Safes are designed to protect your valuables. The two biggest threats are burglary and fire. Today Fortress Lock, Safe, & Security, Austin’s premier safe company has some tips to help you chose the best safe for your needs.
Lets start by asking a few questions.
1. Do i need a security safe to protect against fire?
2. Do i need a security safe to protect against burglary?
3. Will i ever need to access the safe in a hurry?
4. Do i need the ability to deposit into the safe without a code or key?
5. How much am i willing to spend on a safe?
6. How important is the quality of the safe?
Keep your answers in mind as we discuss the different types of safes, the pros and cons, and the typical applications.
Burglary Security Safes
A burglary safe is designed to slow down a burglar attempt, but may or may not provide fire protection. Many safes that are marketed as burglary safes provide little or no real burglary protection. Many times an unskilled criminal can access the safe with nothing more then a crowbar and a hammer in under 5 minutes.
Things to look for in a burglary safe.
1. Metal Construction. Quality burglary safes begin with a 1/4 to up several inches of solid hardened steel. Many safes such as Sentry sell burglar safes with plastic bodies, or thin metal wells less than a 1/8 of an Inch. Always be sure to consider barrier material and thickness. Also consider the quantity and size of locking bolts.
2. Re-locker. Re-lockers are what make burglary safes safe. Without a re-locker a burglary can knock the dial off with a hammer and smash the spindle in and the safe will open just as if you had the correct combination. Re-lockers are spring loaded locking bolts that are held in place by glass or metal plates. During a burglary attempt the plate will move or break firing the internal re-lockers and protecting the valuables from the burglar. Most safes under $500 have no re-locker!
3. Hard Plate. Hard-plate materials resist drilling and punching which protects vulnerable areas. All safes have vulnerable points. An experienced burglar or safe cracker can take advantage of these vulnerable points to open a safe quickly and easily. A hard plate will prevent drilling or punching without specialized equipment and lots of time.
Burglary Safe Ratings
Common Burglary Safe Ratings are as follows: unrated, B rated, C Rated, TL-15, TL-30.
Unrated – Needs no explanation
B-Rate Safe – 1/4″ thick steel body, 1/2″ thick steel Door
C-Rate Safe – 1/2″ thick steel body, 1″ thick steel door
Ul Tl-15 – at Least 1″ thick body with minimum tensile strength of 50,000 P.S.I (Tested to withstand torch and tool attacks on the door by professional safe crackers for 15 minutes)
Ul Tl-30 – at Least 1″ thick body with minimum tensile strength of 50,000 P.S.I (Tested to withstand torch and tool attacks on the door by professional safe crackers for 30 minutes)
UL TL-30X6 – Sames standards as TL-30 Safes except testing is done on all six sides not just the door.
Fire Safes
Fire safes are rated by the amount of time they can spend in a fire while protecting your valuables. Fire safe may or may not also have a burglary rating.
1 or 1/2 Hours UL rating – Class 125 Class 250 – Maintain an interior temperature less than 125F or 150F and an interior relative humidity less than 85% for class 150 or 80% for class 125, when exposed to fire as per the Standard Time Temperature Curve for hours to 1700F. Successfully undergo all other requirements for the Fire Endurance Test, the Explosion Hazard Test, the Humidity Test, and the Fire & Impact Test (separately or combined). Basically, no explosion through 30 minutes of exposure to a 2000F fire, an immediate 30 foot drop test, and a standard reheating for 30 minutes to 1550F.
2 Hours UL rating- Class 350 – Maintain and interior temperature less than 350F when exposed to a fire as per the Standard Time Temperature Curve for 2 hours to 1850F. Successfully undergo all other requirements for the Fire Endurance Test, the Explosion Hazard Test, and the Fire and Impact Test (separately or combined). Basically no explosion through 30 minutes of exposure to a 2000F fire, 15 minutes of standard exposure to 1638F, and immediate 30 foot drop test and a Standard reheating for 45 minutes to 1638F.
4 Hours UL rating – Class 350 – Maintain an interior temperature less than 350F when exposed to a fire as per the Standard Time Temperature Curve for 4 hours to 2000F. Successfully undergo all other requirements for the Fire Endurance Test, the Explosion Hazard Test and the Fire and Impact Test (separately or combined). Basically, no explosion through 30 minutes of exposure to a 2000F fire, 30 minutes of standard exposure to 1700F, and immediate 30 foot drop test and a Standard reheating for 60 minutes to 1700F.
Mercury Class III – Exposed to 1550F for 120 minutes and maintained an inside temperature of less that 350F
Mercury Class II – Exposed to 1275F for 60 minutes and maintained an inside temperature of less than 350F
Mercury Class I – Exposed to 1200F for 45 minutes and maintained an inside temperature of less than 350F
Depository Safes
Depository safes offer the connivence of not having to have a combination holder present when someone needs to put something in the safe. This is ideal for restraints and businesses where cashiers must deposit into the safe but don’t have the authority to remove money from the safe. Depository safes often don’t have fire ratings due their elaborate deposit slots.