Lock at office with "biting" numebrs on it?

[Shifty]

As i was locking up our office today, i noticed our new padlock had a few numbers written on top. I had never paid much attention to them before, but i read a thread that i think had something similar....

http://www.lockpicking101.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=55233

My office is in a basement, and all the boss uses is a padlock because we can't seem to get the funding for new doors and locks . However, i wanted to make sure that the numbers aren't something that anybody could come and look at and then go fashion a key. We have a lot of expensive equipment in there.

What is says on the bottom:
US Lock
100c Pacific Lock Co.

And then it also has the five digits that i am worried about. I looked around and tried to find info on the lock, but had no luck. Thanks for the help.

[cledry]

Don't worry it isn't the bitting or code.

BTW using a padlock and hasp on an office is highly illegal in any US jurisdiction. It is too easy to lock somebody in with no inside control to get out. Imagine there was a fire. The company you work for is asking for a lawsuit. Not to mention a little thing called ADA went into effect quite a few years back and there is no way a padlock could possibly meet ADA code.

[Shifty]

Thanks a lot! I'm glad the numbers aren't important, but the info on padlocks being illegal on office doors is great. I'll be bringing it to the attention of the boss tomorrow, and that should be enough to finally get a decent door and lock. Thanks for the help.

[cledry]

Thanks a lot! I'm glad the numbers aren't important, but the info on padlocks being illegal on office doors is great. I'll be bringing it to the attention of the boss tomorrow, and that should be enough to finally get a decent door and lock. Thanks for the help.

I'm surprised they haven't had a fire code violation already. Even if you don't have the padlocks around during hours of occupation they are still not allowed because I could stick a pen or a screwdriver or a nail through the hasp and lock somebody in. You should have a lever lock with a return so that fire hoses don't get caught on the lever. The lock shouldn't have a rigid inside lever like many residential locks, the idea is to have single motion egress.

[raimundo]

you got a boss that is just gonna go his own way and dosent care about legal nice-itys You might not have a job if you push him.
lots of stuff is not iso 9000 and its gonna grow like weeds anyway.

look carefully at your key and the numbers on that lock or key, numbers on a key are often bitting numbers.

if your lock has some recognizable pattern between the cuts and that number then it is likly the bitting. American lock and Schalge put the numbers right there.

if your numbers are for instance 53378 and your key has a medium cut followed by two shallower cuts, then two deep cuts this could be the bitting, the double three and two three cuts on the key in that position, the 2 and 3 positions.

If your numbers are something more like 567A then you likly have a code that requires a codebook to derive the actual bitting.

[Buggs41]

I don't think the fire dept. or the city building inspector even knows about this "office."

Building permits were probably never applied for, and contractors were not hired for the new office. Sounds like most of the work was done by friends of the 'boss' that could swing a hammer, and land circuits in an electrical panel.

If the inspectors find out what was done without a permit, he could face very large bills to bring that space up to current code requirements.

[Shifty]

Not saying that he is in the right (actually, i think he is probably a little shady), but i should clarify our "office". I am a soldier, so our office is in the basement of our building (on a military installation). I'm not sure if the requirements and regulations are the same. Come to think of it, i have never seen any wheelchair ramps or anything, so i wonder if there are different rules for government properties?

However, i did bring attention to the fact that anybody could jam a screw driver or something in the latch as well as the risk of locking someone inside. They were well received, so at least that issue has been (Or going to be) resolved. Thanks for all the help in that regard. Forgot to check the key and compare with the numbers, but it's on the to do list. Maybe when our new door and lock arrive i'll even manage to grab the lock before it's chucked to the trash!

[cledry]

The keys may have the bitting but those two brands of padlocks do not put the bittings or code on the lock case, I believe the numbers are a production code.

[raimundo]

When ever I go into a shed garage or connex, that has a padlock on it, I take the padlock in with me. and I might even remove any tool or other thing that could be put through the hasp.
Im very aware of the lock someone in the garage deliberatly trick, it was done to me once decades ago and I got out of the garage, but I just don't leave the locks available to @#$%^ who might try that.

In the case of the office door, I would just lock the padlock on the hasp to prevent other things being used to keep the hasp together like a screwdriver dropped through the loop if the hasp has a padlock attached in the unlocked position it will be harder for someone to do that.

when I think about a connex (container for export those 40 footlong things on trucks railroads and freighters) I am now thinking that it has such a secure lockup on the outside that it would be big trouble if someone did that to you in a connex, perhaps the trick would be to put the bolts to the locked position while the door is open then padlock them so they cannot be closed.

In the tv show "the shield" Vic Macky puts too rival gangsters in a connex and locks them in then returns a day later to let one out.

[Evan]

Not saying that he is in the right (actually, i think he is probably a little shady), but i should clarify our "office". I am a soldier, so our office is in the basement of our building (on a military installation). I'm not sure if the requirements and regulations are the same. Come to think of it, i have never seen any wheelchair ramps or anything, so i wonder if there are different rules for government properties?

However, i did bring attention to the fact that anybody could jam a screw driver or something in the latch as well as the risk of locking someone inside. They were well received, so at least that issue has been (Or going to be) resolved. Thanks for all the help in that regard. Forgot to check the key and compare with the numbers, but it's on the to do list. Maybe when our new door and lock arrive i'll even manage to grab the lock before it's chucked to the trash!

@Shifty:

With military installations it seems to depend more on who is providing the fire service, whether it is your branch of the armed forces or the local civilian rescue service... Irregardless of whether or not the civilian AHJ has jurisdiction over design review for fire safety, all military installations are required to comply with the UBC which is the basis for any added on state specific codes which are enforced in any given state...

Any occupancy other than a storage unit would be illegal to use a padlock and hasp to secure the door with... An "office" often has occupants working inside with the door closed for privacy... Unsuspecting occupants could be trapped inside by someone who closes and locks the hasp...

This is a immediate life safety hazard to those working in the area concerned if your "boss" or direct commander has not immediately rectified the dangerous conditions keep reporting it up the chain of command, one step at a time until you are in direct contact with the base commander... The base commander is the one who would be held directly responsible for any loss of life inside a building within the installation, it might be news to him/her that the basement was being used for this purpose without code compliant locking devices because tenant units deployed within his facilities took it upon themselves to make unauthorized modifications...

~~ Evan

[Buggs41]

I believe this one slipped under the radar.

As a journeyman electrician, I have worked on a few government parcels of land. They require more stringent controls than the civilian side of the house.

Prior to my civilian trade, I was active duty Navy. I've never seen a hasp on a door, and hope that they are never allowed.