Let’s say you have a home. For each door in that home you have a key. Because most homes are averaged sized, the number of keys you have to carry around won’t be an issue.

Now, let’s imagine you own an apartment building, or you’re the facilities manager of a large office complex. You need access to hundreds of spaces at any given time but can’t carry around hundreds of keys to open them. Master key systems were invented for situations like these.

What are Master Keys?

A master key will open a group of locks. This prevents someone from having to carry multiple keys. It’s also a more convenient system because it reduces the amount of record-keeping needed to keep track of them.

How does a Master Key System work?

Master keys are arranged in a hierarchy. There is the Great Grand Master Key. This is a single key at the top of a family of locks that opens everything. 

Lower down, there is a group of Grand Master Keys. Each of these can open a group of locks within the family but not all of them like the Great Grand Master.

On the lowest level sits the Change Key. Change Keys open only one door.

Each building designs its key hierarchy based on its layout, security and who needs to have access.

How Locks and Master Keys work together

Master Keys are possible because keys and locks work a particular way. Locks consist of pins, shear lines, while keys have notches. 

The pins are located at the top and bottom of the shear line, which sits in the middle. When someone inserts a key, pins at the bottom and top of the shear line combine with the key’s notches to open the lock. The combination in which they do so is unique to that key and lock.

Locks that work with a master key have a Master Wafer. This is an additional pin that only a master key can fit into and unlock.

Is a Master Key System right for you?

Do you think you might need a Master Key system? Allow our experts to advise you on what may be best for your company or facility. Contact us at (305) 846-9360 and see what we can do for you.