Secure Rooms in Shared Offices with Door Security Chains

Ever since the turn of the decade, using shared offices has become increasingly common. While working from home became the norm for many of us, not everyone works at their best in their living space. Distractions are abundant, and it can be hard to separate work and home life, right? Well, that’s why shared offices have become so popular. With that shared office space, though, come concerns over privacy and security. To counter that, have you thought about adding door locks and chains?

We reached out to Locks & Handles for advice on how you can make your shared office spaces a little more suitable. As experts in creating secure workspaces, even in open-plan and shared workplaces, Locks & Handles provided us with some very useful solutions. Securing private spaces that allow you to work in peace and keep your supplies safe can be a gruelling exercise. A door chain can help, though.

Let’s take a look at how to select suitable door chains that help you to work in harmony with the people you share your office space with.

First Off: Why Do Shared Offices Need Door Locks & Chains?

In just about any shared office space, you will be at least on cordial terms with the people you share with. You might be in the same company, the same industry or simply know one another socially. As such, it’s easy to assume why door locks and chains are even needed, right? Some reasons include:

• Making sure you can work in peace and quiet. Shared offices are great, but having chattier members of the office come in for a catch-up when you are busy can be annoying.
• High levels of human traffic mean you can have distractions in your eyeline. If you need to really focus on a task, door locks and chains make it easy to keep yourself focused.
• There is also the privacy aspect. If you are sharing sensitive information or going through private phone calls with clients and partners, do you really want everyone to hear you?
• Keeping your supplies and materials safe is important, too. You can use a lockable door chain to keep storage areas safe and secure, making sure other office users do not ‘borrow’ items.

These reasons alone should give you enough understanding of why door locks and chains are such a valuable commodity in shared office spaces. However, it is imperative that you find the right type of chained door extension. From avoiding potential problems with the office owners to making sure they are secure enough, what attributes do Locks & Handles staff recommend you focus on?

Selecting Office-Friendly Door Locks And Chains

With so many options on the market for a door chain, finding the right one can be tough. Where should you start your search? What features and attributes are most suitable for door locks and chains for shared offices?

Lockability

First off, make sure that you buy a lockable door chain – especially for storage areas. If the door chain is a one-way security system, it means that you must be in the room to engage the chain. For areas where you want to prevent access when you are not present or otherwise engaged, buy a two-way lockable door chain. That will make a huge difference to how secure you feel your office space is.

Low-Visibility

Look, shared office space can become a little haven for everyone who works there. As time goes on, you can all become very friendly and familiar with one another. As such, installing a door chain can feel like you are sequestering yourself away from everyone else. This can feel a touch impersonal, even rude. So, go for a low-visibility lock so it feels a little less like you are shutting everyone out.

Aesthetically Pleasing

Also, make sure that you choose a door chain that is not going to stick out like a sore thumb. You still want the office to look good, right? So, install a chain that matches the style of the office itself. Match materials and colour schemes to the office’s style, and you should find that your installation does not stand out quite so much. If you rent the office, this can make the owner more amenable to the fitting, too. Generally, something slimmer makes the most sense. 

Portability

If the landlord insists that you cannot make permanent changes to the office space, buy door locks and chains that are portable. You can get models which simply fit over the door latch or can be fitted to the wall using adhesive. These avoid the permanence of other options, yet still allow you to safely lock your office door. This decision can help to avoid any needless disputes with office ownership, too.

Ease Of Use

Lastly, make sure that you pick a lockable door chain that is easy to use. Simplicity is essential. Avoid chains that feel like they require extensive physical strength or extreme height to open and close. Most of the time, you only need a simple metal door chain as opposed to something more advanced. Make sure that you choose a model that is within your height range so you do not need to elevate yourself to lock/unlock the door chain you choose.

Privacy That Does Not Interrupt Your Workflow

As someone working in a shared office, making sure you can simply get on with the task of the day is vital. Disruption and disturbance can be a killer to your productivity. With some simple door locks and chains fitted to each room, though, shared office spaces become a little more private. People can get on with their job and work on sensitive tasks in privacy.

At the same time, there will still be communal areas in the office space where you can all meet up and chat. One final tip, too: be sure to check out the alignment and condition of your lockable door chain on a monthly basis. If it feels loose, weak, or otherwise unsuitable to your needs, contact a locksmith to have them resolve the issue.

With door locks and chains, a more productive and private office space is just around the corner!