Steelcase manufactures office equipment for business and industrial purposes. The company has a full range of storage furnishings for offices big and small that come with locking drawers and compartments. Each piece comes with its own matching key and lock combination that adheres to a code system.

Steelcase Cylinder Lock

Steelcase uses a modular locking system for its products. New filing cabinets and other storage furnishings come with a plastic lock plug. Owners remove the lock plug and insert the cylinder lock that comes in a separate container. The cylinder lock is an advanced design based on the cam lock. The lock core uses a pin and tumbler design that prevents picking. Each pin inside the lock comes pre-cut to different lengths. This produces a puzzle inside the lock that only the correct key can open. The key's bladed edges fit perfectly through the pins, causing the lock to tumble against the cam, which in turn lifts the latch. Turning the key in the other direction pushes the cam the other way to push the latch back into place.

Steelcase cylinder locks come with a random combination that fits each key. These locks cannot be rekeyed, so it is important to keep track of the original key. The only way to rekey a Steelcase storage unit is to remove the original lock core and instal a new lock core with a new lock key. Each lore core comes with two keys in either the FR or XF series. However, owners cannot remove the old lock core if it is in the locked position unless they own a lock removal key. If an owner loses the original key and does not have a lock removal key, then the only option is to order a replacement key that matches the cylinder lock series and number.

Steelcase FR Series Keys

The 'FR' printed on the key and corresponding lock states that the products belong to the FR series. Following the two letters is a three digit code that adheres to a pre-set lock pattern. While the code helps keep track of which key opens what drawer in the office, it's crucial for ordering replacement keys. Customers must provide the manufacturer will the full series number such as FR305 or FR 431.

The FR series also offers its own lock removal key. It's a very helpful key in the event that the owner wants to rekey the lock, but has lost the key. However, it only works for locks with a series number from FR301 to FR333. It is not compatible with NC and XF locks.

Steelcase XF Series Keys

The XF series is similar to the FR series. The main difference between the two is that the XF series uses a four digit code instead of the three digit code found on FR keys. This extra digit helps tell the two keys apart and is helpful in situations where offices use Steelcase keys and locks from both groups. A typical XF key has a code such as XF 1002 or XF 1123.

Steelcase NC Series Keys

The NC series makes up the third group of Steelcase replacement keys. Owners can tell these keys apart by their size and weight as well as the three digit series code. Examples of NC key codes include NC163 and NC212. Steelcase keys and locks adhere to a code system that helps owners keep track of multiple keys. The company also offers removable cylinder locks on its storage units so that owners can update and rekey the file cabinets on occasion. Both Steelcase replacement keys and locks are available for sale online.