It is bound to have happened to you at some point. You leave home and your keys are still hanging inside the door. You could call a locksmith to solve the problem and you would be sure the job was done in a professional way. Many people, however, don’t know that this inconvenience can be avoided by installing a dual clutch cylinder. This system is also called an emergency function or an anti-panic system; however, the latter can be confused with special tumblers for anti-panic bars, which are a different item.

How does a cylinder with emergency function work?
The cylinders with emergency function let you open a door with the key on the inside. In other words, they work the same way from one side of the lock and the other. How does it work technically? In a standard cylinder, the clutch is a piece that is stiff at both ends. Consequently, if a key is inserted in one side it is impossible to fully insert another key in the other side.
In cylinders with emergency function, however, the clutch piece has two springs at the ends. In this way, a key can be inserted and turned in both sides with no problem.

The security is the same as a single clutch cylinder
Cylinders with emergency function have the same level of security as single clutch ones as long as they meet the same conditions, such as the number of pins or an anti-picking system, drill protection, bumping protection and if it has an escutcheon.
On the other hand, cylinders with emergency opening guarantee peace of mind for people who share their home with older people or children who might inadvertently leave the keys in the door but cannot open the door when that happens.
IFAM offers a dual clutch option for the following cylinder series: WX1000, WX, M+ (Anti Snap) and M.