Commercial Locksmith in Colorado Springs, CO

Old Colorado City storefronts

Colorado Avenue between 24th and 26th streets holds most of the 27 properties in the Old Colorado Historic Commercial District, listed on the National Register in 1982. Many are two-story red brick buildings dating to about 1900. A building like that can have a street door, a rear door and a separate entry to the upper floor, each with its own key history. If a storefront door and frame are original, photograph the door edge and frame before asking about replacement, since old openings may need adjustment to take modern hardware.

Knox boxes come first

The Colorado Springs Fire Department asks for approved rapid entry equipment in three situations: a monitored fire suppression or detection system, secured openings that make access unduly difficult, and any building where immediate access is needed. What that means for lock work:

• The department approves Knox products only, and a residential-style box does not qualify on a commercial property.
• Each box carries two labeled key sets of six to ten keys, along with codes or key cards for electronic locks.
• The department highly recommends a master key system.
• Department personnel do the lockup themselves, so after a rekey or a new master key system the department has to lock up the new keys.

Turnover and key control

Staff and tenant changes are where most businesses lose track of keys.

• When an employee leaves without returning keys, rekey the doors those keys opened, or the whole system if a master key is missing.
• In a multi-tenant building, rekey a suite's cylinders between tenants. A master key system lets the owner keep one key that opens every suite.
• Keep a written log of who holds which key, and change keypad and access codes the day someone leaves.

What to include in a request

Give the business name, the block and nearest cross streets, the number of doors, whether there is a Knox box, whether the locks are master keyed, and who authorizes the work if you lease the space.

The commercial locksmith page covers the service, lock rekeying explains changing keys without new hardware, and Colorado Springs has more on the city's older districts.