Keytek™ get ready to launch new home security shop

If upgrading your home security is on your agenda this summer or your thinking of protecting something special, then checking in with Keytek™ should be at the top of your list.

The Keytek™ brand is expanding, and exciting times are approaching for us all here at Keytek™, as the final touches are added to our very first online shop. It’s not far from launch day and after weeks of sorting through picking and discarding products; we are all pleased to let you know that in the next few weeks our shop will be open for business. Keytekshop will be supplying you with lots of high quality additions for your home security, from some of the best brands in security - just in time for summer!

Home safes, cash boxes, and additional home security options are some of the many things we’ve included in our product line from top brands like Yale and Master lock. So if you’re in need of a little upgrade on your home security or would like to protect something valuable Keytek shop is the perfect place to find it. You can also expect to see lots of additional benefits from us to make you’re shopping as care free as possible like our online chat support, return policy and after sales service, along with a low price guarantee. 

To kick it all off we’ve got lots of amazing discounts, giveaways and promotions ready for our launch! But we can’t give too much way too soon, so keep posted on our social media for all our updates on the countdown to open day. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates on the launch and special offers for email subscribers!  

uPVC Specialists

Did you know that the majority of local locksmiths are also uPVC specialists?

Whatever situation you are in it can be extremely stressful to find that your uPVC door or window is not functioning correctly. This can not only be stressful but can be a high risk to the security of your home, especially if the uPVC door is jammed in the locked or unlocked position. This can be due to various factors, including the sudden change in the weather or basic wear and tear.

Any issues with a uPVC door should be rectified as quickly as possible as you may be subsequently vulnerable to a break in and failure to get the uPVC door repaired could result in invalidating your home insurance policy.

Here at Keytek™ all our Locksmiths are fully trained and skilled in uPVC doors and windows. A quick call to Keytek™ on 0800 035 0451 and we will have an engineer on site and nine times out of ten are able to resolve this issue on the first visit. 

Here are some of the terms a local locksmith may use:

uPVC Doors:

British Standard/BS3621 - The BS3621 signifies that a lock has been tested by the British Standards Institute and has met all of the relevant standards. It is widely recognised by the public and the majority of UK insurers as a sign of quality.

Cylinder - The key operated part of most locking systems. Available in many formats such as Euro profile, Rim type and Oval.

Anti Snap Cylinder - A cylinder specifically designed to help prevent cylinder or lock snapping. The ABS High Security Euro Cylinder is the only security cylinder currently on the market which has a TS007 3 star rating, SS312 Sold Secure Diamond Accredited and Secured by Design Accreditation combined.

Deadbolt - A solid bolt that protrudes from the Forend of the lock into the ‘Keep’ fitted on the door frame.

Double Locking - A function that offers an extra locking facility on top of the standard operation.

Furniture - Any hardware fitted to a door other than the lock itself. Handles, door knocker etc.

Hook Bolts - Similar in principal to dead bolts, although for added security hook bolts pivot out of the case and swing up or down into the frame.

Latch - Usually found used in conjunction with a number of other locking points (such as deadbolts).

Spindle - A square bar that runs between two handles, passing through the lock body itself to allow the latch to be retracted when a handle is operated.

Thumb Turn - A euro profile cylinder in place of the internal Key way to allow easy or quick egress.

Hinge Bolts - Small round lugs that are drill into the spine of a door and engage into keeps in the frame when the door is closed. Designed to prevent a door being lifted from its hinges and removed unless open.

Suite (Locks) - More than one lock manufactured in sequence or to a specific non-random pattern.

Master Key - A key that is designed to be able to open more than one lock.

Locksmith Jargon Buster

Calling an emergency locksmith in any situation can be a stressful time and can often lead to confusion, especially if you don’t understand what the local locksmith is trying to explain!

Whether you are locked out of your home or require your locks to be upgraded, when calling a local locksmith you want to be sure that you understand any industry specific/technical jargon used by the locksmith in order to avoid any miscommunication.  

Generally when booking a locksmith you will be asked a few questions about the door and the lock itself and whether your situation requires an emergency locksmith or not.

In order to help you fully understand the terms that are often used by a local locksmith we have put together the following locksmith jargon buster, which can be downloaded by clicking the image below...

Download our locksmith jargon buster by clicking the image above to ensure you fully understand the terms used by a local locksmith so that when you do require an Engineer you will be confident that you understand exactly what is being done onsite.

Download the Keytek™ Locksmith Jargon Buster by clicking the image below... - See more at: http://www.keytek.co.uk/locksmith-jargon-buster/?fdPMVersionId=13216#sthash.DZ3mJ2D8.dpufDo

Download the Keytek™ Locksmith Jargon Buster by clicking the image below... - See more at: http://www.keytek.co.uk/locksmith-jargon-buster/?fdPMVersionId=13216#sthash.DZ3mJ2D8.dpuf

A full breakdown of the locksmith jargon buster can be found below:

Wooden Doors:

Back Plate - A plate that fits directly to the door to provide a solid fastening for the hardware to be fitted to.

Bolt/Deadbolt  - A solid piece of metal that protrudes from the Forend of the lock into a ‘keep’ fitted on the frame.

British Standard/BS3621 - The BS3621 signifies that a lock has been tested by the British Standards Institute and has met all of the relevant standards. It is widely recognised by the public and the majority of UK insurers as a sign of quality.

Cam Lock - A cylinder type lock that operates a tail to engage with the locking mechanism. Commonly fitted to furniture or basic safes.

Closed Shackle Padlock - A padlock which has been manufactured with the shackle (the locking ‘loop’) largely encased within the main body.

Combination/digital locks - A keyless lock that uses a chosen combination of numbers or letters to be input before it releases.

Cylinder - The key operated part of most locking systems. Available in many formats for example; Euro profile, Rim type, Oval.

Door viewer - A device that allows the person inside of a property to view the person on the outside of the property through the door.

Double Locking - A function that offers an extra locking facility on top of the standard operation.

Escutcheon - The plate or guard normally fixed over the keyway of a lock to protect it from the elements and offer an aesthetically pleasing finish.

Face Plate - A plate fitted to the front profile of the lock to provide an aesthetically pleasing finish and information about the lock behind it.

Furniture - Any hardware fitted to a door other than the lock itself, for example handles or a door knocker.

Hinge Bolts - Small round lugs that are drilled into the spine of a door and engage into keeps in the frame when the door is closed. Designed to prevent a door being lifted from its hinges and removed unless open.

Hook Bolts - Similar in principal to dead bolts, although for added security hook bolts pivot out of the case and swing up or down into the frame.

Latch - Usually found used in conjunction with a number of other locking points (such as deadbolts).

Master Key - A key that is designed to be able to open more than one lock.

Mortice Lock - A lock that is fitted within a pocket cut into the door. When the door is closed the only visible parts are the keyways from both sides of the door.

Night Latch - A lock operated by a rim style cylinder. The lock is fitted to the back of the door and is operable by use of a handle from the inside. Available in many different sizes and security ratings.

Rim Cylinder - A cylinder used to operate a Nightlatch. 

Sash Lock - Most commonly a mortice style lock that also utilises a latch operated by a handle.

Shackle - The metal ‘loop’ at the top of the Padlock that fits through the eye of a hasp.

Shoot Bolt - A bolt designed to bridge the gap between the door and the frame, widely used as extra security.

Spindle - A square bar that runs between two handles, passing through the lock body itself to allow the latch to be retracted when a handle is operated.

Snib - The small button or sliding button fitted most commonly to night latches to allow the latch to be held in position.

Suite (Locks) - More than one lock manufactured in sequence or to a specific non-random pattern.

Thumb Turn - A knob fitted to the inside of a euro profile cylinder in place of the internal Key way to allow easy or quick egress.

uPVC Doors: 

 

British Standard/BS3621 - The BS3621 signifies that a lock has been tested by the British Standards Institute and has met all of the relevant standards. It is widely recognised by the public and the majority of UK insurers as a sign of quality.

Cylinder - The key operated part of most locking systems. Available in many formats, Euro profile, Rim type, Oval.

Anti Snap Cylinder - A cylinder specifically designed to help prevent cylinder or lock snapping. The ABS High Security Euro Cylinder is the only security cylinder currently on the market which has a TS007 3 star rating, SS312 Sold Secure Diamond Accredited and Secured by Design Accreditation combined. 

Deadbolt - A solid bolt that protrudes from the Forend of the lock into the ‘Keep’ fitted on the door frame.

Double Locking - A function that offers an extra locking facility on top of the standard operation.

Furniture - Any hardware fitted to a door other than the lock itself. Handles, door knocker etc.

Hook Bolts - Similar in principal to dead bolts, although for added security hook bolts pivot out of the case and swing up or down into the frame.

Latch - Usually found used in conjunction with a number of other locking points (such as deadbolts).

Spindle - A square bar that runs between two handles, passing through the lock body itself to allow the latch to be retracted when a handle is operated.

Thumb Turn - A euro profile cylinder in place of the internal Key way to allow easy or quick egress.

Hinge Bolts - Small round lugs that are drill into the spine of a door and engage into keeps in the frame when the door is closed. Designed to prevent a door being lifted from its hinges and removed unless open.

Suite (Locks) - More than one lock manufactured in sequence or to a specific non-random pattern.

Master Key - A key that is designed to be able to open more than one lock.

 

 

Additional Security:

 

British Standard/BS3621 - The BS3621 signifies that a lock has been tested by the British Standards Institute and has met all of the relevant standards. It is widely recognised by the public and the majority of UK insurers as a sign of quality.

Closed Shackle Padlock - A padlock which has been manufactured with the shackle (the locking ‘loop’) largely encased within the main body.

Door viewer - A device that allows the person inside of a property to view the person on the outside of the property through the door.

Shoot Bolt - A bolt designed to bridge the gap between the door and the frame, widely used as extra security.

Sash Jammer - A small piece of metal with a pivoting arm that bridges the gap between the frame and sash of a door or window. This is fitted to help prevent doors/windows from being jimmied open.

Door Chains and limiters - A small chain that is attached to the door frame which attaches to a track on the door to prevent any unwanted visitors from entering a house after the door has been opened.

Key Safe - A strong mechanical box usually with a digital pad that is fitted externally to a home which is used to secure keys for an external door.     

Locked out of your house?

We all know that being locked out of your home can be an extremely stressful time especially in the colder months. Don’t worry, you are not alone, whether you are locked out during the day or even the middle of the night an emergency locksmith can help.   

What to do when you’re locked out of your house...

Do’s and Don’ts

Don’t try to break in to your own home as you may cause damage to your property and yourself by doing so. 

Don’t call your local emergency services such as the police or fire brigade, they will charge you and may damage your door as they are not trained locksmiths by trade. These types of emergency call outs to these services are said to cost taxpayers more than 5 million pounds a year.   

Don’t force the wooden or uPVC door. This could cause further damage to the door and incur costly repairs. 

Do call your local emergency locksmith straight away on 0800 035 0451.

The emergency locksmith will ask you the following questions...

• Where are your house keys? - Are they inside your property, stolen or lost? If your keys have been lost or stolen you will need to make your local Police Station aware and give the incident number to the locksmith.
• What type of lock do you have on your door? - Is your door uPVC or wooden? Is the lock shoulder height or waist height?
• Is your lock faulty? - If your lock is faulty the local locksmith will ask you to give a brief a description of what is happening when you are trying to unlock your door.

The majority of emergency locksmiths will recommend an average emergency response time of approximately 30 minutes* to ensure that you are not locked out of your property for too long.

Now relax knowing that a skilled locksmith is on their way...

 *where possible

Do’s and Don’ts on what to do when you are locked out of your home... from Keytek Locksmiths

One third of all recorded burglaries are against businesses

Did you know that one third of all recorded burglaries in all London Boroughs are against businesses (http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/londonfacts/default.htm?category=4)?

In the UK alone there were around 214,000 incidents of burglary, including attempts, against businesses; these incidents were across four sectors, which included wholesale and retail, manufacturing, transportation and storage and accommodation and food. In terms of what items were stolen in 38% of cases it was reported that goods and stock were the most common.  

The most common way in which entry was gained by a burglar was through either a wooden or glass door – 36% of businesses, therefore it is very important to maintain and upgrade your office security, especially on a regular basis. The security of any office can be maintained through a 24 hour locksmith, all a business has to do is sign up as a Commercial Business Account to a National Locksmithswho will be able to fulfill all of your business security needs.   

Many locksmiths will recommend a Master Key Suite for offices who wish to restrict the access of certain areas of the office i.e. stopping a customer or client from accessing certain areas of the office such as the Managing Directors office; therefore only authorised staff members with keys will be able to access certain areas. Companies such as Avocet are able to offer a Zone Control ABS Master Key Suiting, the supplier are then able to fully manage both the key registering and cutting for the client – therefore providing and ensuring maximum security. See info graphic below for more information.

As well as providing locksmith services to domestic customer, Keytek™ also provide a range of locksmith services for commercial/business customers. As a national company ourselves we are able to offer full ‘Nationwide’ coverage to all of our customers, these locksmith services include a number of benefits that other companies do not incorporate into their operations. Currently we service a large portfolio of National companies; these include Ministry of Defence, Lidl, Safestore and Debenhams.

To find out more about the locksmith services for commercial businesses provided by Keytek™ please visit http://www.keytek.co.uk/locksmith-for-business/

All statistics provided in this blog post are from the Home Office (2012).

Over 20% of Britons are still leaving their spare set of keys hidden in the garden!

A new survey carried out by Keytek™ Locksmiths has revealed that more than 20% of us are still keeping up the old tradition of leaving a spare set of keys hidden in the garden. Survey participants across the UK revealed that despite years of being advised by the police and government against it, many will still leave their keys in a somewhat easily discovered hiding place. According to Tesco Compare 73% of burglars will use doors to gain entry into a property, therefore by leaving a key under the plant pot or the welcome mat, you will potentially leave your home vulnerable to a break-in and it is definitely an enticing invitation for the average burglar.   

The Statistics

Considering this is only a small percentage of the population, it is still alarming that 20% of Britons will still leave their keys in what they feel is a secure hiding place at the risk of invalidating their home insurance by leaving their home vulnerable to a break-in; 2% said they keep a key under a plant pot, 6% under a mat, 7% elsewhere in the garden and 6% in the garage or shed. This is something that home insurers generally advise against. The AA insurance website clearly states this as a warning to all homeowners as part of their security tips, “Don’t hide a spare key outside as burglars know where to look.”

As well as exposing that a significant proportion of homeowners still hide their keys in the garden, the survey also revealed that 44% of people actually keep their spare set of keys with a neighbour; this gives an interesting new outlook on recent debate on whether modern Britons do actually know their neighbours.

Surprisingly only a small percentage of survey participants said that they use a Key Safe to store their spare set of keys. For a relatively small cost it is advisable to have a Key Safe fitted to the outside of your home by a 24 hour locksmiths. A Key Safe is a secure box where you can safely and securely store your keys without having to rely on a neighbour or family member to look after them.    
 

Where do you leave your spare set of keys? Please tell us in poll below...

  

Where do you leave your spare set of house keys?
	Under a plant pot
	Under a mat
	Elsewhere in the garden
	In the garage/shed
	With a neighbour
	Other
pollcode.com free polls

We need you!

Unemployment is currently a highly publicised topic amongst the UK media since the release of the UK unemployment figures last week. BBC News reported that although “UK unemployment fell by 4,000 to 2.51 million” (ONS – Office for National Statistics) the unemployment rate in the UK still remains at 7.8%, therefore well above that of the 7% target set by the Bank of England.   

At Keytek™ we are always looking for professional locksmiths from across the UK and Northern Ireland to join our Engineer Network due to continuing company progression and expansion.

Keytek™ Locksmith Training Academy
As part of company expansion and progression we also operate a Locksmith Training Academy, where we are the only training provider in the country able to offer a Level 4 NCFE Accreditation. If you are interested in working for Keytek™ but don’t possess the necessary locksmith skills and training to join our Engineer Network, don’t fret as our Locksmith Training Academy offers a variety of locksmith training courses. For more information on the Keytek™ Locksmith Training Academy and the courses we offer please visit www.locksmiths-training.co.uk or call the Academy Team on 01202 711 195. 

More on working for Keytek™

Keytek™ is one of the largest National Locksmiths in the UK providing both domestic and commercial locksmith services for over 15 years. This has enabled us to achieve priority positioning in major directories, which has resulted in more work for our engineers over that of our competitors.

Over the years we have built up an extensive Engineer Network across the UK and we are able to provide Engineers with many benefits including all the help and support they need from technical issues through to processing paperwork in the form of our in-house technical department (all engineers have access to 24 hour technical advice) and dedicated Engineer Liaison Team who are able to guidance on customer service and company procedures.     

Other benefits of working for Keytek™ include:

• Specialists in locksmith services, therefore we do not promote any other trades which results in us generating more locksmith customers.
• Group trade discount
• Simple paperwork procedure
• Working hours and time off tailored to suit your needs
• Dedicated Engineer phone line
• In terms of commercial locksmithing, we have some large National Accounts such as MOD, Coventry building society and Safestore. This helps to offer engineers a steady stream of work.
• When completing work on behalf of Keytek™ we will replace any parts you have used onsite.
  
• Our commitment to quality...
• ISO 9001/2008 accredited
• Investor In People
• Safe Contractor approved
• CHAS accredited Contractor
  

For more information about Keytek™ please visit www.keytek.co.uk or if you are interested in working for us please call 01202 711 195.