Master Key SystemsCape Town
One key that opens everything, and everybody else carrying only the doors they need. We design, cut and maintain master key systems for buildings, hotels and businesses across Cape Town.
Master key systems
Decide exactly who opens which door, using one key at the top.
A master key system is a set of cylinders and locks that lets different groups or individual key holders reach all, or only part, of a building. The key itself is nothing special. The cleverness is in the locks. Each lock opens with its own key, which will not touch any of the others in the set, and with the master key, which opens all of them.
The benefit is control. You can define precisely who has access to which areas, and you carry one key rather than a bunch. We do basic mastering systems in-house, and a whole set of cylinders — even padlocks — can be mastered so one key fits everything a manager or owner needs.
Sub-masters make it more granular. A few doors open on one sub-master, a few others on a different sub-master, while the grand master opens everything. That works particularly well in hotels and guesthouses. For obvious reasons, strict control over the grand master key matters.
High security keys can also be mastered. That puts the owner in total control: the key cannot be duplicated without authorisation, because only a selected few have access to the controlled blanks, so it must be cut where the system was bought.
Call 073 444 3773
We help in these situations
Start with the building and who moves through it. The system is designed around that, not the other way around.
- Too many keys on one ringOne master key at the top of the system, with individual keys for the doors below it.
- Different access for different staffSub-master levels so cleaning, maintenance and management each open only what they should.
- Hotels and guesthousesRoom keys that open one room, a housekeeping sub-master, and a grand master for the manager.
- Keys you do not want copiedHigh security mastering on controlled blanks, so nobody cuts a spare without your authorisation.
What happens when you call
Designing the system is most of the job. Get the access chart right first and the hardware is straightforward.
- 01Tell us about the building
How many doors, what kind of locks are on them now, and roughly how many people need keys.
- 02We map who opens what
Which doors sit under which sub-master, and who holds the grand master. This is the part worth thinking about.
- 03The system is cut and fitted
Cylinders are keyed to the chart, padlocks can be brought into the same system, and the locks are installed.
- 04You get the keys and the chart
Every key is handed over against the access chart, so you know exactly how many exist and who has them.
Who designs and holds your system
AAA Locksmiths has served the Cape Peninsula since 1999, including banks and several European consulates. A master key system is a long-term relationship, so it matters that the company holding your chart is still going to be here.
- PSIRA-registered security service provider
- Members of the Locksmith Association of South Africa
- Basic mastering systems produced in-house
- Controlled blanks on high security systems
- Manufacturer warranty on the hardware we install
Where we help
We work right across the Cape Town metro, out of the branch nearest to you. Pick your area to see who answers.
Cape Town CBD
The City Bowl, the Foreshore and the harbour, out through Woodstock and Observatory. Office blocks, flats and parking garages, at any hour of the night.
Common questions
If you are not sure which system your building needs, call and describe the doors.
What is the difference between master keyed and keyed alike?
A master key system gives every door its own key plus a master that opens all of them. Keyed alike gives you one key for a set of locks with no individual keys at all. Master keying is about controlling access. Keyed alike is about convenience.
Can padlocks be part of the system?
Yes. A whole set of cylinders and padlocks can be mastered together, which is why it works so well on premises with gates, stores and outbuildings.
Can somebody cut a copy of the master key?
Not if the system is on high security controlled blanks. Only a selected few have access to those blanks, so a spare has to be cut where the system was bought, with authorisation.
What happens if the grand master key is lost?
Call us straight away. Depending on the system, the affected cylinders are rekeyed to a new chart. This is exactly why strict control over the grand master matters from day one.
Can you master an existing set of locks?
Often, yes, depending on the brand and condition of the cylinders. Tell us what is fitted and we will tell you whether it can be brought into a system or is better replaced.
Tell us how many doors you need to control
And roughly how many people need to open which parts of the building.