you handle access control?

The locksmith will identify whether the fault is the lock, the strike or the system, and tell you plainly if it needs a different specialist rather than charging you to find out.

Questions about business locked out

• Do commercial locksmiths have to be licensed?
• Can a tenant call a locksmith if the landlord holds the shop keys?
• What proof of authority does a locksmith need for a business lockout?
• Do I need to prove I lease the building for a commercial lockout?
• What will a locksmith ask for before opening my locked shop?

Every lock question we have answered

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