Commercial areas pose the dilemma of smoothly facilitating a large amount of authorized entries, while restricting the access to the unauthorized parties with malicious intents like breaking and entering. An unauthorized party gaining access to the restricted area can make it vulnerable to burglary, vandalism, etc. This especially threatens the standing of small businesses.
As such, it is crucial to take measures to protect your business the right way. A robustly functioning and secure lock system obviously comes first. There are various high-security commercial door lock types that can be chosen based on the needs of commercial areas.
An expert commercial locksmithโs lock services can greatly help with that endeavor. They can help secure your commercial premise by providing consultation, getting the lock, and installing the lock and preventing your commercial endeavor from experiencing a devastating event.
Difference Between Commercial Locks and Residential Locks.
The control of authorized entrants, traffic volume, management needs and held assets of a commercial premise are vastly different to that of residential areas. As such, the needs are completely different as well and need to be met accordingly. With that in mind, many residential locks might not be durable and convenient enough for commercial premises.
Commercial-grade locks are often built to be more sturdy and offer a higher level of security. They are more resistant to unauthorized and forced entry and capable of enduring high-traffic entry and exit points, while lasting long-term in an optimal condition.
Additionally, organizations may also require advanced management and control of the lock systems. These endeavors can be supported by certain commercial locks with their advanced features, e.g. logging entries, intricate control over the authorized entrants, remote unlocking and so forth.
How to Choose the Right Commercial Door Lock Type?
There are various commercial door lock types available to choose from, each one that is better catered to security and management needs. Choosing the perfect lock for your space can be a bit of a challenge. However, an expert commercial locksmith can assist you by providing consultation for choosing the right lock for your commercial property.
Common Types of Commercial Door Locks
There are different types of commercial door locks you can consider while keeping the specific needs of the area being secured in mind. It goes without saying that the lock must be durable and secure, but you should also not neglect the comfort of entrants and the control measures.
You may consider if it is worth it to invest in more technologically advanced security measures like keyless entry systems. They eliminate the hindrance to keeping keys, potential vulnerability in the case of keys getting stolen and the need to issue loads of keys to personnel.
Depending on the needs of commercial space, electronic locks may also be worth considering. Many electronic locks are able to facilitate advanced conveniences like entry logging, remote unlocking, automatic locking and unlocking times, etc. which can greatly benefit management and control measures.
With that in mind, we will go over 8 common commercial door lock types that are best suited to secure spaces.
1. Keypad Locks
Keypad locks utilize entering a numerical PIN code, either with a touchscreen or buttons. It can be utilized to build a hierarchy access system which is similar to the mechanical master key system but more sophisticated and easier to manage. If there is any suspicion of security compromise, e.g. an unauthorized party gaining access to the code, then it can be easily sorted out by simply changing the code. A traditional physical key system would ideally require you to replace the lock in such cases.
2. Mortise Locks
Mortise locks have a thick build and are fitted within the body of door, making the attempts of forced entry more challenging. They have a deadbolt built into their internal mechanisms. A key is crafted so that once it is inserted, it matches and lifts each lever. This causes the bolt to retreat into a space in the internal mechanisms for the door to unlock. It is recommended to get mortise locks with five or more levers, as more levers provide better security.
3. Electric Strike Locks
Electric strikes entail a strike connected to a power supply. It is fixed on the door frame in order to hold the latch or bolt, and it releases upon receiving an electric signal. Once the door is closed, it automatically locks again by holding the latch or bolt again until it receives another electric signal. It is often used along with keypad door locks, mortise locks and panic bars to receive the signal to unlock.
It can operate under two modes in the event of a power supply outage.
- Fail-secure: The electric strike would remain fixed in its place and keep the door locked even in the case of power outage. This ensures that the area is protected even in case of no power. In order to accommodate exit, a panic bar can be used.
- Fail-safe:The strike would release the hold over the latch or bolt if the power supply is cut and unlock the door. Caution should be taken when choosing this mode, as it can leave the area vulnerable when power is cut.
As such, the fail-secure mode is recommended to be used so that your commercial area is secured at all times.
4. Magnetic Locks
Magnetic locks, also called maglocks, are also powered by electricity. An electromagnet is implemented on the top of the door frame, which has a metal armature plate lined up with it. This generates the magnetic charge to hold the plate against the door frame until the power is interrupted through a signal, which may be through keypad locks, mortise locks and so forth.
A downside to this mechanism is that a magnetic lock is a fail-safe lock. This means that magnetic locks are only capable of operating under the fail-safe mode and a power outage will cause the door to be unlocked, since constant power is required to keep the door locked. In order to keep your commercial area secured in the case of power outage, you will need to invest in battery backups.
5. Panic Bars
Alternatively known as crash bars or push bars, panic bars are implemented to facilitate emergency exit. This safety measure entails installing a bar. If that bar is pressed, then it has a mechanism to retract the bolt or latch and open the door, allowing a quick evacuation.
6. Biometric Locks
Biometric locks allow access through the recognition of authorized entrantsโ fingerprints or faces. As such, they make it very challenging for an unauthorized person to enter. They also add to the convenience by eliminating the need to keep a key or card or remember a code.
7. Smart Locks
Smart locks allow the users to unlock the door through their smartphone. Access through a smartphone may be facilitated through an app which would run either through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. This also eliminates the need to issue and keep keys or cards.
8. Cylindrical Lever Locks
Cylindrical lever locks are installed through the door through drilling two holes into the door for the latch bolt and lock chassis. They can be locked or closed either with a key or a push button. Once the right key is inserted and turned into the lock, the cylinder and cam are turned. This will proceed with cam retracting the bolt, allowing the door to unlock.
Secure Your Commercial Building With High-Security Locks Now
A robust and seamless lock system for a commercial premise is crucial. Neglecting a robust security for your commercial areas can result in catastrophic consequences in the worst case scenario. Additionally, choosing a lock system that is inconvenient for management and entrants is not the best course of action either.
With that in mind, choosing the right and secure commercial door lock types and corresponding functionalities that can best suit the security and management needs of a premise can be challenging. After all, there are many options to choose from.
Faster Locksmith has expert commercial locksmiths ready to assist you. With our 5 years of experience of serving commercial premises in Toronto, we can give excellent security consultation and assist with deciding the best type of door lock for your commercial space. We can also install the lock and help maintain the lock to maximize its lifespan and durability.