Process of key duplication

Key Duplication Equipment and Tools

Key duplication equipment and tools are essential for the process of creating duplicate keys. These tools include key cutting machines, key blanks, and various other accessories that help locksmiths and key makers easily replicate keys.


Key cutting machines come in different types such as manual, semi-automatic, and automatic machines. Manual key cutting machines require the operator to manually adjust the settings and cut the key by hand. Semi-automatic machines have some automated features but still require some manual intervention. Automatic key cutting machines are fully automated and can cut keys quickly and accurately with minimal human input.


Key blanks are essentially the raw material used to create duplicate keys. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials to match different types of locks. Key blanks are placed into the key cutting machine where they are accurately cut according to the original key's specifications.


In addition to key cutting machines and blanks, other tools such as calipers, files, tweezers, and lubricants are also used in the process of duplicating keys. Calipers help measure precise dimensions of the original key while files help smoothen rough edges after cutting. Tweezers are used to hold small parts while lubricants help reduce friction during the cutting process.


Overall, having the right key duplication equipment and tools is crucial for locksmiths and key makers to efficiently duplicate keys for their customers. These tools not only make the process faster but also ensure that duplicate keys are made accurately to fit into locks seamlessly.

Key Duplication Services Las Vegas, NV

Key Duplication Equipment and Tools

Verification and Authorization Process

When it comes to the process of key duplication, verification and authorization play crucial roles in ensuring the security and legitimacy of the duplication request.


Verification involves confirming the identity of the individual requesting the key duplication. This can be done through various means such as providing identification documents, answering security questions, or using biometric authentication methods. By verifying the identity of the requester, we can ensure that only authorized individuals are able to duplicate keys.


Authorization, on the other hand, involves granting permission for the key duplication to take place. This step is typically done by an authorized person such as a manager or supervisor who has the authority to approve key duplication requests. By obtaining proper authorization, we can prevent unauthorized individuals from obtaining duplicate keys and potentially compromising security.


Overall, the verification and authorization process is essential for maintaining security when duplicating keys. By confirming identities and obtaining proper authorization, we can ensure that only legitimate individuals have access to duplicate keys, helping to protect against unauthorized entry and potential security breaches.

Cutting and Programming of Duplicate Key

Key duplication is a common service provided by locksmiths and hardware stores to help individuals who need an extra copy of their keys. The process involves cutting a new key that matches the original one, as well as programming any electronic components that may be present in the key.


First, the locksmith or store employee will take the original key and use it as a template to cut a new key using specialized machinery. This ensures that the new key will fit into the lock and operate smoothly. The cutting process requires precision and skill to ensure that the new key is an exact replica of the original.


If the key being duplicated has any electronic components, such as a transponder chip or remote entry functionality, programming these features is also necessary. This step involves syncing the new key with the vehicle or building's security system so that it can be used to unlock doors or start engines.


Overall, cutting and programming a duplicate key requires expertise and attention to detail to ensure that the new key functions properly. It is a valuable service for individuals who need backup keys for their homes, cars, or businesses. By entrusting this task to professionals, individuals can have peace of mind knowing that they have reliable copies of their keys in case of emergencies.

Cutting and Programming of Duplicate Key

Quality Control and Inspection Process

Quality control and inspection process is an essential part of the key duplication process. When duplicating keys, it is crucial to ensure that each copy is made accurately and functions properly. This is where quality control comes into play.


During the key duplication process, each duplicate key goes through a series of checks and inspections to guarantee its quality. This includes checking the accuracy of the cut, ensuring that it fits smoothly into the lock, and verifying that it turns easily without any issues.


The inspection process involves visually examining each key for any defects or imperfections. Any keys that do not meet the required standards are immediately discarded to prevent them from causing problems for customers in the future.


By implementing a strict quality control and inspection process, key duplication services can ensure that every duplicate key they produce meets the highest standards of quality and performance. This not only helps to build trust with customers but also reduces the risk of faulty keys causing problems down the line.


In conclusion, quality control and inspection are vital aspects of the key duplication process. By carefully monitoring each step of the process and conducting thorough inspections, key duplication services can deliver reliable and accurate duplicate keys to their customers.

A metal doorframe with a strike plate built in: in other doors this would be a metal strikeplate in a wooden doorframe.

The term door security or door security gate may refer to any of a range of measures used to strengthen doors against door breaching, ram-raiding and lock picking, and prevent crimes such as burglary and home invasions. Door security is used in commercial and government buildings, as well as in residential settings.

Some strengthened doors function as fire doors to prevent or inhibit the spread of fire.

Security devices

[edit]

Alarms

[edit]

Alarms — designed to warn of burglaries.

Locks

[edit]
  • Smart locks can be used to limit door access to only people with an electronic key fob or near-field communication device, like a smartphone.[1] These devices are popular with landlords, who can enable and disable digital access without physically mailing out keys. The locks can log the times of entry, and can trigger an alarm if they are struck during a break-in attempt.
  • Deadbolts — unlike common spring latches, the locking mechanism of these typically prevents the bolt from being retracted by force, or shimming, and it cannot be moved to the open position except by rotating the key.

Reinforcement

[edit]
  • Strike plate reinforcement can involve reinforcing the strike plate and/or the door frame, to prevent the strike plate from being rammed out of the frame.[citation needed]
  • Door reinforcements — various products are made to prevent delamination and or splitting of the door. Sheet steel plate can be placed behind or under the deadbolt and wrap the door edge to prevent breaking the door around the deadbolt. Heavy duty products that place plates on either side the door tied together with screws or bolts can be used to prevent delamination.
  • Door chains — allows the doors to be opened slightly to view outside while still remaining locked.
  • Secondary, internal locks — sliding bolts, hooks and speciality latches, metal blocks or bars mounted internally.
  • Hinge screws — longer or specialized screws that prevent the door from being simply pulled out after removing the hinge pins. Often the hinge pin itself is screwed, from the inside while the door is open, into the hinge to prevent removal of the hinge pin without first opening the door.

Other methods

[edit]
Iranian door security showroom
  • Burglar deterrent CD or MP3 files — home occupancy sounds recorded on a CD; the CD is played when the home owner is away, to mimic the home occupancy activities.
  • Door viewers — small fish-eye lenses that allow residents to view outside without opening the door.
  • Door windows — there are three common methods to add security to windows in or beside doors: security bars and grates, security films (coatings applied to the glass in windows to reinforce it), or breakage resistant windows (plexiglas, lexan, and other glass replacement products).
  • Visibility — most police departments recommend the clearance of shrubs from near doorways to reduce the chance of a burglar being hidden from public view.

Residential security

[edit]

Common residential doors

[edit]

The following are the types of doors typically used in residential applications: solid wood door, panel doors (hollow and solid core), metal skinned wood-edged doors and metal edge-wrapped doors, and Fiberglass doors (strongest of the residential type). Typically, door frames are solid wood. Residential doors also frequently contain wood.

Steel doors with Multi locking system are recommended by construction professionals as important equipment in your security checklist. This type of door often comes with a wooden finish to maintain a natural aesthetic in their external appearance.

Security tests by Consumer Reports Magazine in the 1990s found that many residential doors fail or delaminate when force is applied to them. Solid wood doors withstood more force than the very common metal skinned wood-edged doors used in newer construction. A broad range door manufacturer, Premdor (now Masonite) once stated in one of its 1990s brochures entitled "Premdor Entry Systems" page 6 that "The results of tests were overwhelming, Steel edged doors outperform wood-edged doors by a ratio of 7 to 1. When you consider the practically two-thirds of all illegal entries were made through doors... One hit of 100 lb [lbf] strike force broke the wood-edged stile and opened the door. To actually open the steel-edged door required 7 strikes of 100 lb pressure [force]." Most door manufactures offer a number of different types of doors with varying levels of strength.

Consumer Reports Magazine also reported in its test results that door frames often split with little force applied and lower quality deadbolts simply failed when force was applied to the door.

The Chula Vista Residential Burglary Reduction Project which studied over 1,000 incidents found that "methods found to have relatively low effectiveness included: sliding glass door braces, such as wooden dowels, as opposed to sliding door channel or pin locks; deadbolts installed in the front door only; and outdoor lights on dusk-to-dawn timers".[2]

Burglary tactics

[edit]

The Chula Vista Residential Burglary-Reduction Project yielded the following findings: "From victim interviews, we learned that in 87% of the break-ins that occurred when intruders defeated locked doors with tools such as screwdrivers or crowbars, the burglars targeted "the one door that had no deadbolt lock ... not one burglar attempted to break a double-pane window during the course of successful or attempted burglary."[2]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lynch, Tyler. "Security is key to the future of smart locks". USA Today. USA Today. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  2. ^ a b "The Chula Vista Residential Burglary Reduction Project - Summary" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-09-09. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
[edit]
An illustration of a German locksmith, 1451.

Locksmithing is the work of creating and bypassing locks. Locksmithing is a traditional trade and in many countries requires completion of an apprenticeship. The level of formal education legally required varies by country, ranging from no formal education to a training certificate awarded by an employer, or a full diploma from an engineering college, along with time spent as an apprentice.

Terminology

[edit]

A lock is a mechanism that secures buildings, rooms, cabinets, objects, or other storage facilities. A "smith" is a metalworker who shapes metal pieces, often using a forge or mould, into useful objects or to be part of a more complex structure. Thus locksmithing, as its name implies, is the assembly and designing of locks and their respective keys by hand. Most locksmiths use both automatic and manual cutting tools to mold keys, with many of these tools being powered by batteries or mains electricity.

Work

[edit]

Locks have been constructed for over 2500 years, initially out of wood and later out of metal.[1] Historically, locksmiths would make the entire lock, working for hours hand cutting screws and doing much file-work. Lock designs became significantly more complicated in the 18th century, and locksmiths often specialized in repairing or designing locks.

Although replacing lost keys for automobiles and homes, as well as rekeying locks for security purposes, remains an important part of locksmithing, a 1976 US Government publication noted that modern locksmiths are primarily involved in installing high-quality lock-sets and managing keying and key control systems.

Locksmith specialisations

[edit]

Most locksmiths also provide electronic lock services, such as programming smart keys for transponder-equipped vehicles and implementing access control systems to protect individuals and assets for large institutions.[2] Many also specialise in other areas such as:

  • Auto Locksmithing
  • Safes

Regulation by country

[edit]

Australia

[edit]

In Australia, prospective locksmiths are required to take a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) course in locksmithing, completion of which leads to issuance of a Level 3 Australian Qualifications Framework certificate, and complete an apprenticeship. They must also pass a criminal records check certifying that they are not currently wanted by the police. Apprenticeships can last one to four years. Course requirements are variable: there is a minimal requirements version that requires fewer total training units, and a fuller version that teaches more advanced skills, but takes more time to complete. Apprenticeship and course availability vary by state or territory.[3]

Ireland

[edit]

In Ireland, licensing for locksmiths was introduced in 2016,[4] with locksmiths having to obtain a Private Security Authority license. The Irish Locksmith Organisation has 50 members with ongoing training to ensure all members are up-to-date with knowledge and skills.

United Kingdom

[edit]

In the UK, there is no current government regulation for locksmithing, so effectively anyone can trade and operate as a locksmith with no skill or knowledge of the industry.[5]

United States

[edit]

Fifteen states in the United States require licensure for locksmiths. Nassau County and New York City in New York State, and Hillsborough County and Miami-Dade County in Florida have their own licensing laws.[6] State and local laws are described in the table below. 15 states require locksmith licensing: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, Nevada, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia

US Locksmith Licensing[7][6]
State Regulatory body Requirements
Alabama Alabama Electronic Security Board of Licensure Certification course, continuing education, background check every two years
California California Department of Consumer Affairs, California Contractors State License Board; California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services California requires a C-28 Lock and Security Equipment Contractor license, with renewal every two years, in addition to a background check.[8][9]
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Background check, registration (renews biennially)
Florida No statewide regulation. Counties of Hillsborough and Miami-Dade require licensure for locksmiths and locksmith firms. Miami-Dade's ordinance covers locksmithing, as well as the installation of security alarm closed-circuit television systems. Miami-Dade: must register with county and receive license. Each business performing locksmith services must have at least one license-holder in its employ. Fingerprinting and criminal background check accompany license application. Initial applicants must have a locksmith permit for one year before full licensure. Any work involving electrical systems must be done by someone who also holds a state electrician's or contractor's license.[10] Hillsborough: must apply for a biennial locksmith license. The cost is $500 for an individual or firm of up to five employees, $750 for a firm of six to ten employees, and $1000 for a firm of more than ten employees. A background check and proof of insurance are also required.[11]: 1 Pinellas County: The City of Clearwater requires fingerprints applied by Clearwater police.
Illinois Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Must not have been convicted of a felony in the last ten years, must take twenty-hour licensure course, must pass examination[12]
Louisiana Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshall Must pass examination, pay initial registration of $250, and maintain registration for $50 annually thereafter. Additional training and certification are required for locksmiths dealing with locks on fire and safety equipment and alarm systems.[13]
Maryland Maryland Locksmith Licensing Program, Maryland Department of Labor Must apply for a license and submit to a criminal records check, and after issue, must carry a state-issued locksmith license card at all times when performing work. Prior felony and misdemeanor convictions will be weighed by the Secretary of Labor according to statutorily-determined factors, including length of time since the offense and applicant's behavior since, when deciding to grant or withhold a license. The licensee must carry liability insurance, and submit proof of insurance to the secretary.[14]
Nebraska County Clerk Registration with the county clerk in the county in which the locksmith's business is located
Nevada County Sheriff Must not be in arrears on child support, and must register with the county sheriff of the county in which the business is located
New Jersey New Jersey Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors Must be at least eighteen years of age, must complete three years of supervised locksmith work, working an average of at least twenty hours a week, or complete a formal two-year apprenticeship in a program approved by the United States Department of Labor, must not have been convicted of certain crimes within a ten-year period prior to application, and must pass an examination before being granted license.[15]
New York No statewide licensing requirement. In Nassau County, a county license is required.[16] Nassau County requirements include submission of passport-style photos for photo identification license card for the principal applicant; business or home address and phone number and proof of number operability in the form of a recent telephone bill; a listing of all employees and officers of the company along with passport photos; recent utility bill for the business location if the business is not operated from home; a statement of all criminal convictions for all employees and officers, along with court records if requested; statement all trade names used by the business, and incorporation documents, if applicable; proof of insurance; proof of workers' compensation registration; a federal employee identification number, and a state sales tax number, if applicable; and fingerprint records for all applicants, in addition to a non-refundable processing fee.[17]: 2–3 
North Carolina North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board Must submit documentation of criminal history. Must submit documentation of out-of-state licenses, immigration status, and military discharge, if applicable. May optionally submit training certifications and other data. Must pay an initial license fee and subsequent annual renewal fees and keep license on person at all times. Must notify state of any employees operating under the owner's locksmith license. All apprentices must be themselves licensed under an apprentice license, and may not perform certain services, except under the direct supervision of a full locksmith license holder.[18][19]
Oklahoma Alarm, Locksmith, & Fire Sprinkler Program, Oklahoma Department of Labor Must not have been convicted of a felony and must register with Alarm, Locksmith, & Fire Sprinkler Program[20]
Oregon Oregon Construction Contractors Board Must pass a criminal background check, pass a license examination, and renew registration biennially
Tennessee Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Must provide documentation of citizenship or legal residency, any criminal convictions, all changes of address; business license in county or city where business operates, or a notarized statement that services will be for an employer or association and not offered directly to the public; otherwise, must submit documentation of application for, or employment by, a Tennessee Locksmith Company duly registered with the state. Conviction of a felony, or any level of drug, burglary, or breaking and entering offense may bar the applicant from licensure.[21]
Texas Department of Public Safety Private Security Board The owner or manager of a company providing locksmith services must hold a Locksmith Company License. To qualify for a license, the applicant must have two years service as a locksmith for a licensed company. Alternatively, the applicant may substitute one year's experience plus successful completion of a forty-eight hour licensure course, followed by successful completion of a comprehensive license examination.[22]
Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services Must be over eighteen years of age. Must complete an eighteen-hour training course. Must undergo a criminal records check and submit fingerprints. Anyone convicted of a felony or misdemeanor (excluding traffic violations) in Virginia or any other jurisdiction must complete a supplemental Criminal History form detailing the circumstances of arrest and conviction, completion of sentence, and any record pertaining to parole or probation. Any false statements or omissions can provide grounds for denial of license and possible criminal sanctions.[23][24]

Employment

[edit]
A Locksmith, 2013

Locksmiths may be commercial (working out of a storefront), mobile (working out of a vehicle), institutional (employed by an institution) or investigatory (forensic locksmiths) or may specialize in one aspect of the skill, such as an automotive lock specialist, a master key system specialist or a safe technician.[2] Many locksmiths also work as security consultants, but not all security consultants possess locksmithing skills. Locksmiths are frequently certified in specific skill areas or to a level of skill within the trade. This is separate from certificates of completion of training courses. In determining skill levels, certifications from manufacturers or locksmith associations are usually more valid criteria than certificates of completion. Some locksmiths decide to call themselves "Master Locksmiths" whether they are fully trained or not, and some training certificates appear quite authoritative.

The majority of locksmiths also work on any existing door hardware, not just locking mechanisms. This includes door closers, door hinges, electric strikes, frame repairs and other door hardware.

Full disclosure

[edit]

The issue of full disclosure was first raised in the context of locksmithing, in a 19th-century controversy regarding whether weaknesses in lock systems should be kept secret in the locksmithing community, or revealed to the public.

According to A. C. Hobbs:

A commercial, and in some respects a social doubt has been started within the last year or two, whether or not it is right to discuss so openly the security or insecurity of locks. Many well-meaning persons suppose that the discussion respecting the means for baffling the supposed safety of locks offers a premium for dishonesty, by showing others how to be dishonest. This is a fallacy. Rogues are very keen in their profession, and know already much more than we can teach them respecting their several kinds of roguery.

Rogues knew a good deal about lock-picking long before locksmiths discussed it among themselves, as they have lately done. If a lock, let it have been made in whatever country, or by whatever maker, is not so inviolable as it has hitherto been deemed to be, surely it is to the interest of honest persons to know this fact, because the dishonest are tolerably certain to apply the knowledge practically; and the spread of the knowledge is necessary to give fair play to those who might suffer by ignorance.

It cannot be too earnestly urged that an acquaintance with real facts will, in the end, be better for all parties. Some time ago, when the reading public was alarmed at being told how London milk is adulterated, timid persons deprecated the exposure, on the plea that it would give instructions in the art of adulterating milk; a vain fear, milkmen knew all about it before, whether they practised it or not; and the exposure only taught purchasers the necessity of a little scrutiny and caution, leaving them to obey this necessity or not, as they pleased.

-- From A. C. Hobbs (Charles Tomlinson, ed.), Locks and Safes: The Construction of Locks. Published by Virtue & Co., London, 1853 (revised 1868).

Notable locksmiths

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Lock Manufacturers and Brands". 24 7 Locksmiths. Archived from the original on 2019-06-15. Retrieved 2017-08-13.
  2. ^ a b Statistics, United States Bureau of Labor (1976). Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Division of Occupational Outlook. pp. 416–417. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Certificate III in Locksmithing". TAFE Queensland. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  4. ^ "Licensing of Locksmiths".
  5. ^ "Are locksmiths licensed in the UK?". The National Guild of Certified Locksmiths. April 9, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "State Licensing Laws". Associated Locksmiths of America. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  7. ^ Carpenter, Dick M. III; Knepper, Lisa; Sweetland, Kyle; McDonald, Jennifer. "License to Work: A National Study of Burdens from Occupational Licensing". Institute for Justice. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  8. ^ "Locksmith Company and Locksmith Employee Fact Sheet". California Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. July 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  9. ^ "Licensing_Classifications: C-28 Lock And Security Equipment". s. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  10. ^ "Locksmith License". Miami-Dade County. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  11. ^ "Hillsborough County Locksmith Services Business Licensing Application and Important Information" (PDF). Hillsborough County. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  12. ^ "Locksmith". Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  13. ^ "Life Safety & Property Protection Training Requirements". Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshalln. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  14. ^ "Maryland Locksmith Licensing Program". Maryland Department of Labor. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  15. ^ "New Jersey Office of the Attorney General: Application for a Locksmith License" (PDF). New Jersey Attorney General. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  16. ^ "Local Law 19-2007: A Local Law to amend the Administrative Code in relation to locksmith licenses". Nassau County Legislature. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  17. ^ "General Instructions for the Locksmith License". Nassau County Department of Consumer Affairs. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  18. ^ "North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board: Application for a Locksmith License" (PDF). North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  19. ^ "North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board: Application for a Locksmith Apprentice License". North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  20. ^ "Alarm, Locksmith, & Fire Sprinkler Program". Oklahoma Office of the Department of Labor. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  21. ^ "TN Regulations: Locksmith". Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  22. ^ "Private Security Administrative Rules:RULE §35.123 Locksmith Company License" (PDF). Texas Department of Public Safety. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  23. ^ "Licensure and Regulatory Affairs: Locksmith". Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  24. ^ "Licensure and Regulatory Affairs: Criminal History". Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  25. ^ Lea, Robert (2010). "Going for Growth: why Banham is not going to bolt now" The Times
  26. ^ Evening Standard. 9/25/2014, p73. 1p.
  27. ^ "Lock cylinder". Archived from the original on 2017-12-31.
  28. ^ "Door fastening device". Archived from the original on 2017-12-31.
  29. ^ "Banham - Experts in Security Services". Banham. Archived from the original on 2017-01-25.
  30. ^ "Opening an Antique Bramah Box Lock". Hygra.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  31. ^ "Bramah Locks". Crypto.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
[edit]

 

TL-15 Burglary Rated Safe
Basic steel safe with an electronic lock.

A safe (also called a strongbox or coffer) is a secure lockable enclosure used for securing valuable objects against theft or fire. A safe is usually a hollow cuboid or cylinder, with one face being removable or hinged to form a door. The body and door may be cast from metal (such as steel) or formed out of plastic through blow molding. Bank teller safes typically are secured to the counter, have a slit opening for dropping valuables into the safe without opening it, and a time-delay combination lock to foil thieves. One significant distinction between types of safes is whether the safe is secured to a wall or structure or if it can be moved around.

History

[edit]

The first known safe dates back to the 13th century BC and was found in the tomb of Pharaoh Ramesses II. It was made of wood and consisted of a locking system resembling the modern pin tumbler lock.[1]

In the 16th century, blacksmiths in southern Germany, Austria, and France first forged cash boxes in sheet iron. These sheet-iron money chests served as the models for mass-produced cash boxes in the 19th century.[2]

In the 17th century, in northern Europe, iron safes were sometimes made in the shape of a barrel, with a padlock on top.[3]

In 1835, English inventors Charles and Jeremiah Chubb in Wolverhampton, England, received a patent for a burglar-resisting safe and began a production of safes.[4] The Chubb brothers had produced locks since 1818. Chubb Locks was an independent company until 2000 when it was sold to Assa Abloy.

On November 2, 1886, inventor Henry Brown patented a "receptacle for storing and preserving papers". The container was fire retardant and accident resistant as it was made from forged metal. The box was able to be safely secured with a lock and key and also able to maintain organization by offering different slots to organize important papers.[5][6]

Specifications

[edit]

Specifications for safes include some or all of the following parameters:

It is often possible to open a safe without access to the key or knowledge of the combination; this activity is known as safe-cracking and is a popular theme in heist films.

A diversion safe, or hidden safe, is a safe that is made from an otherwise ordinary object such as a book, a candle, a can, or wall outlet. Valuables are placed in these hidden safes, which are themselves placed inconspicuously (for example, a book would be placed on a book shelf).

Strongbox multiple locking mechanism

Fire-resistant record protection equipment consists of self-contained devices that incorporate insulated bodies, doors, drawers or lids, or non-rated multi-drawer devices housing individually rated containers that contain one or more inner compartments for storage of records. These devices are intended to provide protection to one or more types of records as evidenced by the assigned Class rating or ratings; Class 350 for paper, Class 150 for microfilm, microfiche other and photographic film and Class 125 for magnetic media and hard drives. Enclosures of this type are typically rated to protect contents for 12, 1, 2, or 4 hours; they will not protect indefinitely. They may also be rated for their resistance to impact should the safe fall a specified distance onto a hard surface, or have debris fall upon it during a fire.[7]

Burglary-resistant safes are rated as to their resistance to various types of tools and the duration of the attack.

Safes can contain hardware that automatically dispenses cash or validates bills as part of an automated cash handling system.

Room-sized fireproof vaults

[edit]

For larger volumes of heat-sensitive materials, a modular room-sized vault is much more economical than purchasing and storing many fire rated safes. Typically these room-sized vaults are utilized by corporations, government agencies and off-site storage service firms. Fireproof vaults are rated up to Class 125-4 Hour for large data storage applications. These vaults utilize ceramic fiber, a high temperature industrial insulating material, as the core of their modular panel system. All components of the vault, not just the walls and roof panels, must be Class 125 rated to achieve that overall rating for the vault. This includes the door assembly (a double door is needed since there is no single Class 125 vault door available), cable penetrations, coolant line penetrations (for split HVAC systems), and air duct penetrations.

There are also Class 150 applications (such as microfilm) and Class 350 vaults for protecting valuable paper documents. Like the data-rated (Class 125) structures, these vault systems employ ceramic fiber insulation and components rated to meet or exceed the required level of protection.

In recent years room-sized Class 125 vaults have been installed to protect entire data centers. As data storage technologies migrate from tape-based storage methods to hard drives, this trend is likely to continue.[8]

Fire-resistant safes

[edit]
A reinforced, fireproof cabinet for dangerous chemicals

A fire-resistant safe is a type of safe that is designed to protect its contents from high temperatures or actual fire. Fire resistant safes are usually rated by the amount of time they can withstand the extreme temperatures a fire produces, while not exceeding a set internal temperature, e.g., less than 350 °F (177 °C). Models are typically available between half-hour and four-hour durations.

In the UK, the BS EN-1047 standard is set aside for data and document safes to determine their ability to withstand prolonged intense heat and impact damage.

  • Document safes are designed to maintain an internal temperature no greater than 177 °C (351 °F) while in a constantly heated environment in excess of 1,000 °C (1,830 °F).
  • Data safes are designed to maintain an internal temperature no greater than 55 °C (131 °F) while in a constantly heated environment in excess of 1,000 °C (1,830 °F).

These conditions are maintained for the duration of the test. This is usually at least 30 minutes but can extend to many hours depending on grade. Both kinds of safe are also tested for impact by dropping from a set height onto a solid surface and then tested for fire survivability once again.[9]

In the United States, both the writing of standards for fire-resistance and the actual testing of safes is performed by Underwriters Laboratories.

An in-floor safe installed in a concrete floor is very resistant to fire. However, not all floor safes are watertight; they may fill with water from fire hoses. Contents can be protected against water damage by appropriate packaging.

Reinforced, fireproof cabinets are also used for dangerous chemicals or flammable goods.

Wall safes

[edit]

Wall safes are designed to provide hidden protection for documents and miscellaneous valuables. Adjustable depth allows the maximization of usable space when installed in different wall thicknesses. Some wall safes have pry-resistant recessed doors with concealed hinges. A painting or other wall decoration may be hung over a wall safe to hide it.

Small safes may be fixed to a wall to prevent the entire safe being removed, without concealment. Very small secure enclosures known as key safes, opened by entering a combination, are attached to the wall of a building to store the keys allowing access, so that they are available only to a person knowing the combination, typically for holiday lets, carers, or emergency use.[10][11]

Safe-cracking

[edit]

Safe-cracking is opening a safe without a combination or key. There are many methods of safe-cracking ranging from brute force methods to guessing the combination. The easiest method that can be used on many safes is "safe bouncing", which involves hitting the safe on top; this may cause the locking pin to budge, opening the safe[citation needed].

Physicist Richard Feynman gained a reputation for safe-cracking while working on the Manhattan Project during the Second World War. He did this for recreation, describing his experiences and methods in detail in his book Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!. He made the point that the secure storage he successfully opened clandestinely (to which he would have been given access if he asked) contained contents far more important than any thief had ever accessed, all the secrets of the wartime atomic bomb project.[12]

UL Safe Standards

[edit]

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) testing certifications are known to be some of the most rigorous and most respected in the world.[13] UL provides numerous ratings, the most common security and fire ratings as discussed below. UL ratings are the typical rating standards used for safes within the United States. They are only matched by B.T.U/VDMA certifications (Germany).[14]

Fire ratings

[edit]
UL 1 Hour Fire Label

UL provides a variety of fire rating classifications, 125, 150, and 350 representing the maximum internal temperature in degrees Fahrenheit the safe may not exceed during the test. The classifications come in durations from

12-hour to 4 hours in length. The safe is exposed to gradually higher temperatures depending on the duration of the test. The most common standards being the 350 one hour (1,700 degrees) and 350 two hour (1,850 degrees) ratings as the temperature paper chars is approximately 451 degrees Fahrenheit.[15]

Burglary ratings

[edit]

UL standards are one of the principal North American protection standards.[16] The resistance time limit specifies "tools on the safe" time without access to contents.[17] The test might take hours to run and can be repeated as many times as the UL staff feel necessary to ensure that all prospective avenues of attack have been thoroughly explored.

Residential Security Containers (RSC)

[edit]

This is the entry level security rating offered by Underwriters Laboratories and it has its own standard: (UL 1037).[18] The standard originally had one level, now known as RSC Level I. The standard was expanded in 2016 providing a greater range of security options.[19] This standard also involves a drop test for products weighing not more than 750 pounds, simulating attempting to gain entry by dropping the safe.[20]

  • RSC Level I - Must withstand a five-minute attack by one technician using common hand tools such as drills, screwdrivers and hammers.
  • RSC Level II - Must withstand a ten-minute attack by two technicians who use more aggressive tools such as picks, sledgehammers, pry bars, high-speed carbide drills and pressure applying devices. In addition, the technicians will attempt to make a six-square-inch opening in the door or the front face of the safe.
  • RSC Level III - Also gives two technicians a ten-minute window to perform the test, but the range of tools become even more aggressive, and the size of the maximum attack opening must not exceed two square inches.

Tool-Resistant Safe (TL)

[edit]
UL TL-15 Tool-Resistant Safe Label

Safes at this level are typically, but not exclusively, used for commercial applications such as jewelers and coin dealers. These ratings are granted to combination locked safes that successfully resist when attacked by two technicians with common hand tools, picking tools, mechanical or portable electric tools, grinding points, carbide drills and pressure applying devices or mechanisms. In addition to those requirements, the safe must weigh at least 750 pounds or come with instructions for anchoring, and have body walls of material equivalent to at least 1" open hearth steel with a minimum tensile strength of 50,000 psi. The UL Standard for tool-resistant safes and above are governed by UL Standard 687.[21][22]

  • TL-15 - This is a combination-locked safe that offers limited protection against combinations of common mechanical and electrical tools. The safe will resist abuse for 15 minutes from tools such as hand tools, picking tools, mechanical or electric tools, grinding points, carbide drills and devices that apply pressure. While the UL 687 defines this as a "limited degree" of protection, that standard is used for commercial applications, and the TL-15 rating offers significantly better protection than many unrated safes.
  • TL-30 - This safe offers moderate protection against combinations of mechanical and electrical tools. The safe will resist abuse for 30 minutes from the same tools as the TL-15 test, plus more aggressive tools including cutting wheels and power saws.
  • TL-30x6 - This is safe can withstand the same assaults as the TL-30 but protection is offered on all six-sides of the body as opposed to only the door.

Torch & Tool Resistant Safe (TRTL)

[edit]
  • TRTL-30x6 - This is a combination-locked safe that offers high protection against combinations of mechanical, electrical, and cutting tools. The safe will resist abuse for 30 minutes from tools such as hand tools, picking tools, mechanical or electrical tools, grinding points, carbide drills, devices that apply pressure, cutting wheels, power saws, impact tools and, in addition, can withstand an oxy-fuel welding and cutting torch (tested gas limited to 1,000 cubic feet (28 m3) combined total oxygen and fuel gas.)[23]
  • TRTL-60x6 - This class will withstand the same assaults as Class TRTL-30x6 for 60 minutes.

Torch, Explosive & Tool Resistant Safe (TXTL)

[edit]
  • TXTL-60x6 - This class meets all the requirements for Class TRTL-60x6 and in addition can withstand detonation of one charge of 4 ounces (110 g) of nitroglycerin, or other high explosive of equivalent energy. Multiple charges up to a total of 8 ounces (230 g) may be used.

European safe standards

[edit]

Depending on the usage, the European Committee for Standardization has published different European standards for safes. Testing and certification according to these standards should be done by an accredited certification body, e.g. European Certification Body.[24]

  • EN 1143-1 is the main testing standard for safes, ATM safes, strongroom doors and strongrooms. For safes it features eleven resistance grades (0, I, II, ..., to X). From one grade to the next the security rises by approximately 50%. Testing is based on a free choice of attack tools and methods. Testing requires partial access (hand hole) and complete access attempts, on all sides of the product. The security is calculated by using ratings of tools and the attack time. The result is expressed in resistance units (RU).[25]
  • EN 14450 is a testing standard for secure cabinets and strongboxes. The standard covers products meant for purposes where the security resistance required is less than that of EN 1143–1.[26]

For fire-resistant safes the EN 1047-1 (fire resistance standard similar to the fire resistance safe standard of UL) and EN 15659 (for light fire storage units) were published.[27]

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The History of Safes". Insafe International Limited. 18 February 2015. Archived from the original on 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  2. ^ "Sixteenth and seventeenth century money chests and cash boxes". Historical Locks. Archived from the original on 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  3. ^ Barrel Safe https://elizabethstreetgallery.com/barrel-safe/ Archived 2022-07-11 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "History". Archived from the original on 2010-09-09.
  5. ^ "Henry Brown". Inventors. About.com. 2011. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2012.
  6. ^ Chamberlain, Gaius (November 26, 2012). "Henry Brown". The Black Inventor Online Museum. Archived from the original on July 8, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  7. ^ "Five reasons you need a Home Safe". Archived from the original on 2017-04-20. Retrieved 2017-04-19.
  8. ^ "Protection for the Modular Data Center". Cision PRWeb. 2008-08-26. Archived from the original on 2022-03-11. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  9. ^ Standard document: BS EN 1047-2:2000
  10. ^ "Key safes". Kirklees Council. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Key Safe Information Sheet" (PDF). Derbyshire County Council. 18 November 2022.
  12. ^ Feynman, Richard (1997). Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!. W. W. Norton & Company. p. 60. ISBN 978-0-393-31604-9.
  13. ^ "Cracking the Code: A Glimpse into UL's Burglary Testing of Safes". Underwriters Laboratories (UL). 2019-09-10. Archived from the original on 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  14. ^ "EN 1143-1, EN 1143-2 and EN 14450". Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau. Archived from the original on 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  15. ^ "UL Fire Rating". www.klsecurity.com. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  16. ^ sage (2018-09-11). "Understanding the New UL RSC Level II Burglary Safe Rating". Antique Sage. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  17. ^ Meilink TL30 Safe Burglary Test at UL, retrieved 2024-03-25
  18. ^ "UL 1037: Standard for Antitheft Alarms and Devices". Underwriters Limited. 1999-02-24. Archived from the original on 2016-07-31. Retrieved 2016-07-01.
  19. ^ sage (2018-09-11). "Understanding the New UL RSC Level II Burglary Safe Rating". Antique Sage. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  20. ^ "Residential Security Container Standard Revised". UL Solutions. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  21. ^ "UL 687: Standard for Burglary-Resistant Safes". Underwriters Limited. 2011-07-19. Archived from the original on 2016-08-18. Retrieved 2016-07-01.
  22. ^ "UL 687 Burglary Safe". www.klsecurity.com. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
  23. ^ Salazar, Diet (2020-06-15). "Safes: Everything You Need to Know". Archived from the original on 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  24. ^ EN 1143-1:2012, clause 7.2
  25. ^ "CEN". Archived from the original on 2020-10-21. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
  26. ^ "CEN". Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
  27. ^ "EN 1047-1, EN 1047-2 and EN 15659". Archived from the original on 2014-04-13. Retrieved 2014-04-10.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Locks, Safes, and Security: An International Police Reference, published by Charles Thomas Publishers, Springfield, Illinois, United States. (2000) ISBN 0-398-07079-2.
[edit]
  • Media related to Safes at Wikimedia Commons

 

Locking-picking at a Noisebridge locksport event

Locksport is the sport or recreation of defeating locking systems. Its enthusiasts learn a variety of skills including lock picking, lock bumping, and a variety of other skills traditionally known only to locksmiths and other security professionals. Locksport followers enjoy the challenge and excitement of learning to defeat all forms of locks, and often gather together in sport groups to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and participate in a variety of recreational activities and contests.

History

[edit]

Lock picking has existed for as long as locks have, and recreational lock picking has as well. King Louis XVI of France (1754–1793) was a keen designer, picker and manipulator of locks.[1]

Notes from the MIT Roof and Tunnel Hacking community[2] were made widely available in 1991 as The MIT Guide to Lock Picking.

However, as an organized hobby, lock picking is a relatively recent phenomenon. The earliest known organized group of lock picking enthusiasts is the German club SSDeV (Sportsfreunde der Sperrtechnik – Deutschland e.V. [de], which translates as Sports Enthusiasts of Lockpicking – Germany, reg. assoc.). SSDeV was founded by Steffen Wernéry in 1997.[3] As the group grew in Germany, another group was founded in The Netherlands in 1999. This group, originally called NVHS, and currently called TOOOL (The Open Organisation Of Lockpickers),[4] has also helped to pioneer the collaborative hobby of lock picking.

The term locksport was adopted by lock picking enthusiasts as a way of differentiating what they do from locksmiths, as well as from those who might choose to pick locks for nefarious purposes. As of early 2005, the term had been suggested, but not widely adopted. The creation of the sport group Locksport International in July 2005, founded by Josh Nekrep, Kim Bohnet, and Devon McDormand of LockPicking101.com, helped to solidify the term within the community, and today the term is widely adopted in North America by those who practice the craft for fun and sport. Locksport International is now under the direction of Doug Farre.[5]

In the beginning of 2024 a book called "locksport" was published, detailing how competitions are run and how to train for them. The book is written by five lockpickers, each writing about their own speciality. [6]

Philosophy

[edit]

At the core of locksport is the philosophical belief in responsible full disclosure. Locksport enthusiasts target security through obscurity that is common within the locksmith industry, as well as among lock manufacturers. Those who choose to participate in locksport often seek to discover security vulnerabilities and notify lock manufacturers as well as, in some instances, the public, in an effort to promote improvements in the field of physical security and to aid consumers in making better, more informed decisions about their own security.[7] This philosophy is contradictory to that held by many locksmith organizations,[8] and locksport enthusiasts have come under attack for releasing information about lesser-known vulnerabilities.[citation needed] Nonetheless, locksport enthusiasts persist in discovering weaknesses in all forms of physical security.

Activities

[edit]
A public "locked stump" in Brno, Czechia, where lock pickers are invited to remove an existing padlock and place another of their own

At locksport meetings, members regularly participate in a variety of activities such as lock challenges, lock relay races, standardized tests, and many other such activities dreamed up by the members themselves. Many enthusiasts support each other through online groups and forums such as Facebook, where a number of locksport groups[9] are available to join for those looking to get into the sport.

One such activity is known as the Padlock Challenge, where members each start with a predefined number of padlocks linked together. As participants pick a lock, they attach the lock to the chain of padlocks of another participant. The goal is to be the first to rid oneself of all one's locks. Another common activity is some form of speed challenge, where members are given a limited time to pick a lock, or compete for the best time on one or more locks.

The Open Organisation Of Lockpickers (Toool) Netherlands chapter engages in two types of competitions.[10] Stefaan Offerman conceived the 'continuous competition', which runs throughout the year and offers participants the chance to thoroughly familiarize themselves with 20 to 30 different competition locks. Competitors can attempt to pick a specific lock as many times as they wish, with only their fastest time being recorded. The results from previous competitions can be found on the TOOOL Netherlands website.[11]

Since 2002, Toool has also been organizing the renowned and infamous 'Dutch Open' lockpicking championships. This event attracts lockpickers from various countries, including Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the United States, who compete for the highly coveted cup. Unlike the continuous competition, the Dutch Open provides a new lock for each round, requiring competitors to be in top form. Since 2008, the Dutch Open has been held during LockCon.

Contests

[edit]

There are several organized lock picking contests that are held each year. Both SSDeV and TOOOL.NL hold a major contest each year, attended by hobbyists and travellers from around the globe. In North America, contests are held at the Defcon Convention in Las Vegas each year, and the HOPE Convention every second year. Rules and format of contests vary from event to event.

"Locksport fans compete in several formats, including head-to-head contests that determine the fastest lock picker. In the so-called Locksport Wizard, each contestant is given a burlap sack containing an identical set of locks and is required to blindly pick them using only tools they have put in the sack."

In other challenges, participants have to pick their way out of handcuffs before attempting to defeat a set of locks. There also are competitions to disassemble locks and reassemble them properly.[12]

Conventions

[edit]

There are currently several conventions exclusive to locksport. This includes conventions such as LockCon[13] (formerly The Dutch Open), LockFest EU[14] and OzSecCon Australia.[15] These conferences include talks on locks and physical security technologies, as well as competitions between participants in different types of opening techniques. Enthusiasts have also found acceptance among a variety of hacker conventions. DEFCON and HOPE are the most notable. At each of these conventions a dedicated area called "The Lock Picking Village" is set up where contests and presentations are held. Here, attendees can learn to pick locks and watch others practice and compete.

Ethics

[edit]

Because lock picking is sometimes viewed as a nefarious craft, locksport enthusiasts uphold a very rigorous standard of ethics.

Locksporters abide by the following rules in order to make it clear to the people outside of the community that its activities are within ethical boundaries:

  • They may not open a lock that is in use.
  • They may open only locks that belong to them. For other locks, they need express consent of the owner.
  • A lock which has been effectively abandoned by its owner and placed in a public place without securing anything (i.e., not "in use", such as a lock placed on a "lovewall") may ethically be picked by any locksporter, provided the lock is returned to its original locked position and state. Permanently removing (or relocating) the lock may be done only when lawfully and specifically sanctioned by an appropriate authority (usually the lawful landowner upon which the lock is placed, which may be a department of governance).
  • The security needs of others must be preserved.
  • All activities take place within boundaries of respectability, integrity and professionalism.

In an effort to keep lock-picking skill away from those who would abuse it, members of locksport groups have zero tolerance for illegal or immoral lock picking, bypass, or other forms of entry.[16] Though the incidence of lock picking for crime is statistically low,[citation needed] locksport enthusiasts feel they must uphold such strict standards to refute the common misconception that they are participating in illegal activities.[17]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Andress, David. "The Terror", Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, 2005, p. 12-13
  2. ^ "The MIT Hacking community is saddened by the series of recent events which have made the "MIT Guide To Lockpicking" available electronically in a indiscriminate fashion"
  3. ^ Tagliabue, John (2009-09-15). "Breaking in New Sport, Dutch Sweat Small Stuff". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2012-03-22. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  4. ^ "FAQ - "What happened to the NVHS?"". Archived from the original on 2009-02-02. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
  5. ^ "Lock Picking for Sport Cracks the Mainstream"
  6. ^ https://locksportbook.com/
  7. ^ "What is Locksport, Anyway?"
  8. ^ "ALOA clearly believes that “security through ignorance” should be the rule." Archived 2009-01-07 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "The Locksport Network Directory". locksport.net. Archived from the original on 2024-06-01. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  10. ^ "Lockpicking - Toool". toool.nl. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  11. ^ "Toool Doorlopende Competitie". toool.nl. Archived from the original on 2024-06-01. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  12. ^ Ngowi, Rodrique (August 3, 2010). "Pick a peck of private locks: new sport worries police". Prince George Citizen (British Columbia). 630 words. LexisNexis Academic. Web.cite news: CS1 maint: location (link)
  13. ^ "LockCon - Toool". toool.nl. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  14. ^ "LockFest 2023". www.lockfest.eu. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  15. ^ "OzSecCon - Physical Security Conference". ozseccon.com. Retrieved 2024-06-01.
  16. ^ "You may only open locks which belong to you."
  17. ^ ""Ethics"". Archived from the original on 2020-07-26. Retrieved 2011-06-08.

 

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2. Is it possible to duplicate keys that are stamped Do Not Duplicate?
3. Can all types of keys be duplicated?
4. How long does key duplication take?
5. Are there any restrictions on who can request key duplication services?