Fire & Burglar Resistant Safes – Purchasing Guidelines
Guidelines For Purchasing Fire & Burglar Resistant Safes
Determine Your Needs
What kind of protection do you need? Full security or just fire protection? This question must be answered before you go any further.
Testing Agency Labels
Some safes that do not carry labels can still offer excellent protection. Independent testing by well known labs can be extremely expensive to initiate and maintain. These labels and the tests performed also mean different things. Make sure you have a clear understanding of the test passed and the prominence of the testing lab.
Beware of Used Safes
Older record safes like you see in the movies or on TV Westerns are called record safes. These can have very primitive locks that a seasoned burglar can defeat in minutes. Also, many of these old record safes offer little, if any, fire protection.
Steel Differences
All steel is not the same. Some safes come with thick steel. Thicker is not necessarily better. Some steels are much harder than others and can only be cut with carbide tools or torches. Read the literature from all manufactures about hardened steel.
Concealed Hinges
Perhaps the easiest way in any door is to pop the hinges. You can do this to get into a locked bathroom or into a safe. Top of the line safes offer concealed hinges. The best safes give no hint from the outside which way the door even swings. This can frustrate a burglar.
Locking Mechanisms
Pay attention to the manner in which the safe door locks. Are there multiple lock points? The more the better. Some safes offer locking points at the four corners of the door. This makes it tough to "peel" the door corners for easy entry.
Non-Metal Fire Safes?
Yes, you can get protection from fire without having to use standard steel. Don't pass by a fire storage safe that appears flimsy or made from a combustible material. Many new materials are actually safe in fires.
Warranty
Pay attention to warranties. Some of them are excellent life-time warranties in the event the safe is damaged by fire or burglary attempts.
Electronic Media Storage
Not all fire safes offer protection for magnetic disks and tapes. You have to purchase special safes for this purpose.
Wall and Floor Safes
I have installed these but in very strange places. These safes can offer you great protection, but only if you think you can outsmart a seasoned burglar.
Related Articles: Fire and Burglar Safes, Document Storage Tips, Fire & Burglar Resistant Safes, Selecting a Safe
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