How to Choose Your Next Key System Choosing a new key system can be a challenging experience. With all the options available today, how will you know which one to choose? We’ve developed this whitepaper to help guide you through the selection process. Below are a few of the questions you should be asking key system suppliers and manufacturers when choosing your next key system. The information below is divided into 3 categories: ‐ Question to ask for clarification (A. BLACK) o The questions you should be asking manufacturers/vendors in regard to key system design and what exactly those manufacturers provide. ‐ Why is this important? (B. GREEN) o This section provides clarification on why the questions are important to your selection process, and ultimately your security experience. ‐ Specification language (C. RED) o The language you can use in a specification, request for proposal, or request for bid 1. A. Question: Are your materials (cylinders/cores, housings, key blanks, and servicing equipment) manufactured in the USA? B. Why is this important? - High quality construction - Superb manufacturing capabilities - Shipping/delivery lead times improved - Keep jobs in US and strengthen US economy - Helps enforce patents and certifications ‐ hold up in US courts C. The cylinders, cores, housings, key blanks, and servicing equipment must be made in USA 2. A. Question: Does your system allow the following cylinder formats to be operated by a single, under the same master key system? ‐ Rim cylinder ‐ Mortise cylinder ‐ Key‐in‐knob cylinder ‐ Key‐in‐lever cylinder ‐ Small Format Interchangeable Core (SFIC) ‐ Large Format Interchangeable Core (LFIC) ‐ Cam locks (3/4" diameter) B. Why is this important? Typically, different cylinder types and formats are not consistent between manufacturers. Each cylinder manufacturer designs and develops their own key system specifications. Cylinder and key system specifications are not standard. This means that if you have a variety of hardware, each of the cylinders that lock those hardware pieces, and the internal key system components, are different from one another. The cylinders and their keys are not 1 compatible with one another, which mean you are carrying multiple keys, stocking multiple cylinder pieces and components, and have different key system records to manage. There are some key systems on the market today that are completely retrofitable to existing hardware components and allow all locks and cylinders to be tied together under a "uniformed" (one key) key system. C. SPEC: The manufacturer shall provide a system where all cylinder/core formats can be operated by a single key within the same key system (Cylinder/core formats would include, but not be limited to: rim/mortise/KIK/KIL/SFIC/LFIC/Cam Locks). 3. A. Question: Is your key system patented? What type of patent protects your keyways? B. Why is this important? A patented keyway offers protection against unauthorized key duplication. A manufacturer with a UTILITY patent key system design controls the manufacturing and distribution of the cylinders and key (key blanks). To the customer, this means that keys and key blanks are not readily available in the open market. Only authorized individuals, whose signatures are on file with the factory, can order key blanks, cut keys, ands combinated cylinders for a key system. C. SPEC: The manufacturer will provide a highly restricted, patented keyway that will be assigned to the end user. 4. A. Question: Have you had to defend you patent(s) in court before? If so, were you successful? B. Why is this important? Weak patents get challenged, and sometime get ruled as “invalid.” You want to know that if the manufacturer’s key system patent comes under scrutiny in the court of law that, #1 ‐ the manufacturer is willing to go to court to defend and protect the patent, and #2 ‐ if the patent has been defended in court, was the defense successful and the patent up held. If you select a key system that doesn’t have a very strong patent, and it is ruled as “invalid” you could find that your key system could get compromised in the future by an unauthorized, non‐original key. C. SPEC: The manufacturer must show a history of successfully defending patent challenges to in the court of law. 5. A. Question: Is your key system capable of having up to 64,000 useable combinations under a single keyway profile? B. Why is this important? You want your key system to last. It's an investment, and you need that investment to pay dividends for years to come. With a common pin tumbler lock, you system expansion is limited by the number of mathematic possibilities that are available. Those mathematic possibilities are called key bittings. There are only so many ways you can arrange the pins inside the lock, or the cuts on the key in order to get the maximum number of bittings possible. Most common locks only offer a few thousand bittings. A patented key system though, typically incorporates additional locking elements inside the cylinder, or on the key, to enhance the number of mathematic possibilities available to the user. Based on the history 2 of the existing key system, and the need for a system that can support the future need for growth, a key system capable of expanding its bittings up to 64K under a single keyway profile is highly recommended. Having a key system that can produce these amounts of bittings under a single keyway profile is also important to keep the integrity of the key system intact, the manageability of the key system simple, and requires less inventory to keep on hand. C. SPEC: The manufacturer’s key system should be capable of producing up to 64K useable combinations under a single keyway profile. 6. A. Question: Is a Key Control Agreement(s) required to use your key system? What documentation do you require for an end user keyway? B. Why is this important? As manufacturers trying to make a sale we all make promises. It's important to document those promises in writing so that they are fulfilled. Any manufacturer that is asking you to commit to a key system or keyway that offers a high level of restriction and patent life should also require the use of Key Control Agreements. Key Control Agreements outline the basic guidelines and principles for good solid key control, and help keep the integrity of your key system intact for the life of your system. Think of it this way. The last time you bought a cell phone you signed an agreement. That agreement spells out the guidelines and promises between you and your cellular provider. Key Control Agreements for a key system act the same way but with a lot more importance. Key Control Agreements help protect the cylinders and the keys you use to protect life, property, and assets. I would be wary of any manufacturer that does NOT require you to sign an agreement that protect you and protects your key blanks and your master key system. C. SPEC: The manufacturer will require signed Key Control Agreements for the keyway that is assigned to help with the enforcement of key control and to maintain the integrity of the key system. 7. A. Question: Can you describe the process for ordering combinated cylinders, cut keys, and key blanks? Do you require a Letter of Authorization to order combinated cylinders, cut keys, and key blanks? B. Why is this important? The value of a patented key system lies in its ability to control key duplication. This control extends to the ordering process. One way to control and manage the ordering process for your key system components is through a Letter of Authorization. Authorized signers are established with the manufacturer, and only those individuals whose names are on file will be allowed to order product and materials for your system. Check with the manufacturer on what checks and balances they have in place to ensure that only authorized individuals can order restricted key system materials for your system. C. SPEC: The manufacturer will implement Letters of Authorization that only allows an authorized individual(s) to authority to order custom coined cut keys (send sample letter of authorization) 3 8. A. Question: How do you mark cut keys and key blanks? Will cut keys and key blanks be stamped or custom coined? B. Why is this important? Custom coining is a factory key marking process that is used to enhance the security value of the key. Custom coining is different than key stamping. Stamping a key is good, but eventually that stamping can rub off due to wear. Keys that are merely stamped are also susceptible to alteration (removing or changing the stamping to something else, or simply removing the stamping all together). Custom coining uses the same process that the US Treasury Department uses to mark coinage. During the coining process, about 10 tons of pressure is put on the key to embed a unique ID/marking (you chose the marking) on the key bow surface. The coining process leaves the key with a raised marking; similar to the raised markings you would find on a piece of US currency. The coining process also leaves the key with a jewelry style finish that signifies its high quality. C. SPEC: The manufacturer will require the use of a specialized custom coined die (not stamped) to mark all of the keys for the District’s system. 9. A. Question: What material are your keys made of? B. Why is this important? Keys made of nickel silver are extremely strong. In fact, nickel silver is one of the strongest materials to make key blanks from, versus keys that are purely made out of brass.