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Home Safes Guide

What you should know before you purchase a safe for your home or office

Facts about Home Safes

When someone thinks of storing precious metals bullion in their home, the first thing that often comes to mind is a Home Safe.

There are three types of home safes on the market today; Fire Proof Safes, Theft Protection Safes and a combination of the two.

Safe Manufactures also produce Water-Proof safes, but generally you will see this classification of safe as an additional option of protection to one of the three different kinds of safe.

One of the first things that should be known about all safes is that:

No Safe is Impenetrable.

Safes are classified either by how long a safe can keep a burglar out or how long it can keep a fire from affecting the contents of the safe.

Fire Protection Safes & Water-Proof Safes

The inside of a Home Safe, which is primarily made for Fire Protection, has a molded fire-retardant interior, and only offers the items inside minimal protection against theft.

Fire Safes are only good as a anti-burglary unit if it is manufactured under both classifications; Fire Proof/Anti-Burglary Safe.

When a "Water-Proof" classification is added to a fire safe it means the door of the home safe or any other areas that can be exposed to the outside air have been waterproofed using a seal around these areas.

A Water-Proof safe keeps water out, but if you somehow get moisture inside your safe, a Water-Proof safe will also keep the moisture in, below there is a section titled 'Moisture - Keep it Out of Your Safe' see it to help you protect your safe from this invisible enemy.

Testing Safe Strength & Durability

There are many testing companies for safes, but the one used most by the Safe Manufacturing industry and Insurance Companies is Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

Before we get into how Underwriter Laboratories test safes, the next section will introduce you to them, then the following sections will inform you as to they test Fire and Anti-Burglary Safes.

Underwriters Laboratories (UL)

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) is an independent product safety certification organization. Established in 1894, the company's headquarters is in Northbrook, Illinois.

UL develops standards and test procedures for products, materials, components, assemblies, tools and equipment, chiefly dealing with product safety.

When a safe passes one of their tests, the Safe is awarded with a specific rating and the manufacturer will mount a label on the safe itself to indicate that it has passed the test.

When searching for the right safe for you, it is always good to look for home safes that have been tested by UL because most insurance companies trust their testing standards.

Gunsafes.com- Customer Reviews link

UL - Fire Endurance Test
( UL = Underwriters Laboratories)

1/2 Hour - UL class E - 350 Rated Safe: The unit is heated for one-half hour to reach an exterior temperature of 1550'F.

Paper will begin to char at approximately 405'F, the unit being tested must maintain an interior temperature of less than 350 degrees during heat-up and cool-down testing in order to earn its rating.

1 Hour - UL class D - 350 Rated Safe: The unit is heated for one hour to reach an exterior temperature of 1700'F, Like the 1/2 hour test, the safe must maintain an interior temperature of less than 350 degrees throughout the test.

1 Hour Plus - UL class C - 350 Rated Safe: The unit is heated for one hour to reach an exterior temperature of 1700'F, Like the 1/2 hour test, the safe must maintain an interior temperature of less than 350 degrees throughout the test.

2 Hour - UL class B - 350 Rated Safe: The unit is heated for two hours to reach an exterior temperature of 1850'F, During the complete process, the interior of the safe cannot go above 350 degrees.

4 Hour - UL class A - 350 Rated Safe: The unit is heated for four hours to reach an exterior temperature of 2000'F, During the complete process, the interior of the safe cannot go above 350 degrees.

UL - Fire Impact Test

This test simulates a safe falling from a three story building, simulating the results from a fire that has weakened a structure.

The home safe is heated to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit in a furnace, then within two minutes, taken out of the furnace and raised three stories high and dropped onto a pile of bricks.

To pass the test, the safe can not pop open and the temperatures inside the safe can not rise above 300'F and papers inside have to be ledge-able.

Note: Home Safes with class ratings of A, B, and C are subjected to the Fire Impact Test.

Safes in classes D and E are not subjected to the Fire Impact Test.

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Anti-Burglary
Safes

Anti-Burglary Home Safes are made of solid steel plating or a combination of solid steel and composite fill material such as concrete mixed with a fire retardant filler.

These safes are divided into categories based on the level of protection delivered and the testing they are subjected to.

The following seven Anti-Theft ratings are the rating classes given to most Home Safes:

• B-Rate
• UL (Residential Security Container) RSC Rating
  
• B/C Rate
• C-Rate
• UL TL-15
• UL TL-30
• TL-30 X6.

NON - UL
Anti-Theft Ratings System

B Rate Safe - A "B" rated safe is not a U.L.™ rating for a safe, instead it is a general rating for basically any box with a lock on it. A safe labeled with this standard rating has a 1/4in. thick steel body, 1/2in. thick steel door. No tests are given to provide this rating.

C Rate Safe - Like the "B" rated safe, the "C" rated safe is not a UL rated safe. A C-rated safe is a general rating is defined as a safe with 1/2in. thick steel box with a 1in. thick steel door and a lock.

B/C Rate Safe - A "B/C" rated safe is a general rating for safes with at least a 1/4in. steel body, 1/2in. steel door, plus an additional 10 or 12 gauge metal layers where composite fire resistant material is also deployed. No UL tests are given to provide this rating.

UL Anti-Theft Ratings System

U.L. Residential Security Container
(RSC) rating

A safe with a "RSC" rating must withstand a total net time of five minutes of rigorous prying, drilling, punching, chiseling, and tampering attacks and must be tested using specific common burglary tools on all sides, and prevent the intruder from opening the safe for those net five minutes of working time.

Tool-Resistant - Class TL-15 Rated Safe –

Important Note: the number after the Class of safe stands for the number of minutes the safe resisted penetration.

Safes with this rating have the following construction requirements:

• U.L. listed Group II, 1 or 1R combination lock.
• 750 lbs. minimum or comes with instructions for anchoring in a larger safe, concrete blocks or on the premises where used
• Body walls of material equivalent to at least 1in. open hearth steel with a minimum tensile strength of 50,000 P.S.I.
• Walls fastened in a manner equivalent to continuous 1/4? penetration weld of open hearth steel with minimum tensile strength of 50,000 P.S.I.
• One hole 1/4in. or less, to accommodate electrical conductors arranged to have no direct view of the door or locking mechanism.
• The label means that the safe successfully resisted entry for a NET working time of 15 minutes using common hand tools, drills, punches hammers, and pressure applying devices. Net working time means “when the tool comes off the safe the clock stops.”

Tool-Resistant - Class TL-15 x 6 Rated Safe

The only difference in this Rated Safe compared to the TL-15 (15-minute) test is that the test is conducted on all six (6) sides of the safe.

Tool-Resistant - Class TL-30 Rated Safe –

A safe given a U.L. TL-30 rating has the same construction requirements as the TL-15 above.

Tool-Resistant - Class TL-30 x 6 Rated Safe

The only difference in this Rated Safe compared to the TL-30 (30-minute) test is that the test is conducted on all six (6) sides of the safe.

Torch and Tool Resistant Safe - Class TRTL-30

This is a combination locked safe that offers high protection against combinations of mechanical, electrical, and cutting tools. The safe will resist abuse for 30 minutes from tools such as hand tools, picking tools, mechanical or electrical tools, grinding points, carbide drills, devices that apply pressure, cutting wheels, power saws, impact tools and, in addition, can withstand an oxy-fuel welding and cutting torch (tested gas limited to 1,000 cubic feet (28 m3) combined total oxygen and fuel gas.)

Torch and Tool Resistant Safe - Class TRTL-60

This class meets all the requirements for Class TRTL-60 and, in addition, can withstand high explosives such as nitroglycerin or equivalent to not more than 4 ounces (110 g) of nitroglycerin in one charge (entire test must not use more explosive than that equivalent to 8 ounces (230 g) of nitroglycerin).

Explosion on Hazard Test

The Explosion on Hazard Test determines whether or not the design of the home safe is protected against explosions or intense heat.

If the home safe construction is faulty, the sudden high temperature will cause hydrogen-air-stream mixtures in the insulating material to explode, rupturing the safe walls. This rupture will destroy much of the safe’s resistance to fire.

The test for explosion involves an empty safe, inside a closed furnace preheated to 2000 degrees F. The unit is placed inside the closed furnace for 30 minutes (2 hour test is 45 minutes, 4 hour test is 60 minutes) while the heat is maintained at 2000'F.

After the test time has past, the unit is allowed to cool. If there is no rupture in the insulation, the unit passed the test.

Gunsafes.com - Customer Reviews link

Lock
Ratings Systems

Another feature that is included on home safes that has a ratings system is the safes locking mechanism.

In many cases the lock is one of the first areas a burglar will attack when trying to gain access to a safe.

Listed Below are ratings for safe locks.

Group 2 Combination Lock - Some resistance to opening attempts, Not suitable for any UL Rated safes.

Group 2M Combination Lock -2 hours resistance to expert attacks, Used on TL-15, TL-15×6, and TL-30 safes.

Group 1 Combination Locks - 20 hours resistance to expert attacks, Special construction techniques not found in other locks, Can be found on any UL rated safe but must be used (or Group 1R used) on TRTL rated safes and TXTL rated safes.

Group 1R Combination Locks - 20 hours resistance to expert attacks, Resistance to radio-logical techniques (ex: X-rays). Synthetic polymers must withstand aging and humidity, special construction techniques not found in other locks, can be found on any UL rated safe but must be used (or Group 1 used) on TRTL rated safes and TXTL rated safes.

Moisture
Keep it Out of Your Safe

Moisture of any kind can be an invisible enemy to the contents of your safe.

It can cause mold, mildew, rust, and foul smells; also, if this problem isn't taken care of quickly it can ruin most, if not, all of the contents of a safe.

Waterproof safes were briefly mentioned above; these safes are made to keep moisture out, but once moisture finds its way inside, it can be very hard to get it out.

A friend of mine who owned a Waterproof safe found this out firsthand.

On a rainy day he received an item he wanted to put in the safe, and without thinking about it, after he had taken the item out of the mailbox, he took it to his safe and put it inside - intending to take it out of the packaging later.

Several days later he opened his safe to get his package, and when he opened the door, a foul smell overwhelmed him. 

The package had some moisture soaked into it when he put it inside the safe.  

The package had started to show a few mildew spots; other items in the safe were also showing signs of mildew - needless to say, a lot of cursing ensued.

Without going into a lot of detail, a third of the items in the safe were damaged from his mistake, and after several failed attempts to rid the safe of the mold, he ultimately had to get rid of the safe in the end.
 
Don't let this happen to you, no matter what kind of safe you have, protect your items from moisture and humidity.  

A combination of silicon packets and a dehumidifier is the best solution to prevent this issue from arising. 

Eva-Dry E-333 Safe Dehumidifier

Liberty Dry Rod Dehumidifier-12

Find More Dehumidifiers at Gunsafes.com

Burglaries in America
FBI Statistics

FBI's Theft Statistics

• A burglary occurs approximately every 15 seconds in the United States.
• About 30 percent of all burglaries are classified as "unlawful entry," meaning the burglar was able to gain entry without using force — often through an unlocked door or window.
• Only 13 percent of reported burglaries are solved, or "cleared," by the police.
• Only 15 percent of property stolen in burglaries is recovered by the police.
• Nearly 80 percent of all burglaries occur in large metropolitan areas.
• Almost half of the nation's reported burglaries occur in the South: 45 percent, as opposed to the Northeast's 11%, the Midwest's 20% and the West's 24%.
• The highest percentage of burglaries occur during the summer months of July and August, when many people are away from their homes on vacation, or have left windows open for ventilation.
• 16.9 percent of all burglaries are residential, and of those, 62 percent occur during the daytime. Most burglaries occur between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., when no one is likely to be at home.
• Doors are the second highest point of entry for residential burglaries. Of the burglaries that are caused by forced entry, most are caused by kicking in a door.
• Arrest records reported to the FBI indicate that approximately 70 percent of all burglary arrestees are white and 86 percent are male.
• About 30 percent of private homes have security systems. Homes without security systems are two to three times more likely to be broken into.

Home Safe
&
Security Protection Tips

Home Safe Tips

• Do Not Talk about Your Safe or it's Contents with Others
• Bolt your safe to the floor
• Put the safe (if possible) in a place where a person could not get leverage to open it with tools.
• Master Bedrooms or Bedrooms in general are the first place one looks to find a safe, choose your placement wisely.
• To reduce fire risks to a safe, a basement or the lowest place in your house is often the best place to put a safe (unless your basement is prone to flooding).

Security Protection Tips

• Don't Tell Anyone What You Own (except those you trust with your life).
• Use an Early Warning Motion Alert System
• Build a High Wooden or Iron Picket style fence
  
• Use Outside Lighting that Turns On when it Senses Movement
• Use Night Vision Security Lighting
  
• Plant thorny bushes or shrubbery around ground level windows
  
• Have a working home alarm system
  
• Use Door Reinforcements
  

• Practice and plan with all the members of your household a Emergency Exit Plan.

• Use Smoke Detectors and Test them often
• Have ABC-type fire extinguishers in your kitchen, garage, and basement

• Engrave your drivers license number into your valuables
• Keep ladders, tools or items that could be used to gain access to your home locked up and out of sight.
• Use a blocking device on all sliding glass doors.
• Use highly visible alarm decals or beware of dog signs
• Get a big Dog or two!

Gunsafes.com- Customer Reviews link

Safe Manufacturers

There are many safe manufacturers selling safes on the market; the question many people ask is:

What brands are the best?

While researching safe manufacturers in the preparation for this page, these safe manufactures have been found to be in the top of there industry.

Top Anti-Burglary Home Safes
Manufactures

• Liberty Safe Co. - www.libertysafe.com
  
  
• Fort Knox Safes Co. - www.ftknox.com
  
  
• Gardall Safes - www.gardall.com
  
  
• American Security Safes - www.amsecusa.com
  
  
• Protex Safe Co. - www.protexsafe.com
  
  
• Adesco Safes - www.fireking.com/adesco_home.html
  
  
• Inkas Safe - www.inkassafes.com
  
  
• Hayman Safe Co. - www.haymansafe.com
  
  
• Cannon Safe - www.cannonsafe.com
  
  
• Casoro Jewelry Safes - Casoro Jewelry Safes Co.
  

Top Fire Proof Home Safes
Manufactures

• First Alert Safes www.firstalert.com

• Sentry Safes www.sentrysafe.com

Where You Can Buy a Safe

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