Today the Phoenix Dream Home Safe is ready for review with another expert assessment.

The Dream from Phoenix has just been launched in 2022 with a new and modern design, along with some excellent features and has been manufactured to a very high standard. The Dream offers a digital electronic lock and has an insurance rating of £1,000 for cash and £10,000 for valuables.

Pros and Cons in Short

• Certified by ECB.S class S2 according to EN 14450
• Cash rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
• Digital electronic lock – Manual override key included
• Felt lined soft interior
• Available in 3 colours
• Can be anchored down
• Not fire resistant

Phoenix Dream Safe - Specifications

In total there are 3 different Phoenix Dream safes to choose from, they all have the same specification but just differ in colour.

Positives

Design: One of the main stand out features of the Dream safe is the design and colour, it has been designed with a unique colour scheme in mind. The majority of safes on the current market normally are chosen with the colours of Grey, Black or White in the design. The safe door has been laser cut so it gives a rounded and modern curve finish.

Electronic Lock and Override Key: Budget home safes are normally manufactured with just a key lock as standard or at best a basic electronic lock. The Dream provides you with a stylish electronic lock and a manual override key included in the price. This for the price of the safe is a fantastic advantage in comparison to the other competitors around that price point.

Value for Money: The overall value for money of the Dream Home safe is excellent if you take into consideration all of the features mentioned in the above pros list. For the amount being paid for the safe you are being provided with an good quality safe to protect your cash, valuables or documents.

Quality and Features: Along with the design and finish of the Dream, it has a fully lined velvet soft interior and a removable shelf to create extra space when storing cash and valuables. It has internal locking bolts which ensure that extra level of security and it can also be anchored to the base or back wall of the safe if required.

Negatives

Fire Resistance : The main negative with the Phoenix Dream is the safe not having any fire resistance included, but for the price being paid for the safe you wouldn't expect this to be included. So I only feel that this a slight negative that doesn't take away the overall quality and value for money of the safe.

Expert Review - Phoenix Dream Home Safe

The Phoenix Dream review has now been concluded and after taking all things into consideration the Dream is a fantastic safe to keep small amounts of cash and valuables secure in the home or office.

The Dream has 3 unique colours to choose from with a modern and stylish finish.  The Dream provides excellent value for money along with a high quality product compared to other competitors.

Price/performance is Excellent.

View the Dream range on Simplysafes

It’s time to spring clean your caravan or motorhome

The popularity of caravans and motorhomes continue to increase which is why it is imperative to ensure it is secure when not in use or you are out and about.

It is also as important to protect any valuables that are left within the vehicle.

It is predicted that it will be another boom year for staycations so whether you are opening your existing vehicle or planning to buy a new one, it is critical to invest in the right security products to have peace of mind when away from the vehicle.

Theft is a constant threat and continues be on the increase, especially in the uncertain and challenging times. As fuel prices soar, there has been an increase in the theft of petrol, diesel, and heating oils. It is important to fit deterrents from opportunist thieves or a planned theft.

Best Products and Brands to Buy

Simplysafes offers a full range of security products to protect your motorhome, caravan and trailers. The range comprises of Hitch locks, Wheel clamps and security posts. We have an excellent selection of products available from Autolok, Bulldog and Sentinel.

Our Recommendations

You may have recently purchased a caravan, motorhome or trailer and are now ready to use it over the next few months. Keeping your property secure from thieves is important for your peace of mind and insurance purposes.

Hitch Lock

Our recommended Hitch Lock is the:

Bulldog AA Alko/Albe Hitch Lock

One of our most popular hitch locks from Bulldog, the AA has been designed for use with a wide variety caravans and trailers. It has been tested to the Sold Secure Gold Standard and is insurance approved. For the price it provides excellent value for money and ensures that extra level of security when securing your trailer or caravan.

• Insurance approved
• 5 Year warranty
• Supplied with Bulldog Super Lock Bolt including 2 keys
• Drill and pick resistant lock
• Can be used on various models
• Can only be used unhitched

Wheel Clamp

Our recommended Wheel Clamp is the:

Bulldog DC400 Auto Clamp

The DC400 wheel clamp from Bulldog has been designed for use with larger sized wheels that are commonly used on vans and motorhomes. The wheel clamp is fully adjustable, lightweight and easy to fit. It comes with a 5 year warranty and ideal to keep your van or motorhome secure all year round.

• 5 Year warranty
• Insurance approved
• Supplied with a Bulldog plunge lock
• Top arms are fully adjustable for tyre width and diameter
• Simple to use and easy to fit
• Not suitable for smaller wheels

Security Post

Our recommended security parking post is the:

Sentinel SS-4 Fold Down Security Post

The SS-4 security post from Sentinel provides that extra security when your car, motorhome or caravan is stored on the driveway. A high quality padlock is provided with 2 keys included, it automatically acts as a visual deterrent to any potential thief. It has been constructed to an good standard and comes supplied with easy to follow installation instructions.

• Easy to fold down
• Supplied with a high quality stainless steel padlock – 2 keys provided
• Installation instructions included
• Bright yellow and black vinyl fascia ensures high visibility
• Fixing bolts not supplied

Securing your valuables in your motorhomes or caravan?

Now that your caravan or motorhome might be secured with a hitch lock or wheel clamp. It is important not to disregard the security of your cash or valuables. You may be out on a day trip, walk or night out. But you have also left personal belongings in the caravan.

Why not have that extra peace of mind whilst out by purchasing a small home safe to secure cash or valuables?

Please see our top 3 recommendations below -

Burton Primo Home Safe Size 1

Pros & Cons

• Digital electronic lock supplied with emergency override key
• Cash Rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
• Anti-bump solenoid – Prevents the safe from being bumped open
• Can be anchored to the base or back wall
• Not fire resistant

View the Burton Primo Home Safe Size 1 on our website

Chubbsafes Air 10E Compact Home Safe

Pros & Cons

• Beautiful design, good quality
• Cash Rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
• Robust keyboard
• Can be anchored to floor and wall, incl. mounting hardware
• Only 1 user code adjustable

View the Chubbsafes Air 10E on our website

Phoenix Vela SS0803E Home Safe

Pros & Cons

• Cash Rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
• Supplied with an easy to use digital electronic lock
• Concealed internal hinges
• Carpeted floor
• Not fire resistant

View the Phoenix Vela SS0803E Home Safe on our website

Need advice?

If you have any questions on our Autolok, Bulldog or Sentinel range, please do not hesitate to contact our team.

Rechargeable batteries can be found everywhere and make our daily lives a lot easier. Unfortunately, the latest lithium ion batteries are not as harmless as they seem.

What is a lithium battery?

A lithium battery is a type of battery that can store much more energy than an ordinary alkaline battery. The lithium battery consists of several cells, each of which consists of a kind of sandwich of materials. The advantage of its extremely high energy density is that a relatively small battery can provide a device with energy for a long time. Compared to alkaline batteries, lithium batteries last on average 7 times (!) longer.

The difference between lithium and li ion

There are two types of lithium battery: the non-rechargeable lithium battery and the rechargeable lithium ion battery (also called li ion). Nowadays a lithium ion battery is used in almost every rechargeable device. Smartphones, laptops, electric toothbrushes. All these devices are equipped with the popular rechargeable Li-ion battery. Even electric cars, ships and e-bikes are equipped with lithium ion batteries.

Extend lithium ion battery life

The life of a lithium ion battery depends on several factors. The average lifespan is estimated at 3 years. A lithium ion battery continuously loses its capacity, even if it is not used. There are a number of circumstances that continuously decrease the capacity of the battery.

For example, the higher the temperature of the battery, the faster the capacity is lost. A fully charged battery also ensures that the capacity decreases faster. Since a lithium ion battery is not cheap to buy, you ideally extend the battery life to the maximum. 4 tips to extend the lifespan:

• Store the battery at a temperature below 25°C
• Keep the battery charged to a maximum of 80%
• Do not discharge the battery below 30% during use
• Only use original chargers (no fast chargers)

Are lithium ion batteries dangerous?

Unfortunately, the lithium battery also comes with dangers. It has probably not escaped your notice that there has been a lot of stories about batteries of electric bicycles and smartphones that spontaneously catch fire or even explode. This resulted in electric bicycles catching fire while charging and smartphones exploding in the user's hands.

3 fires from a bicycle battery

Entrepreneurs who sell or rent electric bicycles, drones or IT equipment often charge the batteries at night, so that they are not visible and the batteries remain on the charger for a long time after they have been fully charged. This increases the risk of overheating causing the batteries to catch fire and completely burn down the business premises. In the factory of the e-bike manufacturer Stella, fire broke out no less than 3 times (!) in the space of six months. In all three fires, the cause was a lithium battery of an electric bicycle that overheated.

But even without the electric bicycle battery being connected to the charger, the battery can catch fire and explode. For example, a battery of an electric bicycle in Auke Tweewielers bicycle shop in the Netherlands spontaneously caught fire when no one was present. The bicycle repair shop sustained extensive damage as a result of the fire.

The danger of a lithium battery is that if one of the cells catches fire, the other cells will also catch fire one by one. In addition, the chemical properties of the cell make it extremely difficult to extinguish.

Electric cars with lithium ion batteries

Tesla, BMW, Smart and more car manufacturers produce electric cars that can drive up to 530 km with their large batteries on board without having to recharge in the meantime. The super-powerful lithium-ion batteries are also used here.

Just as with cars that run on petrol or diesel, things sometimes go wrong with electric cars. Due to traffic accidents or other reasons, the cars can catch fire. Compared to traditional cars, electric cars require a completely different extinguishing method.

At the end of March 2019, an electric BMW was extinguished by submerging the car for 24 hours in a large container of water. It was the first time that the fire brigade had an electric car fire under control in this way. This again shows that there is not enough information available about the dangers of lithium batteries and that we need to be extra careful with them.

Extinguishing a lithium ion battery fire

Owning equipment with lithium batteries is therefore not without risks. If a device with a lithium ion battery leaks, becomes excessively hot, smells strongly, produces smoke or produces sparks, it is wrong. If you notice any of the above signals, it is important that you disconnect the device from the charger and move it outside. Be careful not to place the device near combustible materials, then call 999.

If a small lithium ion battery such as a smartphone or power bank is on fire, you can try to extinguish it yourself. Make sure that you do not inhale any hazardous substances and think about your own safety. At the time of writing this article, the fire service is still busy researching the best extinguishing method for lithium batteries. Lithium battery extinguishing agents that are most effective now are the following.

• ABC-powder extinguisher
• (spray) foam extinguisher
• Sand
• Water (only if an extremely large amount is available)

After extinguishing, consult the fire brigade to make sure that the appliance is completely extinguished and that there is no longer a risk of catching fire again. To extinguish larger battery fires such as the batteries of electric bicycles, electric scooters and electric cars, it is necessary to call in the fire service. The fire brigade then determines a suitable extinguishing method.

5 tips to prevent lithium ion battery fire

To reduce the risk of one of your devices with a lithium-ion battery catching fire, keep the following in mind.

1. Replace damaged chargers
2. Only use chargers, devices and batteries from reputable manufacturers
3. Immediately remove the batteries from the charger when they are full
4. Supervise the battery while charging
5. Do not store batteries in direct sunlight

Tips for entrepreneurs

There are also ways for entrepreneurs dealing with lithium batteries to reduce the risk of fire.

1. Place a smoke detector near the battery charging point.
2. Keep the number of batteries in stock to a minimum.
3. Only charge the batteries if you or your staff can see them or if they are charged in a fireproof cabinet with internal power supply.

Storage of lithium ion batteries in a fire-resistant safety cabinet

As mentioned earlier, it is recommended to charge lithium ion batteries in a specially developed fire-resistant safety cabinet. Different models are available from different brands. The safety cabinets are optionally equipped with an internal (controlled) power supply and are fire-resistant from the inside and out.

The controlled power supply minimizes the risk of overheating. If one of the batteries does catch fire, the safety cabinet is fire resistant, so that the fire is kept in the cabinet. By providing the cabinet with an optional internal extinguishing system and smoke detector, you will be alerted in time and the fire inside the cabinet will be fought in good time.

Please note, safety cabinets are not endlessly fire-resistant. If a fire occurs in such a cabinet, it is important that you take action as quickly as possible by moving the cabinet to a safe place and calling in emergency services to extinguish the fire.

Please contact us to discuss this further with regards to the storage of lithium ion batteries in our own specially designed safety cabinets that we have developed.

How at risk is the UK to flooding?

Currently 1 in 6 properties in the UK are at risk of flooding and this is only set to increase due to climate change. Rising sea levels along with heavier rain fall combined doesn't make the situation any easier.

With the winter of 2021 now here, naturally the weather conditions will worsen over the next few months across the UK.

Parts of the UK are already bracing for heavy rainfall and floods such as Cumbria and Scotland.

The loss of precious and valuable items that are unable to be replaced can be devastating such as photographs, children’s favourite toys and antiques.

Flash floods, heavy rainfall and flooding can cause devastating damage to your home or business. The stress and anxiety in dealing with these issues after the flooding has occurred can be emotionally difficult for anyone to deal with.

Flooding can also occur internally in a home or a business with burst pipes or structural issues that may have happened suddenly.

How can floods affect your home or business?

• Property Damage
• Emotionally
• Loss of Life
• Local Infrastructure

Health and Safety

• Electrical and structural damage
• Sanitary risks
• Land damage
• Plus much more

How does a water resistant safe work?

Each water resistant or waterproof safe is individually tested up to a certain depth and time length during the testing validation process. The safes are submerged into water tanks with regular monitoring within the testing.

After the assessment is complete the manufacturer will then state how long the documents/contents stayed dry for during that period and under what height it was submerged.

ETL Verified Protection

ETL is an independent company that tests and grades each safe that has been provided by the supplier. After the testing has been completed they will give each product a certification mark such as below.

“ETL Verified for X hours of protection within water and up to X centimetres/millimetres of water.”

Are there many options available to purchase?

Water resistant safes are not as common as fireproof safes in the market but there is still a good selection to choose from.

Sentrysafe has been the main provider of water resistant safes over the past few years but Phoenix have now produced their own version recently.

With this is in mind, we have done a short review on the water resistant safes that are available from Phoenix and Sentrysafe.

Products in Review -

Phoenix Titan Aqua

The Titan Aqua from Phoenix is a well designed fireproof safe that offers 60 minutes fire protection along with water resistance of up to 200mm of water for 24 hours. It has been tested against water and it has a good level of protection for 24 hours to protect your cash or valuables.

One of the great features of the Aqua is that it also offers a good cash/valuables insurance rating along with 1 hour fire protection for paper and digital media.

Pros and Cons in Short

• Cash Rating £2,000 / valuables rating £20,000
• 1 hour protection for paper and digital media
• Water resistant up to 200mm of water for 24 hours
• Supplied with removable shelf
• Comes with internal light
• Solid boltwork with 25mm diameter steel live locking bolts
• Can only be anchored to the base
• Not ETL verified

Phoenix Titan Aqua Model Range

In total there are 3 Phoenix Titan Aqua safes which differ in size. They are all water resistant up to 200mm of water for 24 hours.

SentrySafe SFW082GTC Data Safe

The SFW082GTC from Sentrysafe is an excellent all round safe that covers most areas such as fire protection, water resistance and cash/valuables insurance rating. The advantage with the Sentrysafe is that it has been verified by ETL independently for fire and water.

The 082GTC can stand in up to 5" of water for up to 24 hours, whilst the 250GPC is 9" and the 123FTC is 8" of water.

Pros and Cons in Short

• ETL Verified 60 minutes fire protection for digital media and paper
• Interior light included
• Water resistant up to 200mm of water for 24 hours
• Suitable for floor fixing
• Small internal tray included
• Cash Rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
• ETL Verified water resistance - can stand in up to 5" of water for up to 24 hours
• Batteries not included

SentrySafe Model Range

In total there are 3 Sentrysafes which are different in size, they all differ in water resistance as shown below in the table.

Need advice?

If you have any questions on our Sentrysafes or Phoenix Aqua range, please do not hesitate to contact our team.

Today the Phoenix Fortress Pro SS1442E is ready for a review and another expert assessment.

The Fortress Pro from Phoenix has just been launched with some excellent features and has been manufactured to a very high standard. The pro offers 60 minutes fire protection for paper documents and has an insurance rating of £4,000 for cash and £40,000 for valuables.

Pros and Cons in Short

• Certified by ECB.S class S2 according to EN 14450
• 60 minutes fire protection for paper
• AiS insurance and Secured by Design – Police Approved
• High security digital electronic lock (EN 1300 approved)
• Certified by ECB.S class LFS30P according EN 15659
• Handy pull out tray for small items
• Modern design
• Cannot be anchored to the back wall

Phoenix Fortress Pro Models

In total there are 8 fortress pro safes which differ in size. They all offer the same specifications and features but just differ in size.

Positives

Fire Protection: One of the massive advantages of the Fortress Pro is the excellent fire protection of 60 minutes for paper documents. Safes normally around this price bracket do not offer a good level of cash/valuables insurance cover along with fire protection. So the Fortress Pro covers ever area!

Security Protection: In combination with the fire protection, the pro offers excellent protection against burglary attack. it has also been designed to match up with the latest European S2 Standards which provides greater reassurance when storing cash or valuables.

AiS and Secured by Design: The Pro has a massive positive with being approved by AiS (British Association of Insurance Surveyors) along with Secured by Design (the Police Preferred Specification). In comparison to similar specification safes the Pro is top of the list when compared against other safes.

Value for Money: The overall value for money of the Fortress Pro is excellent if you take into consideration all of the features mentioned in the above pros list. For the amount being paid for the safe you are being provided with an excellent safe to protect your cash, valuables or documents.

Quality: The construction quality of the Pro has been completed to an excellent standard. The safe is supplied with anti-drilling plates and has three way live locking bolts with also fixed dog bolts. This creates a door with massive strength and provides resistance to attack.

Negatives

Rear Wall Fixing : The main negative with the Phoenix Fortress Pro is that you are unable to anchor the safe to the rear wall and only able to fix it to the base. Please take this into consideration if you are planning to install the safe.

Expert Review - Phoenix Fortress Pro SS1442E

The Phoenix Fortress SS1442E Pro review has now been concluded and after taking all things into consideration the Pro is an excellent safe that provides fantastic security for your cash, valuables or documents.

The good selection of model sizes and locking types will cater for all customers requirements. The pro provides excellent value for money along with a high quality product compared to other competitors.

Price/performance is very good.

View the SS1442E on our website

Today the Sentrysafe FHW40100 fire resistant box is ready for a review and another expert assessment.

The great thing about a fire-resistant box is that it is compact but still offers good fire safety. The FHW40100 has 30 minutes fire protection for data media and paper. In addition, it is ETL verified for water submersion for up to 72 hours. This is a replacement for the for Master Lock LFHW40102.

Pros and Cons in Short

• UL - Class 350 (Paper) & Verified ETL
• Solid and robust
• Beautiful finish
• 30 minutes fire protection for paper and data media
• ETL tested and verified waterproof
• Lightweight
• High quality product
• Not burglar-resistant
• Cannot be anchored down

Sentrysafe Fire Resistant Boxes

In total there are 3 Sentrysafe fire resistant boxes which differ in size. Model FHW40100 has 1/2 hour fire protection as do the others as shown below.

Positives

Safety / certification: For fire protection, this box is an excellent solution. If you have a limited amount of (important) documents that you want to store safely, you can easily put them in this box with 1/2 hour of fire protection. The certification by the American UL is one of the better fire-resistant standards in that regard. A nice addition is the verification by ETL, so that not only paper documents, but also digital media are protected against fire and water.

Solidity: The hard-shell plastic housing appears very solid. This box can take a beating. We have our doubts about the lock. Works well, but doesn't seem very solid.

Storage capacity: That's how we like it; the box is suitable for storing A4 format documents (folded in half) . There is even some space left, so documents in a case are no problem either. With many other boxes this can sometimes be a problem.

Quality: We already saw that the finish is solid and the inside of the box is also in perfect order. It's not all that exciting, but everything looks good, neat and suitable for years of intensive use.

Negatives

Ease of use : What is striking is that it is quite a large box. The box looks a lot smaller in the photo. Due to the dimensions in combination with the relatively high weight, it is not a typical box that you take under the arm.

Burglary-resistant:  This box offers hardly any resistance to breaking open; an opportunity burglar will not have much trouble popping it open. The cylinder lock also offers hardly any security. This is more intended to prevent that not just everyone noses in the box. Although such a box is not designed to offer burglary resistance, it is something to take into account.

Expert Review - Sentrysafe FHW40100

This Sentrysafe fire resistant box is one of the best boxes with 1/2 hour certified fire safety for paper and digital media. The box is also water resistant for a short time.

This fire resistant box is solid, robust and suitable for years of use for protecting valuable documents and digital media against fire. It comes with carry handles on the side and 2 keys are also provided

Price/performance is very good .

View the FHW40100 on our website

Since the Covid Pandemic hit in March 2020, travelling abroad has become increasingly difficult due to the continuing changes to the traffic light system.

This along with the high risk of self-isolation on return is making it unattractive to travel overseas.

In comparison, the number of people planning staycations in the UK has risen significantly.

The increased usage of motorhomes and caravans will naturally rise. But making sure that these are secure before, during and after usage is essential to your valuable caravans or motorhomes.

At Simplysafes we provide a fantastic selection of Wheel Clamps and Hitch Locks from Bulldog to match all your requirements.

Hitch Locks

A hitch lock for a caravan is just as crucial as the key for the door of the caravan in terms of security. The usage of a hitch lock prevents your caravan being hitched up and towed away by thieves.

When choosing a hitch lock it is crucial that the correct one is chosen and purchased so that it fits correctly and secures your caravan or trailer as it should. At Simplysafes we have over 20 different Bulldog Hitch Locks to choose from.

For each model we have added further documentation to each product to make it easier to identify the correct one you need.

If you are still unsure on the correct hitch lock that you require please contact one of our team and we can ensure the correct model is selected.

On the side of your tyre it should state a number for example - "225/75"

Hitch Lock Identification Chart

Hitch Lock in Review – Bulldog BRC/BK Heavy Duty Hitch Lock

The BRC/BK from Bulldog is a heavy duty and well constructed hitch lock. It is easy to fit and has been supplied with a Bulldog super lock bolt and comes with 2 keys. The hitch lock has also been tested to the standard of Sold Secure Gold and is also insurance approved.

It provides excellent value for money and offers great security to your caravan or trailer. It can be used on Bradley Autoheads with rubber grip handles. Models GA3500, GA2750 & D05050 with and without cappits.

Pros & Cons

• 5 Year warranty
• Insurance approved
• Supplied with Bulldog Super Lock Bolt including 2 keys
• Easy to fit
• Approved by Sold Secure
• Can only be used unhitched

View the Bulldog BRC/BK Heavy Duty Hitch Lock on our website

Wheel Clamps

The usage of a wheel clamp on a car, motorhome, caravan or any other vehicle provides that physical immobilisation for your piece of mind.

With any vehicle you are provided a level of security with a physical key or electronic key fob. But having a wheel clamp secured on your vehicle provides that extra level to deter any potential thieves.

When choosing a wheel clamp it is crucial that the correct one is chosen and purchased so that it fits correctly and secures your vehicle as it should. At Simplysafes we have over 20 different Bulldog wheel clamps to choose from.

For each model we have added further documentation to each product to make it easier to identify the correct one you need.

If you are still unsure on the correct wheel clamp that you require please contact one of our team and we can ensure the correct model is selected.

Wheel Clamp in Review - Bulldog Centaur CA2000C Wheel Clamp

The Bulldog Centaur CA2000C wheel clamp has been manufactured to an excellent standard and is suitable for motorhomes, vans and 4 x 4 vehicles. The Centaur meets police approved standards and has also obtained Sold Secure Gold approval.

One big advantage of the CA2000C is that it has adjustable arms to allow fitting to a variety of wheel sizes, Please double check the sizing if you are still unsure.

The Centaur is one of our most popular wheel clamps from Bulldog, but we have a great selection of other wheel clamps to choose from here.

Pros & Cons

• Insurance approved
• Supplied with Bulldog Super Bolt lock
• 2 keys supplied
• Adjustable arms
• Approved by Sold Secure

View the Bulldog Centaur C2000C Wheel Clamp on our website

Securing your valuables in your motorhomes or caravan?

Now that your caravan or motorhome might be secured with a hitch lock or wheel clamp. It is important not to disregard the security of your cash or valuables. You may be out on a day trip, walk or night out. But you have also left personal belongings in the caravan.

Why not have that extra peace of mind whilst out by purchasing a small home safe to secure cash or valuables?

Please see our top 3 recommendations below -

Burton Primo Home Safe Size 1

Pros & Cons

• Digital electronic lock supplied with emergency override key
• Cash Rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
• Anti-bump solenoid – Prevents the safe from being bumped open
• Can be anchored to the base or back wall
• Not fire resistant

View the Burton Primo Home Safe Size 1 on our website

Chubbsafes Air 10E Compact Home Safe

Pros & Cons

• Beautiful design, good quality
• Cash Rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
• Robust keyboard
• Can be anchored to floor and wall, incl. mounting hardware
• Only 1 user code adjustable

View the Chubbsafes Air 10E on our website

Phoenix Vela SS0803E Home Safe

Pros & Cons

• Cash Rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
• Supplied with an easy to use digital electronic lock
• Concealed internal hinges
• Carpeted floor
• Not fire resistant

View the Phoenix Vela SS0803E Home Safe on our website

Need advice?

If you have any questions on hitch locks and wheel clamps or any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact our team.

In the United Kingdom it is vitally important to abide with current rules and laws around the storing of firearms securely. It is an offence to not comply with certain conditions. If offences are committed it can lead to a prison sentence, or a fine, or both.

When choosing a gun cabinet it is important to make the correct selection, so you can then adhere to this current legislation. Many different suppliers of gun cabinets offer different levels of security with each product offered.

Gun Safe Cabinets – BS7558:1992

The current British standard for a gun safe is BS7558:1992, which details the requirements to which gun cabinets must conform.  Although conformity to BS7558:1992 is mandatory, many gun cabinets remain untested and not certified to this day.

If you are going to store expensive firearms securely, it is important to choose the most appropriate gun cabinet to match your requirements.

Who are Sold Secure?

Originally Established in 1992 by Northumbria and Essex Police, with the help and backing of the Home Office. Sold Secure is dedicated to reducing the risk of crime by the assessment of a vast range of security products. Sold Secure is now owned and administered by the Master Locksmiths Association. Products are regularly tested by a highly skilled team.

What is Sold Secure SS302?

Sold Secure’s test specification SS302 meets and exceeds the minimum required in Britain of BS7558 for gun cabinets. Sold Secure work closely with the insurance industry, government organisations and the police to ensure that the products being tested are fit for purpose and grade them at either Bronze, Silver or Gold.

How does testing work?

The testing and approval for Sold Secure is classified into 3 main categories; Gold, Silver and Bronze (there is an additional Diamond grade in some specifications). The higher the grade, the higher the level of security offered by the product. Bronze is the lowest grade and Gold is the highest, unless in a specification with a Diamond grade, in which case Diamond is the highest. The amount of time and the tools allowed are dependent on which test specification is being tested to. This is because Sold Secure testing replicates attack methods used by criminals to ensure maximum security for the intended application; thus, a Gold grade product would need to withstand heavier duty tools for an extended timeframe, in comparison to a Silver or Bronze grade product.

Gun Cabinets Certified with Sold Secure SS302

Warden LFS Gun Safe Range

The Burton Warden gun safe range has been certified to Firearms Cabinets SS302:2020. It has been approved to the Silver Standard by Sold Secure.

The Warden is available in two different sizes (LFS 6 and LFS 14). It also comes with two different locking types with the choice of either a double bitted key lock or easy to use digital electronic lock. It has been built to an excellent standard and can be anchored to the base or back wall for added security.

Pros & Cons

Looking to protect your cash or valuables but don’t want to break the bank?

Then our budget safe range will be the perfect solution for you. We have put together our top 5 choices to choose from with advantages and disadvantages of each safe listed below.

The Best 5 Budget Safes

These are the 5 safes that our expert judges to be the best:

1. 1. Chubbsafes Air 15E
   2. Phoenix Rhea SS0103E
   3. De Raat Domestic Safe DS 4040E
   4. Burton Primo Home Safe Size 1
   5. BurgWachter PointSafe P2EFS

No 1. Chubbsafes Air 15E

In first place is the Chubbsafes Air 15E, it is ideal for home or small business use. It has an easy to use digital electronic lock and comes equipped with a manual override key should the battery power ever fail. The key lock option is also available in the Air 15 if preferred.

This safe has been simply designed and provides an excellent solution for storing small amounts of cash, passports and valuables in the home or workplace. The safe has a value storage for cash up to £1,000 and valuables up to £10,000.

Secure locking and anchoring through the floor and wall

The Air 15E is equipped with solid boltwork including 18mm live locking bolts and has concealed internal hinges for extra security. Anchoring of the safe is done via the base or back using the 4 bolts supplied. One removable shelf is also supplied with the safe.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Chubbsafes Air 15E in brief

• Lightweight and good quality
• User friendly digital electronic lock
• Cash rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
• Can be anchored to the base or wall (bolts supplied)
• Competitively priced
• Only 1 user code adjustable
• Safe not certified

View the Chubbsafes Air 15E on our website

No 2. Phoenix Rhea SS0103E

In second place is the Phoenix Rhea SS0103E, The Rhea is a compact home safe that can used for storing a 15.5” laptop along with small amounts of cash and valuables. It has an easy to use digital keypad with an LCD display.

This safe is straight forward, user friendly and ideal for storing small amounts of cash, passports and valuables. The safe has a value storage for cash up to £1,000 and valuables up to £10,000.

15.5" laptop can be kept secure

The Rhea is equipped with solid boltwork with live locking bolts and has concealed internal hinges for extra security. Anchoring of the safe is done via the base or back using the 4 bolts supplied. A manual override key is also supplied with the safe.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Phoenix SS0103E in brief

• Lightweight and good quality
• User friendly digital electronic lock
• Cash rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
• Can be anchored to the base or wall (bolts supplied)
• Can fit a 15.5” laptop
• Carpeted floor for valuables protection
• The lock has an audit trail facility
• Safe not certified

View all Phoenix Safes

No 3. De Raat Domestic Safe DS 4040E

In third place is De Raat Domestic DS 4040E safe, it is a basic and simple private safe for storing personal belongings at home or an office. It has an easy to use digital electronic lock and comes equipped with a manual override key should the battery power ever fail.

This safe is straight forward, user friendly and ideal for storing small amounts of cash, passports and valuables. The safe has a value storage for cash up to £1,000 and valuables up to £10,000.

Concealed internal hinges for extra security

The De Raat 4040E is equipped with solid boltwork including 18mm live locking bolts and has concealed internal hinges for extra security. Anchoring of the safe is done via the base or back using the 4 bolts supplied. A manual override key is also supplied with the safe.

Advantages and disadvantages of the De Raat 4040 Domestic safe in brief

• Can be anchored to the floor or wall
• Supplied with 2 emergency keys
• Cheap compact home safe
• Cash rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
• Removable shelf included
• Limited protection against burglary, not certified
• Weak locking mechanism

View the De Raat Domestic Safe DS 4040E on our website

No 4. Burton Primo Home Safe Size 1.

In fourth place is the Burton Primo home safe size 1, a modern and simple home safe for storing small amount of cash or valuables. We also have size 2 and 3 available if a larger safe is required.

It has an easy to use digital electronic keypad complete with an LCD display. It is ideal for storing small amounts of cash, passports and valuables. The safe has a value storage for cash up to £1,000 and valuables up to £10,000.

Anti-bump solenoid protection

The Primo home is equipped with 19mm live locking bolts and has concealed internal hinges for extra security. The safe also has anti-bump solenoid which prevents the safe from being bumped open.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Burton Primo Home Safe Size 1 in brief

• Can be anchored to the floor or wall
• Supplied with emergency override key
• Modern design
• Lightweight
• Cash rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
• Carpet interior to protect valuables
• Not certified
• No shelf for size 1

View the Burton Primo Home Safe Size 1 on our website

No 5. BurgWachter PointSafe P2EFS

In fifth place is the BurgWachter PointSafe PSEFS, this compact safe is supplied with an electronic keypad alongside a biometric fingerprint scanner for added security.

It has a digital electronic keypad for entry but is also supplied with a secure finger scanner for quick and easy access to the safe. The safe has a value storage for cash up to £1,000 and valuables up to £10,000.

Double walled door for added protection

The Pointsafe has been constructed from solid single walled steel with the addition of an anti-drill plate in the door frame for added protection.

Advantages and disadvantages of the BurgWachter PointSafe PSEFS in brief

• Can be anchored to the floor or wall
• Includes biometric fingerprint scanner
• Supplied with override key and emergency code
• Cash rating £1,000 / valuables rating £10,000
• Removable shelf included
• Optional hotel mode for guests if required
• Not certified
• No time delay

View the BurgWachter PointSafe PSEFS on our website

Questions or remarks about the top 5 budget safes ?

Depending on your further requirements for the safe, you can make a choice from these top 5 budget safes. You can also take a look at our full range of budget safes. Do you have any questions regarding the budget safes? Please contact our experts directly via our contact page.

Today, many cheap electronic safes are offered in DIY stores or online. It itself may seem tempting to purchase one, But watch out! Such safes are very fragile due to their construction.

Are electronic safes not to be trusted at all?

Yes, there are plenty of good certified electronic safes available that cannot be manipulated. All electronic safes certified according to European Standard EN 14450, EN 1143-1 and EN 1143-2 are equipped with a certified digital lock. These standards require an EN 1300 certified lock.

A certified lock according to EN 1300 costs at least around £150. A good electronic safe therefore quickly costs around £200.

With most inexpensive and non-certified security safes, we can assume that a simple and vulnerable lock or locking mechanism is fitted. Often these locks are also provided with an emergency key. In general, we also see similar constructions and locks with fire-resistant safes, but there we protect against fire and not against burglary.

What is an electronic safe?

An electronic safe is a certain type of safe with an electronic lock. This can be a burglar-resistant safe, a fire-resistant safe or a double-certified safe that offers protection against both. The electronic lock blocks and unlocks the locking mechanism based on a self-selected pin code that is entered.

In practice, most people looking for an electronic safe will simply be looking for a reasonable burglar-resistant safe with a digital code lock.

Advantages of an electronic safe

An electronic code lock offers various conveniences. You don't have to manage a key or just an emergency key. Several people can use the number combination of the safe to open it.

More advanced locks have a master code, user codes and an adjustable opening delay. This means that the user must wait a minimum of time after entering the code before the safe can actually be opened. There are also some electronic locks with readable memory and have an option to forward onto an emergency centre. Prices of such locks are from £250.

Disadvantages of an electronic safe

An electronic lock can also have its drawbacks. It often happens that users choose a difficult pin code and forget it. When there is no emergency key option, this simply means that the safe can no longer be opened in the normal way and an expert will have to be involved to open the safe. With most EN 1300 certified locks it is impossible to reset the safe and the code when it is closed.

Batteries are exhausted

The lock works on the basis of batteries and they go up once. What then? Most safes will send a signal in good time that the batteries are due for replacement. If you do not replace the batteries in time, the safe will no longer open at some point.

If the lock is supplied with an emergency key, this can be used to open the safe. With a (more expensive) advanced lock, an external battery can be connected.

Important considerations when buying an electronic safe

A good digital lock is not the only important thing with a safe, of course. For good protection, the housing and construction must also be of good quality to provide good protection for your valuables.

Before buying a safe, answer the following questions:

What do I want to store in it?

Money, jewellery and valuables? Take into account the value storage indication of the safe. A safe without valuables is hardly resistant and the contents cannot be insured.

Read more about burglary resistance, certifications and value storage in our selection guide

Do I need fire protection?

A security safe is not necessarily fire resistant and vice versa. If you are looking for a fire resistant electronic safe, take into account the certified fire resistance.

Read more about fire resistant safes

Where do I place the safe and can I anchor it?

With safes up to 1000kg, it is necessary to anchor in the wall and / or ground, otherwise you run the risk that the safe is taken in its entirety. Think in advance of a good place for the safe where you can easily reach and the safe can also be firmly anchored.

Read more about how to secure a safe

Advice

If you want to keep valuables and cash safe, always choose a safe with a certificate. There are safes that provide protection against burglary / theft, fire or a combination of both.

In general, the higher the investment, the better construction and protection against burglary and fire.

View all electronic safes

Would you like tailored advice for the best electronic safe for your situation? Feel free to contact our experts.