Institutional locksmiths are similar though not the same as the commercial locksmiths. Just like the name suggests, the institutional locksmith is employed by a particular institution (private or public) to design, install, maintain or repair the locks and locking system of the institution.  Often institutions, such as: hospitals, colleges and universities, government facilities will have their own institutional locksmith or even a team of locksmiths for their needs.

In many cases, the profession of the institutional locksmith is confidential and very security sensitive.

Often, organizations and government facilities will have a complex locking system and logging system to monitor exactly who and when enters a particular premise. These logs are the ones which would be monitored via specialized software, to spot any unauthorized access, any need for repair or other maintenance the locking system may need.

Of course, the institutional locksmith will be responsible for the periodic, in some cases daily maintenance of the locking hardware. For every call for service from an employee in the institution, they need to respond promptly and perform repair works, determine what the reason for the nonconformity is, as well as ways to prevent it in the future, and inform their supervisors of the results.





The institutional locksmith may often be asked to choose the best product for the specific case, which means doing a lot of research and following the latest developments in the locking technologies. Understanding how the locking systems work is crucial for the institutional locksmith, in order to best figure methods of proper maintenance and repair for them.

Depending on the size and needs of the institution, the institutional locksmith may have key machines, duplicators, and coding machines, punch machines, etc.

Controlling the number of keys – original and duplicates for each lock in the institution is also part of the job of the institutional locksmith. Using identification numbers, keeping a database of all key records is often crucial for providing the necessary safety of people, objects and data within the institution.  Also, often keys will be made and provided to employees only after a supervisor has signed the request.

Apart from the locks, institutional locksmiths may also be asked to maintain and repair doors, place door closers and other door hardware for the institution’s needs.

Institutional locksmiths are hired to help with communicating the internal needs for maintenance, repair, new parts and suggestions for improvement of the locking needs of their institution to the Management as well.

Usually, they will be asked to keep records and logs of any events of maintenance, repairs and other actions taken to resolve any problems or to improve the overall locking system of their institution, and to report to their superiors about the actions taken and preventive actions they suggest for improving the system as a whole.

In many cases, the staff will change, and when hiring a new institutional locksmith, it is crucial that all the information, data and logs are handed in to them.  This will allow them to become easily and quickly familiar with the situation and the history of maintenance and repair work done in the institution, as well as the types of locking systems and other locking devices they will need to work with at their new position in the institution.