Guarding against the risk of unauthorised key copying

For environments that require large and complex master key suites, such as care homes, key control and durability are vital considerations. A report by the British Security Industry Association (BSIA)1into access control in care homes revealed that 80 per cent of the access and asset protection section members who responded perceived the wellbeing of residents to be the most important consideration. The threat of intruders was identified as another potential issue. 

Naturally, care home residents have the right to live in a safe environment and staff should be able to work without fear of being threatened or harassed by unwanted intruders. Therefore, it is essential that care homes take precautions to protect residents and carers. 

When looking to review a current master key cylinder system or considering one for a new care home, there are a range of essential requirements that must be met. These include ensuring cylinders: meet the required performance expectations; can be master keyed to enable controlled access throughout a site; and can be easily serviced and maintained. The criteria for making the right choice will, of course, depend on the specific needs of each site and building.