Security Safes – Buyers Guide
If you have never purchased a safe before, the vast array available online and the added technical jargon can make the task bewildering. With this in mind we developed this step by step guide to help make finding your perfect safe a simple and painless experience. Within the guide you will find explanations of some common terms that you will come across on your search.
Types of security safes
Listed below are the various categories of security safes which have all been designed with the primary purpose of protecting cash and valuables from the threat of theft.
Graded Safes are safes which have been independently tested to official industry standards. They can fall into 9 grades ranging from a cash rating of £2,000 (S1) to £150,000 (Grade 6). They offer the highest security available for free-standing security safes.
Deposit safes are free standing security safes with either an envelope slot or a drawer trap allowing people to quickly deposit cash or valuables without having access to the main safe contents.
Underfloor safes are designed to be concealed within a recess in the floor. They offer maximum protection as the safe can only be attacked at one point – through the door.
Level of protection required
All security safes will be tested and rated according to what is referred to as a cash rating. A cash rating indicates how much your insurance company will underwrite the contents of your safe for.
If the rating is £1,000 then the safe is suitable for storing up to £1,000 in cash or ten times this sum in valuables. Thus a safe with a cash rating of £3,000 will have valuables cover of £30,000.
When you begin looking for a safe it is important to decide which items you wish to protect and what the monetary value is of those items. This will allow you to narrow your search to safes within that cash rating bracket.
It is important to liaise with your underwriter before purchasing a safe if you are acquiring one for insurance purposes. In some circumstances underwriters will stipulate a cash rating they wish you to have, particularly if you have an item of high value.
Locking options
As standard, safes will be fitted with either a key lock or an electronic (digital) lock. Which lock option to choose ultimately falls down to personal preference; what you will feel more comfortable and confident using.
For further information on locks please refer to Familiar Asked Questions.
Size
It is important to consider both the external and internal dimensions of a safe to ensure that it will fit where you want it located, and also provide enough internal space to store your contents. It can often be helpful to measure the largest item you will place in the safe in order to get a sense of the minimum dimensions you require.
Approximate imperial / metric conversions:
1” = 25mm 1ft = 304mm
Testing standards
The cash rating on any safe will be determined by two factors: the safes construction, for example the thickness of the body and door, and the complexity of the lock.
Several of the security safes manufactured by Alpha have been independently tested in order to meet official European standards.
The ECB.S is the accredited certification body for security products within Europe. Testing by the ECB.S is based on simulating modern burglary techniques. A safe is graded on a score which is derived from what tools were used and how long it took to gain access to the contents inside. Below is a list of the grades and their respective cash ratings as agreed by the insurance industry.
| EN 11450 S1 / S2 | £2,000 / £4,000 | EN 1143-1 Grade 3 | £35,000 |
| EN 1143-1 Grade 0 | £6,000 | EN 1143-1 Grade 4 | £60,000 |
| EN 1143-1 Grade 1 | £10,000 | EN 1143-1 Grade 5 | £100,000 |
| EN 1143-1 Grade 2 | £17,500 | EN 1143-1 Grade 6 | £150,000 |
