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Expert Review: Chubbsafes Homesafe

Expert Review: Chubbsafes Homesafe

Today we are going to review the Chubbsafes Homesafe 50 EL.

The Homesafe series is the latest range of home safes from Chubbsafes and designed for the safe storage of money, jewellery and paper documents. The range offers certified protection against burglary and fire.

The Homesafe series is European certified class S2 according to EN 14450 with a value storage of £4,000 for cash and £40,000 for valuables.
The Homesafe series is European certified class LFS30P according to EN 15659 and offers 1/2 hour fire protection for paper documents.

Anchoring is possible via the bottom by means of 2 large anchors (included). In our review we look at model 50 EL which is equipped with an electronic code lock.

In total there are 6 models ranging from 11 to 91 liters. Equipped with a key lock or electronic code lock per model.

Plus and minus points - in short

  • Light weight safe with excellent quality
  • High-quality electronic code lock with 2 adjustable codes
  • Class S2 according to EN 14450. Value storage € 5,000 cash / € 9,000 valuables
  • 1/2 hour fire resistant according to EN 15659, class LFS30P
  • European certified by ECB.S; highest attainable certificate
  • Shelf not adjustable in height
  • Insufficient depth for binders (ring binders do fit)
  • Cannot be anchored via the rear wall (floor only)

 

Chubbsafes Homesafes models

Model External dim. (mm) Internal dim. (mm) Weight (kg) Volume (L)
Homesafe 10KL 300 x 360 x 300 210 x 270x 191 21 11
Homesafe 10EL 300 x 360 x 300 210 x 270x 191 21 11
Homesafe 20KL 300 X 445 X 390 210 x 355 x 281 28 21
Homesafe 20EL 300 X 445 X 390 210 x 355 x 281 28 21
Homesafe 35KL 450 x 445 x 390 360 x 355 x 281 38 35
Homesafe 35EL 450 x 445 x 390 360 x 355 x 281 38 35
Homesafe 50KL 600 x 445 x 390 510 x 355 x 281 46 51
Homesafe 50EL 600 x 445 x 390 510 x 355 x 281 46 51
Homesafe 70KL 800 x 445 x 390 710 x 355 x 281 59 71
Homesafe 70EL 800 x 445 x 390 710 x 355 x 281 59 71
Homesafe 90KL 1000 x 445 x 390 910 x 355 x 281 72 91
Homesafe 90EL 1000 x 445 x 390 910 x 355 x 281 72 91

The designation "KL" (Key Lock) is the variant with key lock, "EL" (Electronic Lock) electronic code lock.

Construction features

Revolutionary V-shaped shots Integrated thief claw on hinge side
Special band in the door frame that swells during fire		 2 large M16 wedge bolts for bottom anchoring

 

Pros

Ease of use : What is striking is the lack of a door handle. This function has been adopted in the lock, which is equipped with a black rotating ring. After entering the factory code, we were able to open the lock and then the safe. The keystrokes feel good and give feedback by means of a beep and red LED. You will be warned in time if the battery is weak. Changing is easy because the battery is in the keyboard. A battery is included as standard. Nice feature is the lighting; in the dark you press the light and the keyboard is illuminated.

Safety : Chubbsafes is known for its high-quality constructions. This is underlined by opting for the toughest tests and certifications. This strategy has also been followed for the Homesafe and it has been opted for certification by ECB.S for both burglary and fire. The safe feels good and on the hinge side the safe door has integrated thief claws.

The lock runs smoothly and the alternative choice for "V-shaped" shots differs from what we are used to with safes, but this has clearly been thought about.

Certification: As already indicated, the Homesafe burglary and fire is certified by ECB.S. Burglar-resistant Security Level 2 (S2) according to EN 14450 and fire-resistant class LFS30P according to EN15659. The certification plates, in accordance with EN standards, are affixed to the rear of the safe door. In accordance with the requirement, all locks on the Homesafe series are EN 1300 certified.

Anchoring:  2 anchoring holes are provided in the bottom and the safe can be anchored perfectly with the 2 M16 anchors supplied. Because this safe is also certified fire resistant, it logically has no anchoring holes in the back wall. After all, this would weaken the fire-resistant barrier. If anchoring in the floor is not possible, gluing is a good alternative.

Quality: The finish in anthracite-colored powder coating is scratch resistant and can take a beating. The quality is excellent.

Negatives

Weight:  The low weight certainly has a great advantage; installation is easier and saves costs. However, the safe feels less heavy and solid, which can also be experienced as less 'good'.

Interior: The supplied shelf is removable, but not adjustable in height. If you want to store higher items, the shelf must be removed, but then you no longer have any extra space for other items.

Then there is the interior depth of the safe. All Homesafe models have an internal depth of 281 mm. Sufficiently deep for all kinds of stuff, but not deep enough for placing a file. This just does not fit because we are 10 mm short. That is a pity because there will also be business users who want to store their binders with paper documents in a fire-safe manner. Less deep ring binders do fit.

Expert review Chubbsafes Homesafe

Since its introduction, the Chubbsafes Homesafe series has quickly developed into a bestseller. Many private individuals and small business users are now satisfied users. With European certified burglary and fire safety, the Homesafe series offers a high-quality safe for storing money, jewellery and other valuable belongings.

Unfortunately, the internal depth has not been given enough thought. Folders just don't fit and as a business user this would be handy. The shelf is also not adjustable in height (but removable). We have now heard from a reliable source that Chubbsafes is working on this 'problem'. Time will tell.

Due to the low weight, the safe may feel a little less solid, but it is ingeniously constructed and with the right ECB.S certificates there is no reason to doubt. Truly a bestseller !

Ease of use 9
Security (burglary & fire) 9.5
Model series 9
Interior 6
Price quality 9
Final assessment 8.5

 

Order the Chubbsafes Homesafe 50 EL on our website.

About Lips Safes

The Lips family business was founded in 1870. Founder Jacobus Lips started as a small forge with the manufacture of stoves, fireplaces and soon safes. The company has grown over the years. Around 1920, the Lips factory already had 1,000 employees. After a reconstruction of the company after 1945, the company has continued to grow steadily.

Lips Safes and Chubbsafes

In 1971 the company merged with the English company Chubb. In the following years, the company Chubb-Lips successfully started with electronic security solutions. After several purchases and sales of the company, Lips Brandkasten became part sold to the current Swedish owner Gunnebo.

Lips Brandkasten is still one of the leading manufacturers of high-quality safes today. Due to further internationalization, the products are labeled with "Chubbsafes". The name Lips Brandkasten is still used in the Netherlands and Belgium because of their reputation. A Chubbsafes safe is therefore equal to a safe from Lips Brandkasten and vice versa.

 

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The Fire Hazard of Lithium Ion Batteries
The Fire Hazard of Lithium Ion Batteries

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?

Example lithium battery

Example of the construction of a lithium battery on the inside

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.

Fire brigade extinguishes electric BMW

The fire brigade extinguishes an electric car by putting it in a container with water

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.

Fire extinguisher that is activatedIf 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 firetips

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.

Expert Review: De Raat PT1 home safe
Expert Review: De Raat PT1 home safe

In this expert review, we take a closer look at De Raat's popular PT1 home safe.

It is a home safe designed to protect cash and valuables. De Raat's PT series is Security Level S2 certified according to European Standard EN 14450, filled with a fire-retardant material and can be anchored to the floor or wall. The ET series includes the same construction method, certification and models, but is equipped with a digital code lock instead of a key lock. See also below for an overview.

Pros and cons De Raat PT1 - in short

PT-1 side closed

  • Easy operation
  • European certified Security Level S2 according to EN 14450
  • Can be anchored to bottom (2) and / or rear wall (2)
  • Excellent quality
  • Little to no fire protection
  • Not highly achievable certificate for safes
  • Free passage is reduced by safe door that can open up to 90 degrees

Model overview De Raat home safes

De Raat PT (key lock) Range

Model External dim. (mm) Internal dim. (mm) Weight (kg) Volume (L)
De Raat PT 0 250 x 290 x 220 160 x 220 x 140 17 5
De RaatPT 1 330 x 450 x 380 240 x 380 x 292 39 27
De Raat PT 2 450 x 450 x 380 350 x 380 x 292 48 39
De Raat PT 3 600 x 450 x 380 500 x 380 x 292 61 55
De Raat PT 4 810 x 450 x 380 700 x 380 x 292 79 78
De Raat PT 7 700 x 500 x 450 600 x 410 x 370 81 91
De Raat PT 8 900 x 570 x 490 800 x 500 x 400 110 160

 

De Raat ET (electronic code lock) Range

Model External dim. (mm) Internal dim. (mm) Weight (kg) Volume (L)
De Raat ET 0 250 x 350 x 220 160 x 280 x 140 25 6.5
De Raat ET 1 330 x 450 x 380 240 x 380 x 292 39 27
De Raat ET 2 450 x 450 x 380 350 x 380 x 292 48 39
De Raat ET 3 600 x 450 x 380 500 x 380 x 292 61 55
De Raat ET 4 810 x 450 x 380 700 x 380 x 292 79 78
De Raat ET 7 700 x 500 x 450 600 x 410 x 370 81 91
De Raat ET 8 900 x 570 x 490 800 x 500 x 400 110 160

Pros


Ease of use : The PT1 is has a double-bit key lock. Operation is simple and because the key is not too long, it is still fine to hang on a key ring.

Safety : The safe door and double-walled hull are solidly constructed. The locking pins on 3 sides (front, top, bottom) give a solid impression. With a value deposit of £4,000 in cash, this safe offers more than enough protection for most individuals. Jewellery are of course also stored safely here.

Anchoring: The PT1 is provided with 2 anchoring holes in the bottom and in the back wall. So there are enough options to anchor the safe properly. A mechanical anchoring set is included in the delivery.

Quality: The quality is more than sufficient. The finish is simple, but neat and solid.

Negatives

Fire protection:  Although the safe is burglar resistant, the fire safety performance is very limited. The fire resistant filling causes some delay, but the construction is not suited for fire protection; in a fire the contents will be destroyed within a short time.

Certification: Although the PT1 carries the S2 label according to EN 14450, it is certified by an Eastern European institute, namely Czech Trezor test. Experts among us know that the level of such an institute is significantly lower than safes certified by ECB.S. The production process is also less strictly monitored. De Raat opts for easy certification and thus a cheaper product and not for optimal security.

Interior: Due to the integrated hinge construction, the safe door can be opened up to 90 degrees. This significantly reduces the net passage. This is definitely something to consider when purchasing. The shelf is removable.

Expert assessment De Raat PT1

The De Raat PT1 home safe is a high-quality safe for storing valuables and cash. This safe is suitable for both private and small business use. The safe feels sturdy and offers a good price / quality ratio. The PT1 is the second smallest of the 7 models in the PT series.

The certification is not optimal. The right standard, but the better ECB.S certification has not been chosen.

Consider the narrow passage due to the thickness of the safe door.

 

Ease of use 8
Security (burglary) 7
Model series 9
Interior 6.5
Final assessment 7.6

 

View all safes from De Raat Security.

Buying Guide: Fireproof Safe
Buying Guide: Fireproof Safe

Always protect your irreplaceable valuables against fire!

Vital and irreplaceable paper documents (tax returns, certificates, diplomas, customer information, personnel files, contracts, etc.) have high emotional value or are critical to any business operation and must be protected from fire.

Statistics indicate that companies need to take additional measures to protect their sensitive information.

 

What is a fire resistant safe?

A fire resistant safe (or safe) is designed to ensure that the temperature inside the safe does not rise above a certain temperature during a fire and to prevent damage to the contents. Depending on the items stored in the safe, the temperature should not exceed:

  • 177 ° C for paper (documents, files, contracts, etc.)
  • 52 ° C for data media (backup tapes, floppies, microfilms, hard disks DVDs, CDs, USB sticks, memory cards etc.)

For data media, the relative humidity must not exceed 85%. This requirement does not apply to paper, because paper is not destroyed if it gets wet.

The fire resistance of a safe is indicated in minutes or hours.

Fire resistant tests & standards

There are several tests that are performed on fire resistant safes to measure fire safety. For more information about fire resistant safes, tests and standards go to What is a fire resistant safe?

Fire resistant standards table

The following standards are applied internationally. If one of these tests is carried out by a VdS, SP, UL or JIS), a correct execution of the fire test is ensured. The test results are reliable. Independent experts recommend a fire-resistant safe certified to one of these standards and test institutes.

Norm Temperature duration test Drop test  Paper Data Media
EN 1047-1 1090 ° C yes, 9.15m
  • S60P (1 hour)
  • S120P (2 hours)
  • S60DIS (1 hour)
  • S120DIS (2 hours)
EN 15659 850 ° C No
  • LFS30 (½ hour)
  • LFS 60 (1hr)
 n / a
UL 72 1000 ° C yes, 9m (optional)
  • Class 350 - ½hr (½ hour)
  • Class 350 - 1hr (1 hour)
  • Class 350 - 2hr (2 hours)
  • Class 125 - ½hr (½ hour)
  • Class 125 - 1hr (1 hour)
  • Class 125 - 2hr (2 hours)
JIS (S1037) 927 ° C yes, 4m
  • JIS 60P (1hr)
  • JIS 120P (2hrs)
  n / a
NT Fire 017 1090 ° C No
  • 60 Paper (1hr)
  • 120 Paper (2 hours)
  • 60 Diskette (1hr)
  • 120 Diskette (2 hours)

Attention!

The following standards are applied nationally or locally by, for example, manufacturer or supplier. Testing is also done as "in-house testing" for eg product development. Today, there are many products on the market with these labels and certification. They are real tests, but not independent and not checked. If you do not want to take any risks with the choice of a fire resistant safe for the safe storage of your personal belongings or business criticism documents and data media, always choose a fire resistant safe certified of one of the above standards!
GB16810-1997  945 ° C No
  • 60 Paper (1 hour)
 n / a
ETL 760 ° C yes, 4.5m n / a
  • ½-hour (½ hour)
  • 1 hour (1 hour)
  • 2-hour (2 hours)
MTS DIP 120-60DM  945 ° C No n / a
  • Grade B (1hr)

Note

  • Data media are most vulnerable storage media, such as: backup tapes, floppy disks, photo negatives, (traditional) hard disks, USB sticks, CDs, DVDs, memory cards
  • For a real fire resistant safe choose a safe certified according to EN 1047-1, EN 15659, UL72, JIS (S1037) or NT Fire 017.
  • For the best fire resistant safe, choose a safe certified to EN 1047-1 or UL72.
  • A fire-resistant construction according to DIN 4102 does not yet make a fire-safe. At most, it provides a fire delay of a few minutes. See our DIN 4102 article.

Which fireproof safe is most suitable for me?

In order to make the right choice, you need to know the following:

  1. How long should the safe provide protection against fire?
  2. How big should the safe be? What is the required storage capacity?
  3. Is an indication of value storage required for storing cash or other valuables?
  4. Which type of lock do you prefer?
  5. What is your budget?
  6. Miscellaneous

1. Duration of fire protection, how long is long enough?

It is important to consider what you want to protect against fire and what risk you run or don't want to run.

The higher the risk, the higher the necessary fire safety

In addition, the location of the safe also has a (major) influence on fire safety. In the basement, the temperature development during a fire is lower than on the top floor of a building. In the basement, there is also no risk of the safe falling down upon collapse. Furthermore, the intensity of a fire is determined by the presence of flammable materials. A monumental farm with a lot of wood and a thatched roof will develop a different kind of fire than a modern building of 'steel and concrete'.

The location can also be decisive; is the arrival time of the fire brigade short or longer? This will be different for urban area vs. country side.

Which fire resistant safe is most suitable for me?

It is important to consider what you want to protect against fire and what risk you run or want to run.

The higher the risk, the higher the necessary fire safety

Category To protect Norm Risk
Paper

Documents

Certificates

Personnel files

Diplomas

EN 1047-1

UL 72 Class 350

JIS (S1037)

NT Fire 017

EN 15659

GB16810-1997

high

high

medium-high

medium-high

medium

low-medium
Data Media 

USB sticks

CDs and DVDs

Backup tapes

Floppy disks

Modern and magnetic information carriers

EN 1047-1

UL 72 Class 125

NT Fire 017

ETL

MTS DIP 120-60DM

high

high

medium-high

low-medium

low-medium

Tip

  • Safes with the best fire protection are certified fire resistant safes according to European Standard EN 1047-1.
  • If you want to store these very valuable, emotional or business criticisms fireproof, then choose an EN 1047-1 certified safe.

2. How big should the safe be? What is the required storage capacity?

The size of the fire-resistant safe must of course depend on what you want to store in it. If you wish to place files in the safe, you must take into account a height (file folder in portrait orientation) or width (file folder in landscape format) of 32 cm and a depth of 29 cm. A safe is a sustainable investment, so make sure you not only fit things in now, but provide extra space for later.

Tip

  • The purchase of a safe is a sustainable investment; never buy a safe too small, but focused on the future.
  • Note the free passage of a safe. Due to the door construction, the free passage can be smaller than the net internal width. As a result, a file, laptop, or other stuff just can't fit!

3. Is a value deposit also required?

A fire resistant document safe is primarily constructed to keep heat from a fire out of the safe and to ensure a low temperature. However, in a number of cases people want to protect against burglary at the same time. Burglary resistant safes are different in construction and filling materials, but a combination of burglary and fire resistant properties is quite possible.

However, a safe that combines fire safety and burglary protection requires a higher investment. For value storage, see also  Selection Help 1. Total value - value storage of a safe .

Basically, you have to assume which burglar-resistant safe supplemented with fire-resistant properties or a fire-resistant safe with burglar-resistant properties.

Products can also be (cleverly) combined, such as placing a fire-resistant box in a fire-resistant safe.

If you need a burglar and fire resistant safe, you can contact us for tailor-made advice.

4. Safe lock type, which one is best?

PS1-2_close_up_7_resizeA wide variety of locks are available for safes. You can choose from key locks, mechanical combination locks, electronic code locks or biometric locks. There are also time locks and safes can be equipped with double locks so that 2 people are needed to open the safe. The various lock options have advantages and disadvantages.

Read our extensive blog article which type of safe lock is best for you, or contact us for personal advice.

5. Budget, amount of your investment

In principle, there is a safe for every budget. In general; the higher the investment; the higher the protection against burglary or fire. Is burglary and fire safety combined in a safe? The required budget will increase, but at the same time you will be better protected.

Budget is an important factor in every situation. However, determine your choice for the right safe based on your requirements and wishes. If this is above your budget, consider a smaller model or switch to a key lock. You maintain a lower investment while maintaining safety.

6. Other important things when choosing a fire safe

Fireproof safes come in many different types and designs. This has to do with the type of items that can be stored in the safe and additional provisions that have been made in the safe.

  • Home safe  - for storing limited amount of paper documents. Pay attention! Not all private safes are fire resistant.
  • Document safe  - for storing paper documents, contracts, files, etc.
  • Data safe  - for storing backup tapes, USB sticks, CDs, DVDs, microfilms, etc.
  • Fire resistant chemical cupboard  - for storing chemicals, hazardous and highly flammable substances
  • Fireproof filing cabinet  - for filing files, documents, etc. Such cabinets are often filled with a fire-retardant material. In practice, these are called fire resistant, but often this is not so, or very limited!

Interior options

There are several options when it comes to the interior of your safe. It is possible to provide a safe with lockable compartments, so that there is only access to documents, not cash. Extendable suspension file frames, extra shelves, or special data inserts for extra fire safety of data media.

Placement and anchoring of fire resistant safes

Take into account the maximum permitted weight on the spot and the weight of the safe you have in mind. If you are not sure whether the floor is strong enough, please contact us.

A fire resistant safe can be installed in different ways. Safes can be placed freestanding, while they can also be attached to floors, walls, or inside a cupboard, under a bed, etc. There are also floor safes, specially designed to be mounted below ground level. All safes up to 1000 kg must be properly anchored. If you want to have a safe installed, go to Placing and Anchoring Safe.

Need personal advice?

Would you like personal advice or speak to one of our specialists? Please contact us for further explanation and advice.

View all fireproof safes

Buying Guide: Security Safe
Buying Guide: Security Safe

A burglary takes place every 106 seconds in the UK ! Most of us don't expect to fall victim to a burglary. Yet there are 817 domestic burglaries in the UK every day! Do not wait until it is too late, but take timely measures to protect your valuables. Even good insurance is no substitute for your cash, jewellery, sensitive documents, computer media or other valuable assets.

A safe is a worthwhile investment and offers you peace of mind and security

Burglar at the window

Due to increasing supply and demand, the range of safes for private homes has become very affordable. With the growing number of break-ins, a safe is an ideal place to store cash, important documents, such as marriage certificates, passports and credit cards.

But also for every company, a safe remains an indispensable place to safely store cash and crucial business information and to protect it against the burglars' guild.

How do I make the right choice for a safe?

Many different safes are available to protect money and valuables from theft. To further help you make the right choice, there are the following basic questions:

1: What is the total value of cash and valuables in the safe you wish to store?
2: How large should the safe be, or in other words, what is the required storage capacity?
3: Which type of lock do you prefer?
4: What is your budget?
5: Other important things when choosing a safe

1. Total value - storage of a safe

All safes that are resistant to burglary are equipped with an (indication) valuables storage. The value storage indicates how safe a safe is. The higher the value storage, the safer the safe. Please note: valuation is only applicable if the safe is properly anchored in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

How is the value storage measured?

Safe with open doorThe value storage, also known as insured value, is a measure for distinguishing the burglary-resistance of different safes. It also applies if you want to have the contents of the safe insured. The higher the value storage, the higher the resistance to breaking open, and thus the better the safe. If you want to insure the contents of your safe, it is advisable to contact your insurance company and be informed of the requirements and conditions that your insurer provides for cover.

In a safe with a value credit of £10,000, you can store up to £10,000 in cash value . It is therefore not wise to store a cash amount of £50,000 in a safe with a value deposit of £10,000.

Information card for safes Standardization and Coverage advice

As of 1 June 2015, a distinction is also made between value storage for cash and valuables .

If you want to store valuables such as jewellery, a stamp collection, old coins in a safe, the value storage will be doubled. This may partly influence the location of the house or the building, region, the presence of an alarm system, etc.

The valuation is also indicative of the construction of the safe, thickness of the walls and door, complexity and safety of the locking mechanism, lock, additional protections and general build quality. In general, the higher the value storage, the safer the safe.

It is always advisable to contact your insurance company if you want to store specific valuables with high value or a lot of cash.

Security tests & standards

For burglar-resistant safes, a distinction is made between the following security standards:

  • EN 14450 European Standard for private safes Security Level S1 and S2 *
  • EN 1143-1 European Standard for safes Grade 0 to class VI *
  • EN 1143-2 European Standard for Deposit Safes Grade DI to Class DIV *

For more information about standards and burglary resistance go to: What is a security safe .

Table of standards and valuation

Standardization Value Storage - European EN Standards Application
EN 14450 Cash Valuables
Class S1 £ 2,000 £ 20,000 private and small business use
Class S2 £ 4,000 £ 40,000 private and small business use
EN 1143-1 EN 1143-2  
Class 0  - £ 6,000 £ 60,000 private and small business use
Class 1 Class D1 £ 10,000 £ 100,000 private and small business use
Class 2 Class D2 £ 17,500 £ 175,000 Business use
Class 3 Class D3 £ 35,000 £ 350,000 Business use
Class 4 Class D4 £ 60,000 £ 600,000 Business use
Class 5  - £ 100,000 £ 1,000,000 Business use
Class 6  - £ 150,000 £ 1,500,000 Business use
  • For EN 1143-1 and EN 1143-2: 'Class' is also referred to as 'Grade', 'CEN' or 'Eurograde'.
  • For EN 14450: 'Security Level' is also referred to as 'Class'.
  • The NCP and VDMA standard has become obsolete and has been replaced by European Standard EN 14450. However, this indication is still frequently used to indicate the safety of a safe. Please note: these are safes built according to regulations. These have not been tested and are not certified! This designation will fully expire on 1 January 2016.

2. Storage capacity, contents of the safe

The size of the safe must of course depend on what you want to store in it. If you wish to place files in the safe, you must take into account a height (file folder in portrait orientation) or width (file folder in landscape format) of 32 cm and a depth of 29 cm. A safe is a sustainable investment so make sure that not only do things fit in now, but provide extra space for later.

The inside of different safes

Tip

  • The purchase of a safe is a sustainable investment; never buy a safe too small, but focused on the future.
  • Note the free passage of a safe. Due to the door construction, the free passage can be smaller than the net internal width. As a result, a file, laptop, or other stuff just can't fit!

 

3. Safe lock type, which one is best?

Digital key lock on a safe
A wide variety of locks are available for safes. You can choose from key locks, mechanical combination locks, electronic code locks or biometric locks. There are also time locks and safes can be equipped with double locks so that 2 people are needed to open the safe. The various lock options have advantages and disadvantages.

Read our extensive blog article  which type of safe lock  is best for you, or contact us for personal advice.

 

4. Budget, amount of your investment

In principle, there is a safe for every budget. In general; the higher the investment; the better the protection against burglary or fire. Is burglary and fire safety combined in a safe? The required budget will increase, but at the same time you will be better protected.

Budget is an important factor in every situation. However, determine your choice for the right safe based on your requirements and wishes. If this is above your budget, consider a smaller model or switch to a key lock. You maintain a lower investment while maintaining safety.

 

5. Other important matters when choosing a burglar-resistant safe

Type and version; a specific safe for each application

Safes come in many different types and designs. This has to do with the type of items that can be stored in the safe and additional provisions that have been made in the safe.

Interior options

There are several options when it comes to the interior of your safe. It is possible to provide a safe with lockable compartments, so that there is only access to documents, not cash. Extendable suspension file frames, extra shelves, or special data inserts for extra fire safety of data media.

Different drawers for in safes

Placement and anchoring of safes

Safe on a trolleyA safe can be installed in several ways. Safes can be placed freestanding, while they can also be attached to floors, walls, or inside a cupboard, under a bed, etc. There are also floor safes, specially designed to be mounted below ground level. All safes up to 1000 kg must be properly anchored. If you want to have a safe installed, go to Placing and Anchoring Safe.

Take into account the maximum permitted weight on the spot and the weight of the safe you have in mind. If you are not sure whether the floor is strong enough, please contact us.

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