Physical keys

A key is any device on which a credential is encoded for the purpose of controlling access and/or performing system or programmatic operations. Examples include key cards and key fobs.

Selecting a Key Mode (New/Additional)

All Guest Keys have a key mode: New or Additional. When you make the first key for a credential (a room or combination of guest rooms), the only mode that you can select is New. For all subsequent keys that you make for the same credential, the option to select New or Additional is available. If all you want to do is make copies of the same key, the mode to choose is the selected default Additional. Making Additional Keys has no effect on active keys with the same credential. Making New Keys, however, invalidates the same credential on all previously active keys with the same credential (once the New Key is presented to a guest room or common area in the credential). Reasons that you may want to select the New Key mode include replacing keys that are lost, damaged or stolen.

Making keys

Making keys is the process of encoding the credential created during access configuration onto keys. You can make physical keys, mobile keys or both for a guest. To make physical keys, you need an encoder that is online and available to the workstation.

When encoding or reading a key fails, an information box identifies the following problems:

  • When communication between the encoder and workstation fails.
  • When the encoder is offline.
  • When the encoder is busy.
  • When a key is not presented to the encoder within the expected delay.
  • When the key is damaged, corrupt or uses unsupported technology.

For security reasons, dormakaba imposes a maximum on the number of unused keys that can be issued for a given credential. For example, when more than 15 keys are issued but never presented to Room 100, the access point becomes "out of sequence" and denies access to all of the keys.

To restore key access, reprogram the access point using the Maintenance Unit or resequence the access point using the Resequence Key. After the access point is resequenced, the access point accepts the most recently issued key.

The maximum number of unused keys before resequencing is required depends on the key type:

  • Guest Keys

    • Room, Suite , Foyer Door, Connector keys=15

    • Limited Use=3

  • Staff Keys

    • All classes=0

  • System Keys

    • Failsafe, Latch, Unlatch, Toggle Latch/Unlatch=15

    • ELO=3

    • Inhibit=0

    • PPK/SPK=0

The following statuses apply to guest keys, staff keys, and specific system keys (ELO, Inhibit, Latch, Unlatch, Toggle Latch/Unlatch).

Physical keys only:

  • Pre-registered—Keys that have been made but are not yet valid (due to pre-registrations).
  • Active—Keys that, according to Ambiance, are valid and available for use. This includes keys for which an Unblock key was made and keys that were unblocked remotely. Failsafe Keys always have the status Active.
  • Returned—Keys that have been erased.

Mobile keys only:

  • Delivering - Mobile registered—Keys that are in the process of being delivered. The dormakaba server detects the mobile device is registered with the mobile application/dormakaba BlueSky.
  • Delivering - Mobile not registered—Keys that are in the process of being delivered. cannot detect the mobile device.
  • Delivered—Keys that are valid and available for use, and keys that are invalid because the expiration date arrived.
  • Canceling—Keys that are in the process of being deleted from the mobile device.
  • Canceled—Keys that have been deleted from the mobile device.
  • Failed—Keys that were never delivered to the mobile device.

All keys:

  • Expired—Keys that are invalid because the expiration date arrived.
  • Obsolete—Keys that are invalid. The reason may be that a) a New key with the same credential was made, b) access was removed prior to expiration. Keys that are obsolete may include one of the following sub-statuses:
    • Obsolete (blocked)—Keys for which a Block key was made and keys for which a Block key was sent remotely.
    • Obsolete (canceled)—Keys for which a Cancel key was made and keys for which a Cancel key was sent remotely.