Interchangeable Core Cylinders (IC)

  You will commonly see these items in places like fast food and retail store applications. The main advantage and purpose of the IC core is that by using a special core removal key, the core can be extracted and replaced at a moments notice by management. For places that go through a lot of employees this is a big advantage, as long as management has a core standing by. Unfortunately, I find that most places that have these kind of locks defeat the purpose by not having cores standing by for use, and they need to call a locksmith anyway. This makes for a big waste of money and time, as most of the 'small format' IC cores (lower image) need special tumblers and are much more difficult to rekey on site. Some brands using large format cores, such as the one Schlage makes(upper image), do not require special tumblers or equipment. The cylinder simply gets rekeyed much like a normal cylinder, but requires a specially shaped key blank be used to make a removal key.

 

  IC housings are available as rim cylinders (pictured right) and mortise type cylinders, they install just like the normal rim and mortise cylinders, with the cores to go in them purchased separately. Knob and lever locks can not be retrofitted for IC cylinders, an IC version of the entire lock must be purchased to use them. Hi security IC products, such as Medeco, are also available.