Golden Key Initiative Brings Greater Control to Emergency Access in Residential Buildings

Mul-T-Lock’s MTL™500 platform has been selected by DES Locksmiths for its Golden Key initiative, a programme focused on strengthening accountability, traceability and long-term security within master key systems.

The Golden Key was developed in response to post-Grenfell fire safety concerns, addressing how emergency services access communal areas in high rise residential buildings.

Historically, fire brigade keys were widely available to purchase, which led to instances of misuse and unauthorised entry. DES Locksmiths launched Golden Key Secure using Mul-T-Lock’s patented MTL™500 platform to create a controlled, high security system that allows fire brigade access while ensuring each housing provider retains its own dedicated key system.

“The starting point for Golden Key was a clear risk where fire brigade keys had become too widely available, leading to unauthorised access,” said Nicky Crossman, Company Owner at DES Locksmiths. “We needed a system to maintain immediate access for emergency services, while introducing patented control.

“Golden Key with Mul-T-Lock’s MTL500 platform achieves this through a high security master key structure, where emergency services hold a specific access key and each housing provider retains its own dedicated system. This ensures access remains restricted, consistent and traceable over time.”

At the core of the initiative is Mul-T-Lock’s MTL™500 mechanical platform, which supports structured key hierarchies and controlled duplication. It allows complex master key systems to expand over time while remaining compatible with existing infrastructure, making it ideal for environments with evolving access needs. Using a patented system, keys can only be duplicated through authorised channels, with clear record-keeping ensuring secure, traceable, and accountable access management.

The Golden Key system has already been implemented with more than 10,000 properties converted, particularly within social housing.  This is following early engagement from housing providers who highlighted the risks associated with uncontrolled key access.

Fire services across London, Essex, Surrey and Oxfordshire carry the Golden Key, with further rollout planned across additional regions. Collaboration with authorities including the Metropolitan Police has also helped establish coordinated, secure access solutions. Formal agreements with the London Fire Brigade are expected to be the first initiative of its kind in over 30 years.

Dan Dodds, Mul-T-Lock Regional Sales Manager concludes: “The Golden Key initiative shows how important it is to get key control right from the start. It’s about having a clear, well thought-through approach from day one, rather than trying to fix things later. It demonstrates how Nicky and the team at DES have taken a real issue and turned it into a solution that genuinely works, not just on paper.  And our MTL™500 solution sits behind this, helping to keep the system effective, whilst ensuring emergency services can get in when they need to. It’s a simple, practical answer to a real problem.”

FIRE Magazine

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