The street door, the first point to protect
The building's entrance door sets the level of security for the whole building. If the lock fails, anyone can get into the shared areas, the letterboxes or the car park. That is why it is worth checking it regularly, even if it seems to work fine at first glance.
Some signs that something is not right:
- The door does not close by itself or takes too long to do so.
- The latch does not catch properly in the frame.
- The lock is hard to turn or makes strange noises.
- The automatic closer has gone out of adjustment after a knock.
If you notice any of these signs, it is best to ask for a check-up before the problem gets worse. At Cerrajería BETA we have a team of professional technicians who can assess the real state of the door and propose a proportionate solution, without alarmism. You can see the rest of our services related to building security.
Electric lock, door entry system and door closer: what to check
In many communities, access is managed with an electric lock connected to the door entry or video entry system. This set-up combines a mechanical part and an electrical part, which is worth bearing in mind because a fault can come from either side.
Before deciding on a change, it is useful to check:
- Whether the problem lies with the electric strike or the mechanical lock.
- Whether the door closer, the arm that shuts the door automatically, is properly adjusted.
- Whether there is planned maintenance or work is only done when something breaks.
For communities that want tighter control over who comes in and when, there are also access control solutions that replace or complement the traditional key.
Shared areas: meter room, roof and car park
As well as the entrance, other points often get overlooked: the meter room, the roof door and the access to the shared car park. These spaces are less visible, but their locks are also part of the building's security.
It is worth checking that:
- The doors to these spaces close properly and are never left open out of habit.
- Keys to these areas do not circulate uncontrolled among residents or suppliers.
- Car park access, if it uses a remote or card, works properly for all authorised users.
When several doors in the community should open with the same key, but in a controlled way, keyed-alike and master key systems let you organise different entrances with different levels of use, for example one key for maintenance staff and another for residents.
Who decides on changes in the community?
Changing the lock on the entrance or a shared area is not a decision for one person alone. It is usually discussed at an owners' meeting, where the state of the installation is assessed and everyone decides together how to proceed, especially if new keys need to be handed out.
Before approving a change, it helps to be clear about:
- What specific problem you want to solve.
- How many keys or copies will need to be handed out.
- Who will manage the copies from now on.
Asking for a free quote through our contact page before starting helps you bring a concrete proposal to the meeting, with the information needed to decide calmly.
Managing residents' keys without losing control
One of the trickiest points in any community is knowing how many keys exist and who has them. Over time it is easy to lose count: keys copied for a resident who no longer lives there, copies given to maintenance companies or duplicates nobody remembers.
To avoid this, some communities choose to:
- Centralise the key change in a single process when the lock is renewed.
- Keep a simple record of who has received each copy.
- Consider systems that let you add or remove access without changing the cylinder every time.
If you are unsure how secure your building really is, you can start with our security calculator, a free ten-question test that gives you an indicative score for your door's security.
Need help?
If your community is thinking about changing the entrance lock or reorganising the keys to shared areas, we can help you look at it calmly. Send us a WhatsApp or call us to tell us about the situation and, if you prefer, start with the security calculator for an initial assessment.
