Here’s a guide to the most important things to know about lock replacement and key replacement service, as prepared by the rekeying service in New Orleans service here at Liberty Locksmith New Orleans.
What type of key was lost?
First, determine what sort of key was lost. Most offices have multiple points of locked entry for a layered security plan. There’s usually a building key, then a specific office suite key, and sometimes a key for a specific office inside the suite. Many times the building or suite key is a magnetic card rather than a traditional key. Sometimes all of these keys are security keys, meaning that they cannot be easily or legally copied. If the employee loses ALL of the entry keys, it can be a much larger cost and serious security risk than if just the office suite or office key was lost.
Lock and Key Replacement
When you determine what type of key was lost, you need to rekey all the locks and keys for the areas affected. If the security key for the building entrance was lost, all key holders for the building will need to return their old keys and get new ones, or at least have their keycard reprogrammed. We recommend hiring a team of licensed locksmiths like those at Golden Locksmith who can provide the easiest solution in as fast a method as possible. You will need to notify all building tenants of the key loss and ensure that all internal doors are locked, and that the locksmith arrives as soon as possible. Then, you will need to replace the suite key – which is usually easier, as only the key holders for the suite will need their keys replaced or key cards reprogrammed. Regarding the internal office key, we recommend rekeying the lock rather than fully replacing it, as there’s a series of other security barriers that an individual will have to pass through before being able to enter the area.