A Door and Lock Audit for Airport Road Warehouse Units

Industrial units along the Airport Road corridor share a pattern: a roll-up door for freight, a man door for staff and a small office. The man door does most of the security work, and it gets the least attention. A short audit once a year finds the weak points.

Walk the doors at closing time

Walk every exterior door and check that it latches by itself. A door that needs a shove to catch will eventually be left ajar. Look at:

• The closer: is it slamming, stalling or leaking oil?
• The latch and strike: is there a visible gap, or does the bolt only just engage?
• The hinges: are the screws tight and the door square in the frame?
• The cylinder: does the key turn smoothly, or does it grind?

Count the keys

Ask the person in charge for a list of every key to the exterior doors. Compare it with the people who work there. If nobody can say who holds a key, rekey the doors. The cost is small compared with the cost of an unexplained loss.

Overhead doors and their locks

Roll-up doors are usually secured with a slide lock, a keyed lock on the track or the opener’s own lock. Check that the locking hardware engages and is not bent. If the door has been struck by a lift truck, inspect the track and bracket before relying on the lock.

Padlocks, cages and yards

Keyed-alike padlocks save a ring of keys, and a master key can open every group. Choose weather-sealed, shrouded padlocks for outdoor use. Replace any chain or hasp that has been cut or deformed.

Fire and exit rules

Exit doors must open from the inside without a key. Never chain or block them. If a door is on an exit route, repair the hardware; do not disable it. Pair these checks with the routine inspections your landlord and insurer expect.

After a break-in attempt

If a door has been forced, have the frame and strike inspected, not only the lock. A new lock in a bent frame will fail the same way. Consider door reinforcement and door frame repair.

Book a visit

iProtect Locksmith travels to industrial units across Brampton and Mississauga, 8 AM to 10 PM, on 437-295-4001. See warehouse and industrial locksmith service.