How we designed and installed a 3-level Schlage Primus master key system for a Greeley medical office with 4 exam rooms, 1 lab, and main entrance — total project $1,240.
Maria G. runs a small medical practice in downtown Greeley with 4 exam rooms, 1 lab, a records room, a break room, and the main entrance. Each room had a separate key from the previous tenant. Front desk had a giant key ring with 8 keys. New tech hires needed access to exam rooms but NOT records. Maria needed grandmaster access. She needed a system, not just rekeying.
Walked through all 7 cylinders. Designed a 3-level hierarchy: GRANDMASTER (Maria) → MASTER (front desk) → CHANGE keys (exam rooms, lab, records, break room). Designed cuts so techs can access their assigned rooms but NOT records, while front desk gets everything except records, and Maria gets everything.
Specified Schlage Primus XP cylinders for the main entrance + records room (high-security pick/bump resistance, restricted keyway). Standard Schlage SC1 for exam rooms (high volume access, easier to manage). Cost optimization: Primus only where it matters.
Pinned all 7 cylinders to the master system. Cut 12 individual change keys + 4 master keys + 1 grandmaster. Each key engraved with system code (e.g., "MED-CHANGE-EXAM2").
Installed all 7 cylinders. Tested every key in every cylinder to verify access matrix. Adjusted one pin set on the records cylinder after initial test showed master key entry (corrected: now only grandmaster opens records).
Delivered to Maria: laminated key control chart, restricted keyway authorization letter (Maria must sign for any new key duplication, period), and a return-customer file with the master system blueprint locked at our shop. If any key is lost, we can re-key just that level without disturbing the rest.
Master key system design is the highest-skill commercial locksmith work. Most home-style locksmiths cannot do it because it requires Schlage/Best certification and pinning tolerance work to 0.005". We've designed 25+ master key systems for NoCo medical, dental, legal, and property management offices since 2019.
If you run a small business with 5+ doors, you need a master key system, not a key ring. A proper system pays back its $800-$2,500 cost in eliminated lock changes after every staff turnover. Restricted keyways prevent unauthorized duplication.
Owner Omer answers the phone — (970) 397-2002. Average response 22 minutes inside Fort Collins. Flat-rate pricing.