How often should locks be replaced in a high-traffic London business environment?

How Often Should Locks Be Replaced in a High-Traffic London Business Environment?

Business owners rarely pay attention to small details when it comes to their security systems or advanced lock systems. Most of them seek help from a professional locksmith when their high security locks show signs of wear and tear only. But a lock system is more than that.

Maintenance is just as important, not to mention things like the amount of traffic and how it can affect your lock system. At Top Locksmith, we help with lock picking, smart locks, existing security systems, upgrades, installations and lock changing services.

The Importance of Lock Integrity in High-Traffic Areas

Think about the high quality locks in your home, you probably use them around 20 times a day, assuming you have a middle sized family. A business with twice as many employees will use them dozens of times a day, depending on the nature of the business.

A large company will have high quality locks exposed to heavy traffic and fast wear and tear. No matter what security standards or access control systems you have, maintaining your property's security at the highest standards will give you a well deserved peace of mind that you won’t face any emergencies.

Factors Influencing Lock Lifespan

Whether you go for classic euro cylinder locks, more advanced security solutions or even tailored security solutions, these things are mechanical or digital. Like any other machine, they’re prone to breaking down at some point, regardless of the professional locksmith services you get for the installation.

Maintenance is critical at this point, especially in the hustle and bustle associated with London. Unless you run a small business on an isolated estate with no public access, chances are your locks will go through extreme stress throughout the day.

And this applies to both residential and commercial properties.

Wear and Tear from High Usage

Trying to prevent unauthorised access is perfectly normal, so some businesses rely on keyless entry or perhaps multi point locking systems with biometric access. Now, no matter what door lock or property security system you opt for, high traffic will naturally put wear and tear on it.

Our experienced locksmiths agree that the build and quality of the locks remain some of the main factors. We’ve replaced locks that were over 100 years old, but we’ve also done lock upgrades on locks that were only a year old.

However, no matter the quality, high usage can still cause wear and tear on master key systems, cylinder locks, mortice locks, lock cylinder and other types of door locks.

Risk Assessment and Security Needs

At Top Locksmith, our locksmith prices make us one of the most affordable choices for commercial properties, whether you’re after lock installation, security upgrades or maintenance.

We recommend seeking help for your security needs before you need an emergency locksmith. Our local locksmiths can help you pick the right lock system and get it installed correctly for enhanced security.

Our experts can assess the quality and stage of your locks, as well as what kind of maintenance they require for increased security. We’ll need to observe the traffic, business type and even the location. For example, our emergency locksmiths consider high crime areas to pose more risks.

Recommended Replacement Schedules

Whether it's about insurance compliance, security challenges, or just current security measures, business or office locks should be changed more frequently than you think.

Now, it makes no difference if you want electronic locks, smart lock mechanisms, digital key systems or traditional locks. Each business is unique, so there’s no one-size-fits-all option.

High risk businesses or businesses in high crime areas must consider enhancing security on a regular basis to prevent security breaches.

Standard Guidelines for Lock Replacement

As a general rule of thumb, our professional locksmiths recommend opting for the latest security technologies every one or two years, depending on your optimal security needs or lock types. It’s also worth noting that not all the locks may require replacement.

In some cases, upgrading locks should be more frequent, while small businesses with just a few employees may not have to do it for years. Our skilled locksmiths provide ongoing support once you get new locks, but we can also assess a commercial property before making recommendations.

Signs That Indicate Immediate Replacement

Invest in effective security measures, and don't wait until you need our emergency services. We don't have any call out fees and we can help with lost keys, lock changes and even key cutting machines for new keys.

However, whether it’s a forced entry or locks seem to jam, we recommend professional assistance right away, before the problem aggravates. So, what are the signs that you need enhanced protection with new locks?

• After a break-in, successful or not
• Misaligned locks
• Wear and tear
• Bent latches or deadbolts
• Difficulty getting the key in
• Stiff handle
• New employees
• Stuck latch bolt

Having a high employee turnover will also increase the necessity of replacing locks more often, as former employees may still keep keys or cards to the property, increasing the risks of potential break ins.

We offer transparent pricing for a diverse range of systems, as well as access solutions for those with limited mobility.

Choosing the Right Locks for High-Traffic Areas

Preventing unauthorised access to your commercial property starts with choosing the right locks, whether you're after euro cylinder locks, smart locks or other systems. It's not just for your peace of mind but for the overall security of your commercial property.

Moreover, apart from getting professional locks, it pays off seeking help from locksmith services for the actual installation too.

Durability and Security Features

Cylindrical lever locks are quite common among UK businesses for their reliability and durability. They can be operated with keys or just push buttons.

Mortise locks are quite common among office locks. They're robust and strong, mainly due to the solid bolts on the inside.

Keypad locks are also common and a good choice for every commercial property out there. The best part about having them on your commercial property is the fact that employees won't need a key to get in.

Panic bars are good for peace of mind. Our locksmith services also install such commercial or office locks, mainly for emergencies.

Modern smart systems can be remotely controlled and can offer access without any actual keys or cards, but only using biometric data. They offer a more convenient approach.

Best Practices for Lock Management in Busy Environments

Whether you're after traditional office locks or perhaps smart systems for your company, the concept behind such upgrades or new installations lies in the overall security requirements.

The necessity of assessing your locks on a regular basis is often overlooked, yet that's usually what makes the difference between sound security and a potential security breach.

Here at Top Locksmith, we offer regular assessments based on the traffic within the business premises. We educate our clients on the necessity of checking locks on a regular basis, only to identify potential issues at an early stage.

We can also maintain, upgrade or replace locks based on the unique necessities of your business. Get in touch for a free quote and we'll take it from there.