Fire safes are
designed to protect documents or collectibles in case of fire. A safe that
is made for this purpose typically offers little or no protection from
burglary. Certainly, a locked box of any sort helps deter pilferage, but
most fire safes are not designed to withstand physical attack. Often, the
walls and door consist almost entirely of insulating material with no metal
reinforcement; an ordinary battery-powered drill or even hand tools can break
into the safe in seconds. Also, most fire safes are not designed to be
anchored in place; some are even portable! Because the insulation of a fire
safe creates a humid environment inside the safe, a document safe is not
recommended for storage of firearms. The insulation material used in a
fire-lined gun safe is different, and usually not adequate to protect papers.
Fire safes are RATED according to the length of
time the inside temperature remains below the specified threshold while the
outside temperature is kept at the test temperature. Some safes are
independently rated by Underwriters Laboratories while others
are rated by the safe manufacturer. Either rating is reliable, but in some
cases your insurance company may require the UL rating. A typical fire
safe will be rated for 350 degrees/1 hour/1700 degrees. That means that
the test safe was placed in a 1700 degree furnace; after one hour, the
temperature inside remained below 350 degrees. The temperature at which
paper chars is around 400 degrees. A typical house fire is less than 1700
degrees, and the conditions around the safe are not likely to be at peak
temperature for a full hour. For larger commercial buildings, especially
ones housing flammable materials, a higher rating is called for. Some
safes also have an impact rating, which assures that the integrity of the
safe is maintained even if it falls through one or more floors.
One last word on fire safes. Typical fire
safes are designed to protect paper. Most plastics melt at much lower
temperatures. Media safes are available that will protect computer discs
and such, but they are so expensive and bulky that off-site storage of
backups is probably a more reasonable course of action.
Burglary safes
Burglary safes are designed to withstand the
physical attacks of a determined burglar. Most burglary safes are
constructed of solid metal and offer absolutely no fire protection! Any
burglary safe that is less than about 650 pounds is designed to anchor in
place. Safes are rated for burglary protection in a couple different ways.
The most common rating system consists of a
letter rating which refers to the inclusion of specified design features,
such as door thickness, wall thickness and type of locking device.
A residential safe may carry an
RSC (residential security container) rating. A very sturdy residential safe
or light-duty commercial safe may carry a “B” rating. High-security
commercial safes may carry “C” or other ratings.
Underwriters Laboratories
also rates some burglary safes. This rating is based on torture-testing a
sample safe provided by the manufacturer. The technicians at UL know
everything about the safe and have every piece of power equipment known to
man. They carefully plot their attacks and pause to re-evaluate their
strategies or change tools any time they like. The rating is based on the
amount of time it takes them to compromise the safe’s contents. The clock
only runs when the tools are in operation on the safe. A TL-15 (15 minute
tool rating) is typical for a good quality commercial safe. Even though 15
minutes doesn’t sound like very long, you should rest assured that the 15
minutes was clocked over the course of an entire day or even several days!
Usually only the door is tested and rated, but sometimes the entire box is
subjected to tests. A “TL-15x6" rating means that all 6 sides of the cube
withstood the UL’s tool test. In some cases where determined,
knowledgeable and well-equipped burglars are likely to strike (such as
jewelry stores) TL-30 safes or vaults are common.
One last word on burglary
safes. In some cases, your insurance coverage or other industry standards
can affect what safe you need. For example, travel agents are often
required to have at least a TL-15 safe. If you are a homeowner and have
“riders” on your insurance policy to cover valuables such as jewelry,
purchasing a safe with a burglary rating may qualify you for a reduced
insurance premium!
Composite safes
Composite safes combine both
burglar-resistive features and fire ratings. Our most popular home
composite safe is the BF1512 by Amsec. This sports an RSC burglar rating
and a 1 hour UL fire rating. This safe is perfect for home storage of
documents and valuables. A serious commercial composite safe might sport a
TL-15 burglary rating and a 1- or 2-hour fire rating. The drawback with
composite safes is that the walls are quite thick, making the safe bulky on
the outside with much smaller capacity. Also, the cost is higher than a
safe which provides only fire or burglary protection alone.
Other features and options
Lock Options
Safes traditionally come equipped with a
mechanical dial lock. However, electronic locks are now widely used
and have some real advantages, such as:
- Ease of use--no counting rotations or
squinting to get it just right
- Ability to change the combination any
time without a service call
Custom features, such as dual combinations,
timed controls, etc. (i.e. Even with the combination, the safe only opens
during business hours, or only when the armored service driver is also
there with a second combination.)
The options with electronic locks are nearly
endless! The only drawbacks are additional initial cost and a slightly
elevated failure rate compared to mechanical locks.
There are also key-operated safes--often
with dual key operation. One key is held by the armored service, one by
the store manager; both must be present to open the safe. Also, there are
safes with a dial and a key (the key is used for quick repeated access
during the day; the dial is locked at night). There are also key-locking
dials! The options are endless, and a qualified locksmith or safe
technician can expertly match you with a safe and lock that will address
your specific security concerns.
Depository Safes
Depository safes are common in retail stores
and other businesses where cash control is important. Staff can deposit
money into the safe without opening the safe or even knowing the
combination. Depository safes are not fire-rated, since the container must
be air-tight if temperature is to be controlled. Most depository safes are
burglary rated against penetration of the door. However, the drop assembly
does compromise the security of the contents to some degree. Therefore,
depository safes are not ideal for overnight storage of large quantities of
cash. There are also “vending” safes which dispense rolls of coins or
small bills; these are commonly used in convenience stores.
Mounting Options
Safes are available in one of three main
configurations.
In-floor safes are designed to be
installed into a concrete slab floor. In this case, only the DOOR of the
safe is burglary rated. The proper installation of the safe is critical if
the safe is to provide proper protection. Sometimes, the walls are even
plastic! These safes are often a great value, and when properly installed
they offer excellent burglary protection and even a good measure of fire
protection. However, the installation is extra work and/or expense. If it
is to be installed in an existing floor, the concrete has to be cut, the hole
dug out, and then more concrete poured around the safe. Floor safes are not
fire-rated, but offer fire protection simply by being underground and
surrounded by concrete. However, they usually are not waterproof, so be sure
store your items sealed plastic containers!
Wall-mounted safes are designed to
recess into the wall. Often they bolt through the sides of the safe into the
studs. Most wall-mount safes are really just lock-boxes that have no
burglary or fire rating. Remember that a typical wall is only 4" deep! You
can get a wall-mounted safe that is little bit bigger if you have extra room
behind the wall. Weight is also a concern with a wall safe; fire and
burglary models are available, but to our knowledge there are no wall-mounted
composite safes. Often, wall-mount safes have recessed or miniature lock
assemblies so that pictures or mirrors can easily conceal the safe.
Freestanding safes
are designed to simply sit on the floor; this is the most common type of safe
and provides the most versatility. Some freestanding safes are designed to
be bolted to the floor to prevent theft. Any safe that provides burglary
protection but weighs less than about 650 pounds should be anchored in
place. Most freestanding fire safes are not designed to be anchored--and
don’t even think of drilling a hole in it to bolt it down--that destroys the
fire protection!
