Master Key System Setup

Not all lock hardware is compatible with full master key architecture. Cylindrical knob locks from some budget manufacturers have limited pin stack depth, which restricts how many levels the hierarchy can include. Mortise lock bodies with quality cylinders are often the most flexible platform for master keying. During our on-site assessment, our technicians inspect every cylinder in your facility, measure pin stack capacity, and tell you plainly which locks can be incorporated as-is, which need a cylinder swap, and which need a full hardware upgrade. We confirm everything in writing before work begins, so there are no surprises.

Several variables shape the final quote: the number of doors and cylinders being keyed into the hierarchy, the number of key tiers or levels in the access design, whether existing hardware can be repinned or needs to be replaced, the type and grade of hardware selected for any new installations, the complexity of the key control documentation required, travel distance to your Salt Lake City property, and the time of day the work is performed. We gather all of this information during the initial consultation and provide an exact up-front price before any technician picks up a tool. You will never receive a bill that differs from the agreed quote.

In most cases, yes. A well-designed master key hierarchy leaves room for expansion — additional key sections can be added to accommodate new departments or access tiers without disrupting the existing key assignments. However, if the original system was not designed with growth in mind, or if the current cylinders are already pinned to their maximum capacity, a partial rekey of certain sections may be necessary. Our technicians review your existing bitting records (or reconstruct them if documentation was never kept) and advise you on the most efficient path to adding new access levels. We always aim for the least disruptive approach.

This is one of the most common emergency locksmith calls we receive from Salt Lake City businesses. When a key is not returned — or when you have reason to believe a copy was made — the safest response is to rekey the cylinders that key operated. Because we maintain key control records for every system we install, we can pinpoint exactly which locks are affected and rekey only those, preserving the rest of the hierarchy. We are available 24/7 for urgent situations, so if the termination happens on a Friday evening or over a holiday weekend, you do not have to leave your facility vulnerable until Monday morning.

A properly designed and documented master key system is significantly more manageable from a security standpoint than a collection of untracked individual keys. The key advantage is control: you know exactly what each key opens, you have records of who holds which key, and when a key is compromised you know precisely what to rekey. That said, the system is only as secure as the key control discipline around it. We strongly recommend restricted keyways for commercial applications — these use proprietary key profiles that cannot be duplicated without authorization, closing the most common gap in mechanical key security. Combined with good key-issuance policies, a master key hierarchy provides a solid physical security foundation.

Yes. Our mobile technicians serve the full Salt Lake City metro area, including neighborhoods like Sugar House, Liberty Wells, the Avenues, Rose Park, and Glendale, as well as surrounding communities along the Wasatch Front. Because we come to you rather than operating from a fixed shop, travel distance is factored into your quote transparently — there are no hidden trip fees added after the fact. For businesses with multiple locations across the valley, we can coordinate visits to handle the entire system in a planned sequence. Call us at (801) 938-8361 any time — we answer 24/7 and can typically give you a preliminary assessment over the phone before dispatching a technician.