Simplex is a manufacturer of a line of popular and widely used combination door locks. They usually feature a metal panel which has five keys, numbered 1 - 5, and in later modes, 1-9 in a grid pattern, which one pushes in the correct combination to open the lock. Simplex door locks are advertised as having a highly convenient and useful feature set and, as stated, they have been widely used for more than fifteen years. UPS, Federal Express and several other smaller courier companies made wide use of the Simplex 900 series keyless locks for their drop-boxes for many years, which goes a long way as an endorsement of the quality of these locks. This review poses the question:- are Simplex door locks really that good?
Retailers usually list several main advantages for Simplex locks as product features, which we will look at here:
1. With the number of different configurations they can have, Simplex door locks have literally thousands of combinations available.
2. As combination locks, they are a cost effective way of providing entry to high-traffic, high security, areas.
3. Because the combination can be set to anything that an authorized individual requires, they are a cost effective solution for areas which require new codes on a regular basis.
4. Due to the fact that none of these models requires battery or mains power to function, but rather (they are completely mechanical) they are safe and robust, even during an emergency, neither denying nor granting access at such times.
Simplex locks are certainly more expensive per unit than your average good deadbolt style lock. However, given the expense involved in having multiple extra keys cut, and then the expense of having the barrel and keys replaced at scheduled intervals, or in the event of a security breach, these locks are supposed to pay for themselves. Simplex door locks are used widely at airports, in courier services, and in government and corporate buildings for high security areas. This vote of confidence suggests a certain element of security in their products, however, just how cost-effective any given lock is depends very much on how secure it is. It's no good saving a few hundred dollars on the ongoing cost of lock maintenance if your high-security area experiences a break in, is it?
The number of combinations available for Simplex door locks, and Simplex cabinet locks is certainly high, and their higher end models certainly match or at least approach the theoretical maximum number of combinations as rival products. The single biggest problem with Simplex locks is that they ship with a preset code, rather than requiring the installer to set one of their choosing when they first put the lock in. The reason this is a problem is that not only do Simplex only choose from a small set of default combinations but each and every one of these is readily available to anyone who cares to perform a quick web search. While no longer so easy to find, the worst culprit of their locks, the Simplex 900 series keyless locks had only 2164 default combinations. A potential thief could run through each of these systematically and arrive on the correct code in an average of 10 minutes. Amongst lock-picking and security circles alike, once their most popular model, the Simplex 900's are considered an absolute joke.
The locks themselves are, by most accounts, relatively robust in their construction and design and, other than by guessing the code, are not especially easily picked, at least when compared to keyed locks. Therefore, a good degree of security can be ensured by manually setting the code yourself, being sure to compare it to the available preset codes, and making sure you are not using one of these. It's also worth considering that the mere sight of a Simplex may tempt learning pickers to have a crack at it, thereby putting your secure area at unnecessary risk, simply by a brand choice.
