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Safe Buying Guide: Things You Must Know Before Buying A Safe

It is hard to imagine the probability of a break-in and the potential dangers that it could pose for your beneficial possessions and property. The thing that you must remember is that your belongings aren’t just at risk from burglaries. Floods, fires, and other unforeseeable tragedies could also be a factor. Purchasing a safe can be one of the best investments for your business and home that you ever make. It will help to ensure that your money and valuables remain secure while still being easily accessible. 

No matter if you’re buying a safe for your residence or commercial use, we will help you how to buy a safe for you. To help you make a decision, here are some tips to help you choose a safe. Before you purchase, take the time to research everything to find the best safe manufacturer.

13 Top Consideration When Buying Safes

1. Gun safes size may not be the same.  

Gun safes are available in many sizes and styles. Many safes are simply gun cabinets that do not provide protection against fire or burglary. Gun cabinets are made of fragile metal, comparable to 16 and 18 gauge steel. Gun cabinets can be easily broken into using a standard household hammer or large screwdriver. That’s why your first concern should be the construction of safe, and Fire rating should be your second concern. Some safes can also be made from steel up to ten gauges.

Sturdy door build is also essential to check. A gun safe should have min 1/4″ of solid plate steel as the entrance. Gun safes with 1/2,” or thicker steel are better. The best gun safes with the highest burglar ratings are U.L. TL-15 (Tool Resistant) and U.L. TL-30.

Although fire ratings are often overlooked, they should be a top priority. We recommend you buy a fireproof gun safe that is at least 1-hour fire-rated. Why? A safe with a less than 1-hour fire rating is unlikely to survive a fire in a house or business.

Many customers believe that buying a fireproof safe is sufficient to protect their most valuable documents. We recommend that you look for a U.L. 1 hour; if you plan on placing essential documents inside the gun safe, a U.L. rating will ensure that it provides fire protection for at least 1 hour. You can also choose custom gun safes.

2.  Do not count on fireproof safes to prevent burglary.

As you know, fireproof means it provides protection from fire. Fireproof safes can resist Heat, smoke, and water for a specific time. Fireproof safes do an excellent job protecting paper documents (and small cash amounts) from heat damage and smoke damage.

High-value items such as cash, jewelry, and precious metals should not be stored in a fireproof safe. From the past 60 years’ record, we observe that fire-resistant safes were easily broken by burglary. Inadvertently, the owners thought that the safe would protect against burglary attacks. Look instead for burglary safes with a burglar rating or a content value greater than $30,000. Burglar fireproof safes are constructed to protect valuables from fire and burglar attacks.

3. Never use floor safe to prevent fire. 

Floor safes were used to offer burglary protection and some fire protection, provided that the safe was placed on concrete floors. They are ideal for precious metals, such as gold, silver, jewelry, and coins. Floor safes are assumed to provide fire protection due to the concrete surrounding on all sides. The door can be exposed and made from only metal, and Heat can get in. Floor safe doors are made from plate steel, as thick as 1/2 inch to 1-1/2 inches. Unfortunately, most floor safes don’t have any fire retardant material. Floor safes are generally not fireproof.

4. When to use wall safe or hidden safe?

Wall safes and hidden safes are not recommended for high-value items. No doubt, a Wall safe offers the best protection. A wall safe can be attached to the wall by its design and removed from the wall. They provide only limited fire protection, limited to the sheetrock within the wall. Most burglars will look for hidden safes or wall safes to conceal a safe. They are easy to break into if they find one. A wall safe can be a great option if you only need to store items for a short time or keep your things out of reach of children. However, it is best to keep your valuable items in high-security safes. 

5. Know your needs, what types of safety you need.

Locked Vault

Source: freepik

There are many varieties of safes available in the market. First, it would be great to identify your needs and then buy a safe for you. The various type of safes are:

Digital home safe functions similarly to conventional ones, but they can be unlocked by inputting a 4–6-digit code on an electronic keypad. The keypad is powered by batteries. When the right combination is entered, the mechanism engages and the handle turns, allowing you to unlock the safe’s door.

  • Jewelry Safe

The most famous user of a jewelry safe used to be the neighborhood jeweler. Today, rich folks over the world use jewelry safes to preserve their precious, and often irreplaceable, gems and other valuables. Thus, nowadays these have become a good selling product among customers.

  • Fingerprint Safe Box

Fingerprints are extremely difficult to duplicate or alter, so as long as no one gets access to your hand, no one who isn’t permitted will be able to access it. You won’t have to worry about losing a key or forgetting a code because only authorized personnel will have access to your safe.

  • Burglary Safe

A burglary safe is safer than a standard fire safe. They’re bigger, and bigger nearly always means “more secure” in the “safe world.” Steel is a heavy metal, and well-constructed safes are made of it. The majority of burglary safes are hidden in some way.

  • Custom Gun Safes

These are available in a variety of sizes, security levels, fire resistance, and price points. To keep firearms out of the hands of minors, customers always need a gun safe. We can provide you with custom gun safes as per your customers’ requirements and demands.

  • Fireproof Gun Safes

Fireproof gun safes, as the name implies, keep your possessions safe in the event of a fire. These fire-resistant safes are ideal for storing crucial documents, family heirlooms, and other high-value goods apart from guns. Many of these safes come with warranties and are fire-resistant.

In the event of a break-in at your home, a pistol safe keeps your gun safe. Even if a burglar breaks into your safe before you, he won’t be able to take your guns.

  • Deposit Drop Safe

Banks, post offices, and other places where a rapid secure deposit needs to be made without opening the safe door employ these. The valuables are usually placed in a small hatch in the safe’s front. These are used to temporarily store valuables until they can be moved to the central safe.

  • Hotel Safe

Hotels give these low-cost safes so that their guests have a secure place to store their valuables throughout their stay. These aren’t secure, but they’re better than leaving your stuff lying around. The bolts that come with them are frequently used to secure them to the wall.

  • Cash Box

A cash box, one of the most common types of safes, is a tiny, portable storage container for cash and other valuables. Safes are frequently used to protect goods while being transported, but they can also be used to store cash and other valuables at home or at work.

  • Wall/ Floor Safe

This is a typical method of keeping vital documents and other assets at home. People use this type of safe to keep their valuables hidden and out of sight. Because it is attached to the studs in the wall, the wall safe is more accessible than the floor safe.

6. Take into consideration that media, family photos, and data may require more protection than regular fireproof safes.

Fireproof is a misleading term, and you need to understand that it is “resistant to fire” for a specific time. It is not entirely fireproof. Data and media such as photos, videos, C.D.s, tapes, etc., are vulnerable to heat and humidity/moisture. Traditional fireproof safes do not entirely protect these things. Fire-resistant safes are usually withstanding temperatures below 350 degrees F. This is the temperature at which paper can start to scorch or burn. The safe’s protection method produces steam (or moisture) within it. At temperatures above 135°F or 85% humidity, sensitive data and media can be severely damaged or burned.

A data/media safe is something you should consider buying if you have sensitive data or media you want to protect from fire. These safes can keep the interior temperature below 125°F and the humidity below 85°F.

Tested under extreme conditions and following UL/ETL standards, Safewell fireproof safes readily resist fires through strong surface treatments and the durability of their steel structure. Able to be bolted down to walls or any location, our safes withstand moisture leaks and high temperatures to protect money, documents and other items. As our factory comes with ISO9001 and BSCI Responsibility certification, we ensure clean, responsible production and meet deadlines fastidiously to help you appease markets.

7. How big a safe do you require?

You must first consider the size of your safe. Safes serve the purpose of providing security and protection to your valuables. It would be best to think about where the safe will be placed and how much space you have. You should also take inventory of all items you plan to store and choose a larger safe than what you actually need.

The size of the safe mostly depends on the purpose that it needs to fulfil. Even if is a simple gun safe, more consumers have discovered that they want to store other items as well. Allowing yourself some wiggle room is a better long-term investment. 

To figure out how big a safe you’ll need, simply stack everything you want to put in it and measure it. A typical home safe capacity ranges from 1.2 to 1.3 cubic feet, which should comfortably hold a foot-high stack of 812 by 11-inch papers.

8. Different types of locks

There are many types of lock mechanisms available for safes. The most popular include combination locks, PIN code locks, and biometric locks.

You will need batteries for digital locks, and Fingerprint Safe Box, while dial locks do not require power. It is easier to change the PIN code of an electronic lock than it is for a combination lock. A professional is needed. It is crucial to choose the right lock for your home. For this security, expert advice is highly recommended.

Combination Locks 

A combination lock is a sort of locking device that is opened by entering a series of symbols, usually numerals. A single revolving dial that interacts with numerous discs or cams, a set of several rotating discs with inscribed symbols that directly interact with the locking mechanism, or an electronic or mechanical keypad can all be used to enter the sequence. 

From low-cost three-digit luggage locks to high-security safes, there’s something for everyone. Combination safe locks, unlike typical padlocks, do not need keys.

Pin Code Locks

Pin code locks are one of the best kinds of safe locks where your customers do not have to worry about their key being lost, nor do they have to feel secure about any forcible access to the safe with their fingerprint. Your customers can easily access your safe by setting up a pin.   

A pin code lock is becoming more common and popular at the time. The only drawback is that they are powered by batteries. And eventually,  users will return to their safes and discover that the batteries have died. The backup key will be required to open the safe and replace the batteries. 

The backup key will be required to open the safe and replace the batteries. You’ll have to look through your belongings for a backup key you haven’t seen in years.

There are more password alternatives with these locks, and you won’t have to worry about losing the key. Some versions, however, require battery replacements on a regular basis. An electronic lock, like mechanical locks, may come with a backup key in case you forget the code.

Biometric Locks

These locks simply work by scanning a unique fingerprint which is usually stored on a connected electronic device.  

Because fingerprints are very difficult to replicate or alter, as long as no one has access to your hand, your customers can rest assured that no one who isn’t authorized will be able to gain access. 

Not only will your customers have peace of mind knowing that only authorized individuals have access to your safe, but they will also never have to worry about losing a key or forgetting a code. 

9. Customized Solution

Sometimes, mass-produced commercial safes don’t meet your needs, and you need something custom-made. Safewell offers the option to create a safe to meet your exact requirements. We offer a variety of extra features, including watch winders and secure jewelry safes. Get a consultation with one of our security experts to design your safe.

10. Professional Advice Or Services

A safe purchase is not easy and should not be taken lightly. Although your security requirements may seem straightforward, we recommend consulting a security professional before you move forward.

To ensure you don’t buy the inaccurate safe, a professional talk is all that is required. In this, your insurance questions must be addressed. You should not attempt to install the safe yourself as it could cause your insurance policy to be void.

11. Holistic approach to security

A safe can protect valuables and cash, but you need to holistically look at your business and home security. Combining a high-quality burglar alarm, door locks, and a safe will give you the protection you desire.

12. Buy Tested Safes

Tests conducted on fireproof safes

You can check excellent quality safes from Safewell which provides a wide range of them with fire resistance and theft security. Modern safes, often known as composite safes or burglar fire safes, combine burglar and fire protection. You get the finest of both sides with these safes: fire and burglary protection. 

Many of our customers wish to safeguard both essential documents and high-value objects. What frequently happens, in our experience, is that the consumer guesses what they need, and the selection is often based on size and price. We believe that some protection is preferable to none at all. 

When we think about why we should buy a safe, it boils down to one simple but significant point: the contents we want to safeguard are often some of our most precious and expensive possessions.  

A burglar’s quickest and most easy method of breaking into a safe is to move it to a location where they have the time and resources to do so. Even heavy safes should be anchored because even these are carried out of homes and companies by a few muscular robbers. 

Even if you believe your safe is hidden, you should nonetheless secure it in case robbers discover it. Your stuff will be safe if you are extremely cautious and take extra security procedures.

You should check for the European EN 14450 and EN 1143-1 standard, especially if you are looking for protection against burglary and independent certification agencies like VdS Schadenverhutung GmbH or ESSA e. V

13. Installation Considerations

The most important question is- where will I install safe? The thieves won’t be able to break into your safe if they don’t know where it is.

The bedroom is where burglars first look. If your safe is located in a way that makes it difficult to use, it may create problems. You should find the most accessible space in your home but not visible to others.

It can be challenging to install a safe. Ask the vendor before you purchase if they provide installation service. You can also consult our manual for a proper home installation guide and wall installation guide..

The installation instructions will likely include a list of basic tools. Depending on the type of flooring you intend to fix your safe to, you may additionally require specific tools. Cutting carpeting, for example, may be required to gain access to the underlayment. Before installing your safe, make sure to clean and carefully prepare the space.

Although freestanding safes do not require installation, all safe types should consider location. With a freestanding safe, you have a little more flexibility. Generally, a safe should be kept in the least visible part of your home. 

A closet, or somewhere else that hides the safe from view, is a good option. Any safe’s main purpose is to buy a potential burglar more time.

Run through a simple checklist once you’ve found your ideal spot. Is this location capable of supporting the safe’s weight? Solid floor joists should ideally run underneath. Is it too inconvenient to use on a regular basis? Is there any risk of falling? 

A free-standing safe looks like a simple, cube-shaped safe laying on the floor. Unlike a fixed safe, this one isn’t attached to the floor or wall, so you may put it wherever you choose. 

The advantage of this type of safe is that it does not require any specific installation skills, but the disadvantage is that criminals can just carry it away. Free-standing fire safes are common.

Conclusion

Only purchase safes from specialists and trusted sellers! Unprofessional dealers cannot assess the safety of a safe. It isn’t easy to spot a perfect safe at first glimpse. So you should do proper research before buying a safe.

As a professional and experienced safe manufacturer and supplier, Safewell provide high-quality safe products and indutry solutions. Our product range includes tested and certified safes in all sizes and security levels for both private and comercial use in line with the Euro standards.

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