The MTL™500 platform from Mul-T-Lock has been chosen by DES Locksmiths for its Golden Key initiative. This programme aims to enhance accountability, traceability, and long-term security within master key systems, particularly in response to fire safety concerns that arose following the Grenfell Tower incident.
The initiative ensures controlled access for emergency services while allowing each housing provider to maintain its own dedicated key systems.
Introducing patented control
The Golden Key was developed to address the misuse and unauthorised entry that stemmed from the widespread availability of fire brigade keys. DES Locksmiths utilised Mul-T-Lock's patented MTL™500 platform to develop a high-security system that permits fire brigade access but maintains control of individual key systems for housing providers. Nicky Crossman, Company Owner at DES Locksmiths, noted that the system was needed to maintain access for emergency services while establishing patented control.
The Golden Key initiative leverages the MTL500 platform's high-security master key structure, whereby emergency services are provided with a specific access key while each housing provider retains their own key system. This arrangement ensures restricted, traceable, and consistent access over time. The core of this system is Mul-T-Lock’s MTL™500 mechanical platform, which allows for the expansion of complex master key systems while remaining compatible with existing infrastructures. The patented system ensures that key duplication can only occur through authorised channels, guaranteeing secure, traceable, and accountable access management.
Secure access solutions
The implementation of the Golden Key system has already seen over 10,000 properties converted
The implementation of the Golden Key system has already seen over 10,000 properties converted, primarily in the social housing sector. The system was driven by early engagement with housing providers who highlighted the risks from uncontrolled key access.
Fire services in London, Essex, Surrey, and Oxfordshire are currently using the Golden Key, with plans for further expansion. The initiative's collaboration with authorities, including the Metropolitan Police, aims to establish coordinated, secure access solutions. An agreement with the London Fire Brigade is anticipated to be the first of its kind in over three decades.
Ensuring emergency services
Dan Dodds, Mul-T-Lock Regional Sales Manager, emphasised the importance of effective key control from the outset, noting that the Golden Key initiative provides a practical and genuine solution to key access issues.
He acknowledged the efforts of Nicky and the team at DES in addressing a real problem with an effective solution, supported by Mul-T-Lock's MTL™500 platform, ensuring that emergency services have access when needed.
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.
Introducing patented control
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.”
Accountable access management
“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.
Secure access solutions
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.
Ensuring emergency services
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."
