CML Keying Systems & Key Control 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'key bitting array' (KBA) used for in master key system design?
- Listing all keys currently issued in a system
- Organizing all possible bitting combinations to systematically assign keys and avoid conflicts (Correct answer)
- Calculating the wear rate on cylinder pins
- Documenting the keyway profiles approved for a facility
Correct answer: Organizing all possible bitting combinations to systematically assign keys and avoid conflicts
The key bitting array is a systematic matrix of all available cut combinations used by designers to assign unique bittings to each lock while reserving combinations for master keys.
Question 2: In key control, what does 'patent protection' on a key blank mean?
- The key blank is registered with the US Patent Office as decorative art
- The key blank design is legally protected, restricting its manufacture to the patent holder and authorized licensees (Correct answer)
- The key cannot be duplicated without a court order
- The key blank is protected from corrosion by a patented coating
Correct answer: The key blank design is legally protected, restricting its manufacture to the patent holder and authorized licensees
Patent protection prevents unauthorized manufacturers from producing the key blank, limiting supply to controlled channels and supporting key control programs.
Question 3: A facility manager wants a system where the security director can override all master keys. This requires a:
- Grand master key system
- Great grand master key system (Correct answer)
- Selective master key arrangement
- Emergency key system
Correct answer: Great grand master key system
A great grand master key (GGMK) sits above grand master keys in the hierarchy, providing override access to the entire facility across all sub-systems.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes a 'key control policy' in an institutional setting?
- A technical specification for key bitting depths
- A written organizational document governing key issuance, tracking, return, and consequences for loss (Correct answer)
- A manufacturer's guide for cylinder maintenance
- A state regulation requiring key audits every two years
Correct answer: A written organizational document governing key issuance, tracking, return, and consequences for loss
A key control policy is an administrative document that establishes procedures and accountability for managing keys throughout their lifecycle in an organization.
Question 5: What advantage does a 'dimple key' system offer for key control compared to standard flat key systems?
- Dimple keys are cheaper to manufacture and duplicate
- Dimple keys use cuts on the flat face of the blade, enabling more complex bitting combinations and harder-to-duplicate profiles (Correct answer)
- Dimple keys work with standard pin tumbler cylinders without modification
- Dimple keys are immune to picking attacks
Correct answer: Dimple keys use cuts on the flat face of the blade, enabling more complex bitting combinations and harder-to-duplicate profiles
Dimple key systems use round drill-point cuts on the key's flat surface rather than edge cuts, allowing more possible combinations and making accurate duplication more difficult.
Question 6: When a tenant moves out of a building using a maison key system, the best security practice is to:
- Collect the tenant's key and mark it as returned in the log
- Rekey the tenant's unit cylinder to a new differ and issue new keys to the new tenant (Correct answer)
- Replace the entire lock hardware on the unit
- Change the master key combination for all tenants
Correct answer: Rekey the tenant's unit cylinder to a new differ and issue new keys to the new tenant
Rekeying the individual unit to a new bitting combination ensures the former tenant's key — and any unauthorized copies — cannot open the unit for the new occupant.
Question 7: What is the purpose of stamping a key with 'DO NOT DUPLICATE'?
- It legally prohibits all key duplication under federal law
- It serves as a deterrent and policy reminder, though it carries no legal enforcement authority in most US states (Correct answer)
- It activates a restricted key blank protection program automatically
- It encodes ownership information into the key's RFID chip
Correct answer: It serves as a deterrent and policy reminder, though it carries no legal enforcement authority in most US states
While 'DO NOT DUPLICATE' is a widely recognized deterrent, it has no legal teeth in most US states — it relies on the good faith of key duplication services to refuse copying.
CML Keying Systems & Key Control 5
What is 'key bitting array' (KBA) used for in master key system design?