Brisbane Locksmith, Commercial, Residential
Keep Your School Safe and Secure
TopLock have been installing and maintaining restricted key systems for 30 years and we do them very well.
BUT KEYS ARE SO LAST CENTURY!!!
We specialise in school security systems, so if it is time to move on from your current outdated security solution, then you have come to the right company.
Here is our recommended list of security areas worthy of consideration:
- Padlocks – have facilities or items that need securing with padlocks? Find out more.
- Locker security – learn more about security options for staff or student lockers.
- Dangerous chemicals security – dangerous chemicals may be stored on site by science or ground staff, there are smart ways to manage their security.
- Key systems – which type of master key system?
- Key management – who controls your keys and who maintains key records?
And if you want to know schools that are our clients, check out the list right here.
Call us today to organize a free security audit by a trained professional! With absolutely no obligation on your part, we will talk you through your best security options in person. Ask for a school specialist from TopLock on 1300 553 945.
Padlocks
There are two primary issues to consider when purchasing padlocks:
- Can the padlock be rekeyed? As many low cost padlocks are not capable of being rekeyed. The capability to rekey padlocks allows the padlocks to be incorporated into the restricted key system the school has, thus reducing the number of keys required and also easily dictating who can access those padlocked areas in a controlled manner.
- The suitability of the padlock to its environment. Will it be used in exterior or interior circumstances? How important is the item being secured and therefore the strength and resistance provided by the padlock? Does it need to be on an electronic access system or is it opened by mechanical keys?
There is a significant difference between low cost padlocks that can be purchased from large hardware chains and the quality padlocks at the other end of the market that can be rekeyed and are weatherproof and resistant to force. It is a matter of fully understanding your security requirements so you purchase padlocks that provide the best value.
Locker Security
Lockers do not need to be on a stand-alone locking system, disconnected from the remainder of the school security system. Improved control and management can be achieved by incorporating the lockers into the school wide system, be it a restricted key system, or an electronic access system. This provides the school advantages over the style of lockers where the student provides their own locks as follows:
- School management can access the lockers at any time.
- Removal of issues where low cost padlocks may be illegally opened by other students.
Dangerous Chemical Security
Dangerous chemicals can be commonly found in two areas of the school, grounds maintenance storage and science laboratories. In both these areas there is a trade-off between ready access for staff needing access to those chemicals, whilst providing sufficient security to ensure students can’t access them. In addition to this, not only is a high level of security required, but also a high level of integrity of the system is required to be maintained. For example, the best security system soon fails if staff prop doors open, leave keys in locks due to frequent door use, or leave keys in locations where they are easily found by students.
An electronic access system can eradicate many of these safety concerns, by virtue of some of the following functionality:
- Doors can be programmed to lock/unlock at certain times or events.
- Doors can be alarmed if left unlocked or open.
- Staff will have one swipe card programmed to open every school door they need to, therefore there will be a need to carry it on themself at all times and so a reduced likelihood of it being left lying around.
- The audit trail provided, so who accessed the area and when.
Master Key Systems (we call them Restricted Key Systems)
Most schools will already have a restricted key system, but if you don’t, then we would strongly recommend that you consider installing a restricted key system at the very minimum. The advantages of a restricted key system over a standard key system are as follows:
- It allows you to design a system where different personnel can open different locks, including a hierarchy of master key levels if required.
- It gives you complete control over who has keys, as no keys can be duplicated without authorisation.
- The locks offer a higher level of security over standard key systems, as they are more difficult to pick, with some of the high security options effectively pick proof to the common criminal.
- Both the locks and the keys are constructed of harder materials and therefore harder wearing than normal locks and keys. This is important in areas which are high use and different keys will wear at different rates to the locks themselves, ultimately leading to the common situation that some keys reach a point of no longer unlocking the door, while others still work fine.
So then the next question is what type of restricted key system? They come in varying levels of security and for more discussion around those levels, we refer you to our restricted key page.
Key Management
Of course, if you have a restricted key system and you have no, or poor, key management practices, then you negate one of the significant benefits of a restricted key system. You lose control of keys and therefore no longer know who has access to various doors, or where the keys are that access those doors.
This is a very common problem that arises for those who manage restricted key systems, particularly those with high staff turnover, or without strong systems in place for collecting company items back from departing employees, or strong deterrents for losing company keys.
There are solutions however, in conjunction with application of internal systems to help maintain the integrity of the key system, there are two additional options we currently provide to large clients:
- Purchase and training in specific key management software that we use ourselves for managing key systems.
- Outsource the management of the key system to a third party who is specialist in this process, such as Toplock. We do carry this operation out for a number of very large clients.
