If you own valuables or jewellery and want to protect them, it may be necessary to purchase a security safe. Security safes help protect these valuables from theft, damage and misplacement. Many safes come with fingerprint or some other biometric technology and or keypad or keys operated. They are not an overly expensive investment, and can come loaded with benefits to suit your needs. Security safes are reliable to offer the much needed protection for these valuables.
Things to consider in choosing a House Safe
Intended Contents – One of the first things to consider when you have decided to install a house safe is what it will contain. Safes come in a variety of sizes, hence it is necessary to know how roomy the interior of your safe needs to be. There are safes built specifically for items such as jewellery, guns, files, documents, media etc. Deciding on what the exact storage purpose for the safe is, assists in reducing the available options. A safe meant for guns has to be chosen with consideration of the number of guns it will house. A safe intended for storing jewellery will need to be chosen with the following considerations in mind ;
– Will the jewellery inside the safe be hidden or in open view?
– Will they be secured to the floor of the safe or hung on ornament holders?
– What is the fire rating of the safe?
The fire rating of a safe informs the intending purchaser of how effectively the safe can withstand extremely high temperatures and for how long. Certain fireproof safes can only withstand high temperatures for between 15 – 30 minutes. The fireproof rating of a safe is referred to as its TL rating. This rating is given after the product has been tested with saws, drills, high speed drills, and other impact tools. A TL-15 rating of a product implies that the product would be damage resistant for an average period of 15 minutes when it is subjected to the types of impact tools previously listed.
Security safes vary in price because of their fire rating. The more expensive house safes usually have better fire ratings. The fire rating of a safe can be found on a label on the inside edge of the door. This rating usually lists two temperatures and a time. For a safe that lists 1500 degrees, 30 minutes, 325 degrees, it implies that the safe was exposed to external temperatures of 1500 degrees and after 30 minutes the internal temperature only rose to 325 degrees.
It is important to note that there are no truly fireproof safes, and that if a safe is exposed to extremely high fire temperatures for a suitable length of time, its internal temperature will rise to equal the externally applied temperature. Under these circumstances, any combustible valuable stored in the safe will be destroyed. Most house fires are characterized by a drastic rise in temperature which also falls pretty quickly. A house safe with a better fire rating is more likely to protect your combustible valuables longer than one with a lower fire rating.
Location – Once the contents of the safe have been considered, it is then necessary to determine where you would like the location of the safe to be. It is vital to note the structure of the room that will house the safe so as to know where the studs will be positioned in the walls. It is also important to decide on whether the safe will be hidden or visible. If the safe is to be installed in a closet, will it be mounted in the floor, or on the wall?
Individuals who need security safes for gun storage need to ensure that the door openings are large enough to fit the safe through with minimal or no damage to the door frame. If the safe is to be installed in the floor, then it is important to check if the floor will support its weight. Gun safes are very heavy and will most times require professional assistance in delivery and installation.
If your safe will be installed in the floor, then you must bear in mind that it could require that a cavity be excavated in your concrete floor to accommodate the safe. It is usually cheaper to make the installation of floor safes when the building is still under construction, before the concrete has been poured. Safes installed in the floor have an advantage when fires occur because only one side of the safe is exposed to damage. Most floor safes are built to be fire resistant too.
Where To Purchase – It is quite easy to find locksmiths and retailers who have security safes in stock locally. The advantage of making your purchase locally is that you can assess the safe physically and know if it suits your needs. The disadvantage is that there is a limited range of options for you to choose from. It is also more expensive to purchase locally.
You can also find a variety of brands, models and designs to make your choice from. A few online retailers even present the option of having your choice customized to fit your exact needs. The downsides of purchasing your safe online include;
– Inability to view the product physically before making a final decision.
– Shipping costs could be high, depending on the weight of the safe you have in mind and the online retailer you choose to buy from If you opt for making the purchase online, choose a site that makes vast and relevant information available regarding the safes they sell. Also go for sites that have a telephone contact line to address your questions and concerns. It is recommended that you consider CHUBB safes because they are manufactured by an internationally recognised company who is a member of the Gunnebo Security Group. These safes are high quality and are environmental friendly. House safes, security safes and all other categories of fireproof safes are available online for delivery in Ireland. Local retailers and locksmiths for safes in Ireland can also be found.
Care Of Security Safes
It is necessary to keep moisture from entering a safe. This protects the stored aluables from mildew and rust. It is therefore recommended that all the materials to be stored are thoroughly cleaned to dryness before storage. If the location of the safe is prone to flooding or seepage, ensure that the safe is installed high enough from the floor, or away from entering moisture. A quality security safe in Ireland should carry a UL listed label. This means that the safe must have passed the Underwriters Laboratories tests.