Many customers decide to install a key system throughout their facilities to simplify the management of keys and cores. What some people don’t know is that there are many different options when it comes to installing a key system. One option many choose is a master key system.

What Is A Master Key System?

A master key system allows you to operate multiple locks with one key, thereby reducing the need for the giant bowling ball-sized key ring. This allows you to have various levels of access to each lock.

For example, if you do not want all your key carriers to have access to the same doors, a multi-level master key system may be just what you need.

And, for bonus points? A master key system doesn’t cost any more than a traditional one.

How Does A Master Key System Work?

For the layman, master key systems can sometimes be difficult to grasp because of all of the technical mumbo jumbo that goes along with explaining one. So, rather than bore you with tech speak, let me walk you through how they work.

Let’s use a store as an example. This store has four locks that need to be on the master system: The front door, the receiving door, the office door, and merchandise cases. You want your managers to have access to all of the doors, your shift supervisors to have access to all but the office, and your employees to have access to the merchandise cases.

This setup would call for a three level master key system. Your manager would carry the master key (level 1), your shift supervisors would carry one sub master key (level 2) and your employees would carry another sub master key (level 3).

Voilà– there you have it. One lock with multiple levels of access yet each person only has to carry one key. (You can thank me later.)

If you’re a visual person, check out this video where I demonstrate this setup, but with the addition of a fourth level, allowing, let’s say, a District or Regional Manager to have access to multiple stores with one key.

For more information on key systems in general, be sure and read this key system article, full of helpful links. You can also download our white paper.

As always, feel free to contact us with any questions you may have!