Safes have been used for hundreds of years to protect valuables of all types. Today, most businesses and private residences depend on safes to guard their treasured goods and valuable assets – which is why you stocking them should be a consideration.
Buying a safe may seem confusing as you look into it, but understanding what levels of protection are available is the first step to figuring out what product is right for your customer.
There are two general categories of safes: burglary safes and fire safes. Here is what you need to know about them:
Attack Testing Standards for Burglary
The rating or classification of a safe indicates the degree of protection that particular safe will provide for its contents; whether it is in an attempted burglary or a fire.
Since the late 1990’s there have been European Attack Test Standards that have been widely recognised by the insurance industry. These offer both the consumer and the insurer an independent, unbiased opinion on the security level of a safe.
Here is an example of the various standards that safes are tested and certified to, along with their equivalent ‘cash rating.’
EN14450
S1: £2000 Cash Rating
S2: £4000 Cash Rating
EN1143-1
Grade 0: £6000 Cash Rating
Grade 1: £10,000 Cash Rating
Grade 2: £17,500 Cash Rating
Fire Testing Standards
Many safes will offer some protection from fire. However, like the cash ratings on a security safe, there are different levels of fire protection – both European and American standards. These offer consistent, unbiased opinions on the reliability of a fire safe. These are generally broken down into safes that will protect paper documents and those that will protect computer media. The latter is destroyed at a much lower temperature and so a specialist ‘datasafe’ is required.
Safe Locks
There is a range of different locking solutions available for safes:
Key Locking
This is normally the cheapest and most reliable locking method.
The disadvantage of safe keys is that they can be bulky to carry and it is obvious to onlookers exactly what they are. They can also be lost or copied, compromising the security of the safe.
Electronic Locking
Electronic safe locks are far more convenient than keys and are generally reliable.
Electronic safe locks can be operated by PIN code or by biometric means (usually fingerprint).
Electronic safe locks can have various features that offer an advantage over keys. There are different levels of lock at different price points. Usually the more features required, the more expensive the lock.
Here are some of the features of the electronic lock:
a) You can have a simple, single user code
b) Multiple user codes
c) Audit trail allows you to look back at the history of events on the lock. See who gained access on specific dates and times. This helps prevent internal fraud in commercial environments.
d) Time delay will delay the length of time taken for the lock to open after a correct code is entered. This is very useful in retail and bank environments to deter robbery. The longer a criminal has to wait for the safe to open, the greater the chance of the police arriving.
e) Dual user means that 2 different user codes must be entered to open the safe. This helps prevent internal fraud.
Mechanical Combination Locks
Mechanical combination locks are a more reliable alternative to an electronic combination. However, they are difficult to use and have none of the extra features offered by electronic locks.
Questions You Should Ask Your Customer When They’re Choosing a Safe
Do you require insurance cover for the contents? If so you should consult with your insurer before purchasing. They may specify a security grade or cash rating.
What is the value of the items being placed inside the safe?
Is fire protection needed?
If fire protection is needed what length of protection is required and is it for paper or computer media?
Would you prefer key, pin code or biometric locking?
Would you prefer a free standing safe, an underfloor safe or a wall safe?
Safe-ty First
Often people are required to have a home safe by their insurance company if they own valuable items.
However, we believe that everyone should own a safe to store important and confidential documentation, family heirlooms, general valuables, jewellery, computer and camera equipment. Once people start to think about their possessions and what they would loath to lose the list stacks up. Customers who buy safes often say they find more and more valuables that they wish to store away.
So why not help your customer put safety first – with a little help from CitySafe of course! Click here to see the new safe range.