The demand for secure storage facilities is growing at a very fast rate. Protecting valuables at home is becoming as important as security in commercial premises. Insurers are likely to require their customers to buy a safe as part of their insurance agreement and terms. There are three main areas to consider when selecting a safe.
1. Grade
Not only do safes vary in size, they also vary in the degree of protection they offer against attack, as well as damage from fire or water. This protection is referred to as the grade. Each Grade is awarded an ‘Overnight Cash Rating’ by insurance companies. The rating used for jewellery and other valuables is up to 10 times the cash rating. The recommended ratings are those normally awarded to the safe, however it is important that you first check with your insurance company since there are a number of factors that can affect the Overnight Cash Rating, such as the type of premises, location, positioning of the safe and other security measures may all make a difference.
2. Size
Each of the different grades of safe comes in a number of different sizes, so that you can have the best option available when deciding how much you want your safe to be able to hold, and the space you have available to fit the safe. Small safes have a compact design to fit in any small area, but they have limited space inside. If you have bigger valuables or electronics, you’ll want to consider a large safe. Most large and small safes can be mounted to a wall or bolted to the floor to securely store the safe in your place. Make sure to know where you’ll be storing the safe to choose a size, pick where you’ll put it to decide how big it can be, and consider how much you’ll want to put inside.
3. Locking Options
Depending on the level of security your needs there are a number of locking mechanisms available, from a simple but effective lock and key, to electronic keypad systems, to biometric locks. It is down to your own personal preference which one you choose.Biometric safes use your fingerprint as the primary locking structure to protect your belongings. Other options include touch keypads that allow you to create multiple PINs for family members. Another popular option is a dual lock that requires both a key and a combination lock to open the safe. No matter which locking system you choose, make sure it includes a backup unlocking option. If the batteries are dead or you forget your passcode, you’ll have backup spare keys to retrieve your valuables.
