Master key systems control which doors each person can open. Restricted key systems help control who can authorise extra keys. CRI-key designs and installs master key systems, supplies restricted and registered keys, and upgrades cylinders for homes, businesses and managed properties in Busselton, Dunsborough, Margaret River and across South West WA.
Master key systems for businesses and managed properties
A master key system gives different people access to different doors. At an accommodation site, a guest key might open only one unit, a cleaner’s key might open an assigned group of units, and a manager’s key might cover the whole site. We can plan access for a single building or across multiple properties, with room for additional doors where the system allows.
Example 1. A master key for one building
In this example, the office key opens only the office, the storeroom key opens only the storeroom and the workshop key opens only the workshop. A manager’s master key opens all three. The three everyday keys are individual keys, also called change keys. Each can be issued to a person who needs just one room, while the manager carries a single key for the three doors.
Think about a change in duties before issuing a broader key. If a worker moves from the office to the workshop, the business can collect the office key and issue the workshop key. The manager’s access stays the same. If staff also need a common entry, we can discuss how that door should fit into the system and check whether the selected hardware supports the arrangement.
Example 2. A grand master key across two buildings
Building A has a reception and storeroom. Its building master key opens those two doors. Building B has a workshop and office, and its building master key opens those two doors. Each individual door key opens its assigned door only. The grand master key sits above both building groups and opens all four doors shown in this example.
The building masters suit people responsible for one site. The grand master might be issued to an owner or facilities manager who genuinely needs both. If some doors need to stay outside that person’s access, identify them before the system is designed. We can document which doors are within the system and which remain separately keyed. See the terminology and hierarchy examples in the ASSA ABLOY master key design guide.
Keyed alike, keyed to differ and master keyed
Keyed alike means a set of compatible locks is set up to operate on the same key. That can be convenient for a home or a group of doors used by the same people. Keyed to differ means each lock has its own key. Master keying combines individual or group access with a key that can open a defined set of doors. The right choice depends on which doors need to be shared and which need to stay separate.
For example, an owner who wants the front and back door to work from one key may only need keyed-alike cylinders. A small business with a front entry, an office and a stockroom may need separate staff access and a manager key for all three. Give us a list of the doors and explain who uses them. We can work out whether simpler keying covers the job or whether a hierarchy is useful.
How different properties use master key systems
At an accommodation property, a guest key can be assigned to one unit. Housekeeping might need an agreed set of units and a linen room, while maintenance may need equipment rooms and specific areas. A site manager can have broader access where required. Map staff and guest access separately before deciding which doors belong together, especially if buildings operate under different managers.
For commercial premises, you might put public-facing doors, the stockroom, offices and the workshop into separate groups. An opening or closing supervisor may need several of those doors. A contractor may need access to only one plant room for a defined job. For a multi-tenant building, list which doors are shared and which belong to a tenancy, and agree who can authorise changes for each area.
Restricted, protected and registered keys
A restricted key system controls who can order duplicate keys. Registered systems can use a nominated key controller or authorised signatory to approve requests. If you already have restricted keys, tell us the system brand and who manages it. We’ll confirm the authorisation process and whether we can supply keys for that system.
What registered and restricted key control means in practice
A protected or restricted key system can limit access to blanks and control the channels through which extra keys are ordered. The exact arrangement depends on the system and its provider. Registration can record who is allowed to approve orders and which system the request relates to. Ask what paperwork or sign-off your chosen system uses so the process is clear when a staff member or contractor later asks for a copy.
Master keying and key control serve different jobs. A key hierarchy determines where a key works. The authorisation process determines who can order additional keys. You can use both for the same property. For example, a staff key could be limited to the shop and stockroom, and an authorised site contact could approve replacement copies when the business takes on new staff.
Ordering an authorised copy of an existing key
Tell us the suburb, the system name if known and the number of copies you need. Let us know whether you’re the registered controller, acting for the owner or working through a property manager. Some systems may need orders placed through the original provider or another approved channel. We’ll check whether we can help and what authority is required before an order is placed.
If the registered contact has left the business or the property has changed hands, ask about updating the authorisation before putting in a key order. An owner or manager can tell us what documentation is available and who will take responsibility for approval going forward. Keep key identifiers and access records private. We can tell you how to provide any information needed to identify the system.
Keeping track of keys after handover
Nominate who holds the key register and who can approve new or replacement keys. The register should record which key was issued, who received it and when it was returned. If you issue a spare to a contractor, agree who will collect it and when. If several managers can authorise orders, agree who maintains the central record so the business can account for the total number of keys in circulation.
If a key goes missing, identify which doors it can operate before deciding what to change. A missing key for one storeroom has a different impact from a master key that opens a whole building. Tell us which key is missing and what access it had. We can assess the affected cylinders and discuss whether targeted rekeying or a wider change is appropriate.
High-security keys and cylinders
If you want stronger physical security as well as control over copies, we can assess your existing cylinders and door hardware. Depending on the product, high-security cylinders can offer features designed to resist picking, drilling or other attacks. We can check where compatible cylinders can be upgraded without replacing the full lock.
When planning an upgrade, we look at the lock body, cylinder format, door condition and the hardware surrounding the cylinder. A new cylinder may fit an existing lock, but the answer varies by door and product. Where a door or frame is damaged or the lock is already unreliable, we can discuss repairing that hardware as part of the scope. For a site with mixed door types, send an example of each type so we can check the options.
An upgrade can also be staged. You might put more protection on a stockroom, office or external entry first, then schedule compatible cylinders for lower-priority doors later. We can discuss where key control and physical protection are both worth considering. If you have insurer or site requirements, send the specific requirements so the hardware can be assessed against them.
If you’re comparing products, ask which features apply to the exact cylinder being quoted, what key control process comes with it and what happens when another door or key is needed. A good system should be practical for the people managing it, with a clear process for maintenance, extra copies and future changes.
Plan a new system or upgrade an existing one
Start with a door list, the groups of people who need access and any future expansion. We’ll use that to build an access plan and assess whether existing hardware can be retained. If you also need credentials you can revoke electronically, ask about electronic access control.
Start with a door and access schedule
List the doors by building or area. A floor plan is helpful, but a list with familiar names also works. For each door, note who uses it every day, who needs occasional access and which groups should stay separate. Include shared entries, offices, workshops, linen cupboards, plant rooms and gates where relevant. Mark any doors that already have electronic access or that need special consideration.
Then list the people or roles that need keys. Most businesses start with roles such as owner, site manager, staff, cleaning and maintenance. Note any overlap, such as a cleaner who needs a common entry and a group of rooms but no access to the office. We can turn those requirements into a schedule you can review before installation.
If a building is likely to add doors or bring another site under the same management, tell us early. Expansion depends on the system selected and the arrangements already in place. Even a rough idea of what might change can help us design around future groups and decide which details need to be settled now.
Extending or replacing an existing key system
For an extension, gather any existing door schedule, key register and system details. Tell us whether you’re adding a single door, changing a tenant’s access or consolidating several groups. If the existing paperwork is incomplete, we can scope a survey to check which hardware is installed and what records can be confirmed. The available options depend on compatibility and authorisation.
When an old system needs replacing, plan how the business will operate during changeover. Some sites can move over in one visit, while occupied accommodation or multiple tenancies may need stages. Identify doors that can only be accessed outside trading hours and arrange who will be onsite to receive keys. We can discuss how to group the work around that timing.
Where electronic access fits
Mechanical keys suit many everyday openings, particularly doors that need simple, ongoing access. Where staff or contractors change frequently, or you need to adjust permissions and review activity, consider electronic access for selected doors. The same property can use mechanical master keys on storage and service doors, with electronic credentials on higher-traffic entries. We can discuss which doors benefit from each approach.
A lost mechanical key may require changes to the affected cylinders to remove its access. A supported electronic credential can be revoked in its system. If you’re managing short stays, rotating staff or several buildings, tell us how often access changes and what your team needs to manage day to day.
Installation, testing and handover
Before installation, agree which doors are included, which locks can be retained and which keys are to be issued. We can work through the agreed scope in stages where needed. After fitting, access can be checked against the schedule, including that each key works on its assigned doors and that keys with narrower access stay limited to those doors.
For handover, agree who will receive the keys, who will approve future copies and where the final door and key records will be kept. Ask how replacements will be handled if you change property managers or move to a new premises. If the project includes hardware repairs as well as keying, record which doors were completed and any work still needed.
For a quote, the most useful starting information is the site location, the number of doors and whether you need a new system, an upgrade or extra authorised keys. Include timing constraints and tell us if several tenants or site contacts need to be involved. We work across Busselton, Dunsborough, Margaret River and the wider South West.
Common questions about keying a property
Can we start with one building and add another later? Tell us which site comes first and how you expect the next site to operate. For example, the second building may need its own manager key while a facilities manager needs both buildings. That distinction is useful before we choose the system. If you already have a system in one building, we’ll check the design and hardware before quoting an extension.
Can we keep one area separate? Yes, that can be part of the brief. For example, the stockroom might be under the main system while an independently managed tenancy stays outside it. List every area where access needs to be separate, including any current arrangements with a landlord, tenant or site manager. The door schedule should record that boundary before any keys are issued.
Do we need a grand master key? Start with the roles and doors. A single building with one manager and several individually keyed rooms may only need a standard master key. A grand master becomes useful when one authorised person needs access to multiple groups that each have their own master. Limiting who holds the broadest key helps keep access aligned with each person’s job.
What if we only need one extra restricted key? Contact us with the system name if known, the site suburb and the number of copies you need. If you’re booking for a tenant or staff member, let us know who can sign off. We’ll confirm the ordering path for that system and what approval is needed before arranging the copy.
Request a master key or restricted key quote
Send your suburb, approximate door count and whether you’re starting from scratch, extending an existing system or ordering authorised copies.