f you are a property manager or a facility manager you may have noticed numbers or letters on multiple keys on your key ring. Have you wondered what these numbers or letters are on your key? And how do the numbers on your key relate to your property’s security?
Today we are going to answer the question: What are the numbers on my key?
At Loc-Doc Security, Our Mission is to help you protect your people and your property. We continue to share information like this to help you be informed so you can know the best solutions for the security of your property.
What are the numbers or letters on my key? The numbers or letters engraved on the key are codes that are used by Locksmiths to replicate a key to open locks. There are typically 2 different types of codes that are stamped on the top of a key. Bitting Code The first is what is known as a bitting code or direct code. The numbers relate to the cuts or depths on the key that allow a lock to open. These are usually found on sets of door locks that can be purchased at a hardware store or Big Box Home improvement store but sometimes other locksmiths will stamp them on the key.
Just by knowing those codes or numbers, another key could be made without your knowledge or permission. If you took a key with a number on it to multiple locksmiths, they would use the numbers on the key to make a duplicate. This could be a security risk for your property and is something we take seriously.
So serious in fact that it is our policy to never stamp those bitting codes on a key. Even so, Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Lowe’s all have self-serve kiosks that allow anyone in possession of any non-restricted key, to walk up, put the key in the machine and duplicate them with or without a bitting code. Blind Code A blind code is usually a combination of numbers and letters stamped on a key that relate to a set of codes from an individual locksmith or sometimes manufacturer. This can also be a way to identify the lock or door that the key opens. This blind code is used as a reference point to records the locksmith keeps in order to identify the locks that the key operates.
Blind codes are usually used for Master Key Systems that we talked about in a previous post and even cabinet locks, desk locks, and gun safes. With a blind code, no one is able to know the cuts made for the key or the keyway used besides the original locksmith that maintains the records. This blind code can enhance your security by requiring a code record in software or database that is usually licensed to security professionals or locksmiths.
Most blind codes are in conjunction with a protected key system which we talked about in a previous post. This can help to ensure no one is able to duplicate your key without your knowledge whether they take it to another Locksmith or using a Kiosk at a Home Improvement store. Ensuring your facility is secure and safe can feel overwhelming as a property or facility manager, but it is achievable when armed with the right knowledge. We are here to help you protect your people and your property and that includes support and education. If you have numbers or letters on the back of your key and want to know if your facility is secure, schedule a free evaluation with one of our Security Professionals.
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