What you should know about safes
Safes have existed for nearly as long as humanity. At least, in their most basic form - a safe place where you hide or keep things. However, the modern idea of a safe box is a little more sophisticated.
Nowadays they must meet a certain number of specifications before a box is considered a safe. They are also called a strongbox or coffer, depending on where you live. In its most basic form it is a box, generally in the shape of a cube that has a door with hinges at one side and a lock on the other.
They are generally made out of steel or some other type of cast metal. Whichever method is used, it is paramount that the construction is strong enough to stop a thief from simply breaking in through physical force.
The quality of the construction and the sophistication of the lock will depend on its purpose. You will not find the same models in a hotel room and a bank.
However they all share some general specifications. You always want to find a safe that offer some level of burglar resistance. They are pretty pointless if they will not, at least, deter a casual thief. There are different rating systems but try to stick with a U.L. listing since this is a well known industry standard.
Most are designed to be fire resistant also. This is because they are generally used to contain documents and valuable objects that need to be protected in the case of a fire. As with doors and walls, safes come with a fire resistant code that describes how many hours it will remain structurally sound in a fire. The better models are completely resistant to fire.
A good model will also be resistant to water and dust. These are used to keep items that have intrinsic value, like objects of art. In a flood, having a good safe that is resistant to water can make all the difference.
When purchasing a safe it is important to determine how it will be secured and at what locations it can be placed. Some models need to be cemented in a wall or attached to some other unmovable, or hard to move, object. Hotel safes are a good example of a small box that is built into the floor or wall to provide extra security. Higher security models will be hard to move due to their weight besides being bolted or otherwise attached to a solid structure.
Another factor to consider is what type of lock you want or need. There are combination locks, and key locks. You can also opt for a electronic keypad combination lock.
Safes are such an everyday part of our life we do not even think about them. Every time we use an ATM machine we are working with a safe that operates with a sophisticated electronic system.
Understanding which one best suits your requirements is very important. They can be very expensive so it pays to make sure you know what you need.
What Safe is Right for Me?
Safes options vary extensively. When you are looking for the right safe for you, please consider the following question:
- Is the safe for home or business use?
- Should the safe be fire rated, and if so, to what extent?
- What will the safe be used to secure?
- Would you prefer a traditional dial safe, or a digital keypad locking system?
- Where will the safe be located, and how it will be secured to the floor/wall?
All these questions will help our safe specialists narrow down the safe options available for you.
Talking to an expert is always a good idea before making a large investment.
Pro Tech Lock and Safe can advise you on a safe that meets your security needs and budget.
Call us today at 770-925-0328 to start the process.
What you should know about safes