As a business owner, you need to invest in security for your office, facility or shop. Certain preventative measures can protect you, your employees, your inventory and equipment from criminal threats, as well as natural events like strong storms.
Let’s start at the front door. Since most standard commercial doors do not come with security upgrades, you should seriously consider making changes yourself as soon as possible. Highly secured doors put employee and customer minds at ease, and keep insurance companies happy.
Whether your commercial doors are made of wood, aluminum, glass or steel, there is a way to strengthen them. Here are some tips for reinforcing commercial door locks in Fairfax, VA.
Choose the best door locks
You can take a similar approach to choosing the best locking system for your commercial doors as you would for your residential doors. Start by taking a crash course in the ins and outs of commercial lock grading. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has put in place well-defined commercial lock grading systems based on numerous rigid and demanding tests. The lock test results determine how locks are graded. Grade 1 and Grade 2 are the two most common grades for commercial locks, and are based around three major parameters: strength, cycle and material used:
Grade 1 locks: Considered to be the best locks on the market, they are also the most expensive, but worth every last penny. Grade 1 is the strongest and most durable lock you can get for your commercial doors. They come highly recommended for use in areas where exterior doors on commercial buildings can use some extra security.
Grade 2 locks: Often referred to as medium-grade locks, grade 2 locks are primarily found on commercial doors that are less likely to be compromised. They are great for indoor offices and storage areas, but it’s also not uncommon for business owners in low crime areas to use them on exterior doors to save money.
Install door security hardware
There’s a wide range of door security hardware perfect for commercial door lock reinforcement. Let’s review a couple options:
Latch guards: Latch guards are built from gauge steel that is difficult to cut or bent. They go in the gap between the door and door frame—the weakest point in commercial doors that is most susceptible to attacks—to prevent crowbars and other tools from being jammed inside to force the door open.
Pick-resistant security locks: Some commercial door locks can be picked or bumped open by criminals. The easiest way to remedy this lack of security is to replace inexpensive door hardware as soon as possible. Talk to a locksmith about investing in high-security commercial deadbolts and door locking systems.
Take the necessary action to reinforce the door
The right door hardware can reinforce your commercial door and door frame. This list includes hinge security pins (jam pins), reinforcing strike plates and reinforcing the door material using a deadbolt and a door wrap.
Call Artie’s Lock and Key today for information about the best commercial door locks in Fairfax, VA!
Saving money is at the top of many business owners’ to-do lists, but you should not have to choose between cost-efficiency, storefront appearance and effective security. To get what you want, you need to consider all three factors—invest in a secure and proper function storefront door. Make sure the deadbolt locks work and that the door is always in good condition. If you have concerns whether your business’s locks and doors are secure enough, hire a professional for an assessment.
Here’s some helpful advice from a commercial locksmith in Fairfax, VA regarding business storefront security ideas.
Perform regular maintenance
Locks will need to be replaced at some point, but there’s an easy way to save money over the years: keep up with maintenance. The fact of the matter is that performing regular maintenance helps to keep locks in good working order and prime condition.
But while maintenance and care can extend the lifespan of storefront locks, you must also consider how much the lock gets used. Let’s look at deadbolt locks and keys. Having to fight the key into the keyhole or needing to wiggle the key in the keyhole to unlock a door are not good signs—in fact, they are not typical issues. The pressure put on the deadbolt can stress out the locking mechanisms and reduce the lifespan of the lock.
The benefits of performing routine lock maintenance include cleaning and lubricating the latches, bolts and keyholes. This decreases the friction placed on the metallic components that grind against each other. You can perform some types of maintenance yourself, but hiring a professional locksmith company ensures the job is done thoroughly and correctly.
Re-key instead of replacing locks
One of the best things business owners can do to protect their business is to ensure storefront security by installing quality deadbolt locks. Over time and after frequent use, locks can weaken, or a business owner might decide it’s time to improve the security of the building. This could lead to unnecessarily replacing the entire locking system. If the locks are still functional but you have security on your mind, save your money and consider re-keying the lock instead. A pro will come to you and alter the pins in the lock until the new key works with it.
Install commercial business locks
Did you know there are door locks and locking systems that are made specifically for commercial business spaces? While there are plenty of quality residential locks on the market that are enticing to business owners, it’s important to understand the factors that differentiate private home locks from commercial grade locks. A major difference is that locks made for storefronts are technologically advanced to withstand much lot more daily use than home locks. They can hold up against wear and tear and take more damage than typical residential locks.
Whether you’re a business owner in need of key duplication, access control installation or commercial door repair in Fairfax, VA, you can trust the team at Artie’s Lock and Key to get the job done right. Call us anytime to schedule a commercial service!
Does your list of responsibilities include properly maintaining commercial doors? If you own or manage a commercial property, these access points are likely integral to your operations. Ensuring they are well maintained is an important task. To successfully complete it, hire an expert in commercial door repair in Fairfax, VA.
These professionals offer specific skill sets that make them uniquely qualified to repair your commercial doors. Other technicians simply don’t provide the advantages offered by commercial door experts. These pros provide:
The right vehicles: Experts in commercial door repairs offer trucks that are outfitted for the job. The technicians are able to bring the right equipment with them to your location. Items such as vises, welders and parts are conveniently brought on-site to get the job done right, and in a timely manner.
The right experience: Commercial doors are not like other doors. Experience with other types of projects won’t necessarily transfer to these jobs. Commercial door experts have the experience in the types of projects you need to complete for your doors. They know the safest, quickest and most cost-effective ways to repair or replace these types of doors. You’ll save time and money due to their experience.
The right crew: Due to their knowledge, experience and equipment, most commercial door projects can be handled by one commercial door technician. This will save you further in labor costs and travel expenses for the job.
The right plan: Commercial door services can provide solid maintenance plans to keep your doors in top shape. Check with your local provider of commercial door repair in Fairfax, VA to learn about what plans are available for your company. They can partner with you to properly maintain your doors to avoid future repairs and keep operations smooth.
The right parts: Logically, your doors will function best when they include the best parts. A commercial door expert has access to high-quality parts recommended by the manufacturer. They will ensure that only reliable parts are used for your repairs and maintenance.
The right protection: Before you hire any type of technician to perform work for your company, it is essential to verify that they have the proper coverage. A professional commercial door repair service is fully licensed, bonded and insured. This protects you from liability in the case of any incidents during the project. It also ensures the technicians are qualified for the job.
The right projects: When should you call for commercial door repair in Fairfax, VA? It is best to leave it to the experts if you need repairs or maintenance for roll-up doors, overhead doors, hollow metal and wood doors, glass and aluminum doors, gates, grilles, high-speed doors, air curtains and other specialty doors.
If you are in need of professional commercial door repair in Fairfax, VA, don’t hesitate to contact the experts at Artie’s Lock and Key. With over four decades of experience, we are your go-to source for commercial doors. Our family-owned company offers full service for your door needs. Contact us today for smoother, safer, more secure commercial door operation tomorrow!
There’s a chance you have run into an odd dilemma: you want to make a copy of a certain key, only to find out that it’s a “do not duplicate” key. What does this mean? Is it illegal to make a key copy in Fairfax, VA, or is it merely requested that you not? Can the owner of the key take legal action against you if you do? The answer depends on which type of “do not duplicate” key you are wanting to copy, as one is easier to safely copy than the other. Additionally, it depends on the locksmith or key duplicator and their level of comfort about taking on the job.
The fact of the matter is that “do not duplicate” keys can be easily reproduced. Because this can lead to unauthorized entry, businesses have concerns about the security of their building and products and the safety of employees.
Do you need key replacement in Fairfax, VA for your home, business or other building? Before heading out to get duplicate or replacement keys made, you need to know the difference between restricted keys and common keys.
Common keys
Common keys are also called unrestricted keys and standard keys. These keys do not require any special equipment or permissions to be copied—in fact, anyone can copy a common key at any time. If you’ve ever walked your house key into an establishment that offers key copying and asked for a few extra keys to be made, it’s likely you did not have to present identification or proof of being the owner of the house key. How can you prove you own that particular standard key anyway?
In addition, keys can be created in just a few minutes at a self-serve key copying kiosk. When it comes to “do not duplicate” keys, an employee may not want to confront the customer, and instead may go ahead and copy it for them like they would a common key.
Restricted keys
Restricted keys are high security keys, which makes them difficult to duplicate. If you have a restricted key and you want a copy, it’s best that you get permission before duplicating it. These keys are harder to duplicate, as a key expert is typically needed to ensure the key is correctly duplicated. Also, the locksmith will want to adhere to the rules of the particular restricted key you have in hand—restricted keys often have patents that require approval from the manufacturer in order to be reproduced, or there are limits placed upon them when it comes to duplication.
Protection against copied keys
Some key copying businesses, like legit locksmiths, have very strict rules on their key copying protocol. But ultimately, there’s not much protection for homeowners or business owners when someone walks in to a local hardware shop with your standard key or restricted key wanting duplicates. Many new keys get cut with no questions asked.
Contact Artie’s Lock and Key to learn more about what goes into your request for a key copy in Fairfax, VA.
With hackers and scammers getting craftier each year, those who travel and stay in hotels throughout the country might understandably be concerned about what kinds of personal information may be stored on their room key cards. Your local locksmith in Fairfax, VA is here to help take a closer look at these key cards and provide insight on what types of dangers, if any, might be associated with each hotel stay.
Busting the personal data key card myth
In 2003, a California detective came across a key card and believed that, in addition to the hotel room number and duration of the stay, the home address and credit card number of the associated guest was also stored on the card. Through word of mouth, the idea that the standard key cards that you use when on vacation can contain all sorts of sensitive personal information quickly spread, even though it was never actually confirmed after the investigation.
In reality, the card that he found was a blank card that was being used by scammers to store information that they had already stolen, and was completely unrelated to any actual hotel stay. Still, since then, many tests have been run on hotel key cards to see if there was actually any truth to this theory. These tests have concluded that there is indeed no information that ties back to individual guests stored on these cards. Although the facts from these tests have been presented over and over again, the myth still lives on today.
What information is actually stored on key cards?
Hotels use a least privilege, high security principle when programming their cards. This means that in order to protect the privacy of their guests and subsequently themselves from any potential litigation, they fill the cards with only the information that is absolutely necessary. At most, a key card will have four pieces of data on it: a check-in and checkout date, the room number and a guest identification number, if the card can also be used to purchase items in the hotel during the stay.
With that being said though, you would still want to keep track of your plastic key card in the same way that you would a metal key. Despite the fact that there isn’t any personal information on the key, if you leave your key laying around, someone with ill intentions could potentially clone the key and make an unauthorized copy to have access to your room, which could present a different set of dangers.
Losing a hotel key card is one thing, but if you should ever lose the key to your home, you will need to talk to a locksmith in Fairfax, VA right away. If the locks on your home are ever compromised, give us a call at Artie’s Lock & Key. We offer reliable services such as rekeying, key replacement and the installation of brand new locks so that you can keep your family protected if you ever find yourself in this situation. Make sure to contact us as soon as possible so we can help to keep your home safe.
