Rekeying a building.

[David Walz]

I have been working as a locksmith and a safe technician since 1978. Recently I accepted a large rekeying job. Most of the keys, pin tumblers, were worn out, they were extremely difficult to operate most of the lock cylinders. I started on the 4th, and finished on the 7th, the building was closed down. Fortunately I was able to keep my truck inside, away from the mosquitoes.

This next part of the project is the roll up doors, I am going to remove the failed electric locks and retrofit new electric locks keyed to the master key system.

[Chris-socal]

On a trip to Florida 30 years ago we drove to a lookout point somewhere in the everglades. Before we even turned the car off the mosquitoes were hitting the windows of the car trying to get at us. I looked at my friend, he looked at me and we both said “no way” at the same time. We drive off.
Maybe you need a machete!

[David Walz]

On a trip to Florida 30 years ago we drove to a lookout point somewhere in the everglades. Before we even turned the car off the mosquitoes were hitting the windows of the car trying to get at us. I looked at my friend, he looked at me and we both said “no way” at the same time. We drive off.
Maybe you need a machete!

Our mosquitoes are immune from the bug sprays.

[shortrackskater]

Ok I'm beginning to like the high desert even more now. Not a mosquito in site!
Black widows here and there, but had those when I lived by the coast too.

Mosquitos!! UGH. 

[jay]

I have a Condo that I am renting out - our building has 49 units and everyone is issued two high security keys (medeco) for the building entrance, same key works at the lobby level for the fire stairs.

In the last 3 years we have had to re-key 5 times. People have lost keys, had their car broken into and keys stolen. Those are the ones we know about.
One time two druggies got into the stairwell and setup camp. We think they found someones key-ring just outside the building - that person is lucky they didn't take over their unit. They barricaded all of the other stairwell doors by jamming the release bars using old hockey sticks (yes this is Canada).  Since no one had access to that stairwell - they either used the other stairwell or the elevator - no one even knew they were there for about a week.  In addition to this being nasty it is a fire concern. Took the police about 6hrs to get them out and then there was a ton of garbage they had hauled in.

I talked to the condo board a couple of times and suggested that they go to a FOB system where they can just enable/disable as needed on a per device basis. They always come back to that its too expensive. I can't imagine a full re-key is cheap by any stretch of the imagination.



                                                                                                                                                                                             

[Chris-socal]

Ok I'm beginning to like the high desert even more now. Not a mosquito in site!
Black widows here and there, but had those when I lived by the coast too.

Mosquitos!! UGH. 

The thing I like about Black Widows is that they don't like people. The ones at my place have been displaced by Brown Widows and they aren't as afraid of people. At least they don't fly! LOL.
Unfortunately we have mosquitoes too.

[David Walz]

I have a Condo that I am renting out - our building has 49 units and everyone is issued two high security keys (medeco) for the building entrance, same key works at the lobby level for the fire stairs.

In the last 3 years we have had to re-key 5 times. People have lost keys, had their car broken into and keys stolen. Those are the ones we know about.
One time two druggies got into the stairwell and setup camp. We think they found someones key-ring just outside the building - that person is lucky they didn't take over their unit. They barricaded all of the other stairwell doors by jamming the release bars using old hockey sticks (yes this is Canada).  Since no one had access to that stairwell - they either used the other stairwell or the elevator - no one even knew they were there for about a week.  In addition to this being nasty it is a fire concern. Took the police about 6hrs to get them out and then there was a ton of garbage they had hauled in.

I talked to the condo board a couple of times and suggested that they go to a FOB system where they can just enable/disable as needed on a per device basis. They always come back to that its too expensive. I can't imagine a full re-key is cheap by any stretch of the imagination.



                                                                                                                                                                                           

You could go with T2 Trilogy stand alone they can be programmed with a prox cards, what I have done for my military customers is have "exit only" on some doors, and a T2 Trilogy on just a couple of main doors. T2 Trilogy are about $1,500.00 each plus the prox cards, programmer here in the US.
The Medeco is a great lock, however the rekeying, keys, are very expensive. I actually started locksmithing in 1978, same time Medeco was starting.

[David Walz]

Now that I have the building keyed up, I am tackling the roll up doors. Fabrication is one of my favorite jobs. I am fabricating a key switch that is keyed to the rest of the building, momentary on plunger switch , so I was able to eliminate the stop button. Yes I had rewire the buttons.

[David Walz]

I also hung up a key box.

[David Walz]

Now that I have finished this project, they want me to change the door swing from outside swing to inside swing. Its a concrete filled steel frame, and a steel door, which is one of my favorite projects. 

[jay]

Would an outside swing not be more secure ?
Easier to kick/batter open a door towards the inside than one that goes out.

[Chris-socal]

Doesn’t fire code require exterior doors to swing out?
Maybe their occupant load and use doesn’t require it but if something were to happen….
Fill in the blanks.

[David Walz]

Its a interior bathroom door.

[jay]

I’m not sure it’s fire Code, and it’s not the smell. It’s the burning of the eyes sometimes you just need to get out. 

The perfect murder. You put Bleach in the toilet tank, and ammonia in the bowl. After you do your business flush and volla Chlorine gas. You Will be overvome by the fumes and you’re found dead alone in a locked room and all the evidence has been washed away.

I’m not sure this would actually work, but it made for a good episode of Murdoch mysteries. Its all the toilet humour that I could muster this morning.

[shortrackskater]

I’m not sure it’s fire Code, and it’s not the smell. It’s the burning of the eyes sometimes you just need to get out. 
The perfect murder. You put Bleach in the toilet tank, and ammonia in the bowl. After you do your business flush and volla Chlorine gas. You Will be overvome by the fumes and you’re found dead alone in a locked room and all the evidence has been washed away.

Jay this is a side of you I've never seen!   

[Chris-socal]

Wow!
They must expect some explosive stuff to happen in a restroom to use a solid door!
Keep one eye on Jay at all times!

[David Walz]

I’m not sure it’s fire Code, and it’s not the smell. It’s the burning of the eyes sometimes you just need to get out. 

The perfect murder. You put Bleach in the toilet tank, and ammonia in the bowl. After you do your business flush and volla Chlorine gas. You Will be overvome by the fumes and you’re found dead alone in a locked room and all the evidence has been washed away.

I’m not sure this would actually work, but it made for a good episode of Murdoch mysteries. Its all the toilet humour that I could muster this morning.

Sounds like death by sh*tter. 

[David Walz]

Long story real short on the bathroom door project, I had to go to plan B, plan A didn't work. I pulled the frame and rotated it around.  One of the problems I encountered was the the cut out in the concrete is higher on one side, the old hinge side so I had to stuff the hinge side up on the side where the cut was a 1/4 inch lower. They have little touch up work for the paint. That was a lot of work. I have to move the light switch next week.

In the end, I saved thousands of dollars for a new lock, hinges, painting, frame and door for the customer.