Buying Advice

5 top factors to consider when buying a safe:

1. Property to Protect

The valuables, assets and belongings you need to protect will determine the type of safe that best suits your needs. A safe required to protect cash will be different from a safe to safeguard firearms, prescription drugs or certified files. The purpose of a home or office safe may be to protect and store various items requiring different types of protection, therefore a cash and fire rated safe is required.

2. Type of Protection

If you are protecting items such as jewellery or cash you will need cash rated safe. Safes with cash ratings have been tested and rated by independent authorities. Testing methods are based on the time it takes to break open the safe. The higher the rating the higher the protection. Cash Ratings.  If you are storing paper documents and files you will need protection against fire. Fire rating levels are based on time periods from 30mins, 60mins, 90mins and 120mins. Fire Ratings. Multifunctional safes can offer both fire and theft protection.

3. Degree of Protection

Now you need to identify the level of security to protect your valuables. It is pointless keeping a $15,000 diamond ring in a safe with a cash rating lower than its value. Insurance companies are not likely to consider claim payments if the safe has a lower cash rating than its contents. Depending on the security level safes can offer cash ratings, fire ratings, security certifications and health and government compliance.

4. Size of the Safe

The items to be kept in the safe will determine the size of the safe to best suit your needs. When selecting the size it is also important to allow an additional 40% capacity space for contents to be added in the future. The size of the safe will also be considerate of the location.

5. Location of the Safe

The location of the safes placement and final installation position needs to be determined prior to purchasing the safe. For residential settings a discrete location should be selected. For retail environments a position that allows employees to quickly move cash to a secure area is ideal. Other factors to consider is the floor construction (timber, concrete, tiles) and the best method of installation.