What is a Schlage Lost Ball construction keying?

Schlage Lost Ball Construction Keying (RCK) is a temporary keying system used during construction to control access.

How it functions:

• RCK uses 3 or 4 ball bearings placed in one of the three chambers—2, 3, or 4—inside the cylinder. (Other manufacturers may use a pin or a single ball bearing for the lost ball mechanism.

• When a construction key is inserted, it aligns the ball bearings to create a shear line, allowing the key to rotate the plug and operate the lock. 

• Once construction is complete, the lost ball system is deactivated using the deactivating key, which allows the ball bearings to drop into a pre-drilled hole on the side of the plug. With the ball bearings held in this position, the construction keys are permanently disabled because they can no longer create the necessary shear line to rotate the plug.

• NOTE: The deactivating key is the highest-level permanent key for that cylinder.  If a master key is present in the system, then the master key is the deactivating key.  If no master key is present in the system, then the change key is the deactivating key.

• CAUTION: Change keys and master keys must not be utilized during the construction phase as they might deactivate the construction keying.  After deactivation, the master key (if present) and/or the change key will operate the lock. 

QUALIFICATIONS: What you need for an order to be entered. 

Projects must meet the qualifications below in order to utilize Schlage Lost Ball Construction Keying (RCK):

• Residential projects only. 

• RCK or RMK/RCK must be specified on the order.

• 5-pin C keyway only.