Top 3 Risks of Mechanical Locking Systems and the airEkey as a Smart, Secure Alternative

Most apartment buildings use mechanical locking systems. Depending on the system, residents will each receive a key for the building's main entrance and an additional key for their apartment. However, especially in newer residential buildings, locking systems that can be locked with a corresponding apartment key are often used.

Depending on the scope and safety, a locking system not only costs thousands of euros, but also has various drawbacks and can be very risky. We'll cover this in more detail in this article and show you a modern and secure alternative to the airEkey digital access system.

Disadvantages and risks of mechanical locking systems

Whether a resident needs one or two keys to get from the street to the apartment: the large number of keys and the complexities of key management also pose significant risks:

1. Losing keys means huge effort and high cost

If only one tenant loses their keys or their keys are stolen, the entire locking system must be replaced - for security. Not only does this require a lot of effort, but it also costs a lot. Because all locks in the airEkey locking system must now be replaced, all residents and service partners must obtain new keys. Landlords are usually responsible for these costs, as responsible tenants who lose keys cannot be unconditionally sued for damage.

2. Uncontrollable leakage of physical keys

But not only lost keys can cause problems. Passing keys also involves risk. Tenants are usually given several keys. From now on, it will no longer be possible to track exactly who has the keys to the locking system. This can be passed on to cleaning services, artisans, acquaintances and many others who are also available now.

3. Illegal duplicate keys and key management difficulties

Additionally, keys are often copied illegally, so landlords have no way of getting a general idea of how many keys are in circulation. When the keys are returned (for example, when the tenant moves out), it is never clear whether there are other keys that the key custodian is not aware of. Access management is, in principle, a major challenge – especially in large apartment buildings with many apartments, thus requiring a correspondingly extensive locking system.

AirEKey solves many problems

Smart access control systems like AirEKey are not just for private homes. airEkey's total access control solution also brings huge advantages to everyone involved in the apartment building. With the combination of the AirEKey on the main entrance door and the AirEKey smart lock on the apartment door, residents no longer need a key: the AirEKey app provides secure access from the street to their own four walls. Landlords and homeowners always know who has access to residential buildings. There is also no need to worry about losing keys. If a resident or service partner loses their smartphone, individual access authorizations can be removed quickly and easily in the AirEKey Host app.

3. Illegal duplicate keys and difficult key management

Additionally, keys are often copied illegally, so landlords cannot get a rough idea of how many keys are in circulation. When the keys are returned (for example, when the tenant moves out), it is never clear if there are other keys that the key keeper doesn't know about. Access management is, in principle, a major challenge - especially in large apartment buildings with many apartments and therefore a correspondingly extensive locking system.

AirEKey solves many problems

Smart access control systems like AirEKey are not just for private homes. AirEKey's total access control solution also brings huge advantages to everyone involved in the apartment building. By combining the AirEKey on the main entrance door and the AirEKey smart lock on the apartment door, residents no longer need keys: they can securely access their own four walls from the street through the AirEKey Host app. Landlords and homeowners always know who has access to residential buildings. There is also no need to worry about losing keys. If a resident or service partner loses their smartphone, individual access authorizations can be removed quickly and easily in the AirEKey Host app.

Diversified smart access control solutions

Instead of using conventional keys, landlords can digitally grant their tenants access to the house, provided that it is equipped with an electronic access system. Smart access for residents can take place via the AirEKey Host app on the smartphone 

AirEKey as a digital access system

The AirEKey Gateway is installed invisible behind the doorbell panel at the entrance to the apartment building. There, it acts as an invisible door opener for authorized personnel, reducing administrative effort while improving property security through controlled access controls. The existing door opening system will continue to use keys as usual, but will be expanded to include many digital functions.

More overview and control

Access authorization is easily managed through the my.AirEKey.com web platform. If the resident moves out, the access authorization can be simply revoked. So there is no need to change the lock and assign a new key. This also applies to lost or stolen AirEKeys. To a finder or thief, the small remote is worthless once the corresponding access rights are removed. Digital access control simplifies handling and management compared to large locking systems. Furthermore, this solution is cheaper in most cases and also eliminates many of the disadvantages of mechanical locking systems.

The entire product range can be used in many different ways and offers advantages in terms of safety. Anyone tired of the dangers and high costs of mechanical locking systems will find modern alternatives and can check the viability in their own field of application.