What to Look for When Choosing a Home Safe
When you have documents or precious objects you need to store, home safes combine security and convenience, protecting your possessions while letting you retrieve them in a few moments. However, shopping for home safes can be a little daunting. There are so many different types of safes with their own safety and security claims, that it's not always easy to know which one is right for you. This guide will define some of the terms for an easier shopping experience.
Volume
Many safes give both their volume in litres and the dimensions of the safe in millimetres. Unless you're intending to fill your safe with liquid, the second measurement is the only one that really matters. You may not think that papers and files take up a lot of space, but they can be surprisingly bulky; measure what you intend to put in the safe, then add a margin for error. A safe that's too large doesn't put any of your documents at risk.
Fire Safety
Fire-resistant safes carry a fire rating, usually in the form of a length of time. This is the minimum period over which the safe will protect its contents from being damaged by fire.
This doesn't mean that the safe will collapse; it simply means that after this length of time the interior temperature of the safe may get hot enough to combust paper. Paper can actually usually survive past this point; fire ratings are based on a temperature of 150 degrees, while most paper won't burn until it reaches over 200 degrees.
Waterproofing
Even if your documents survive a fire, firefighting efforts can do as much damage, if not more. Manufacturers aren't always consistent about labelling waterproof safes, so be sure to check how long they can withstand submersion.
Shelves
Internal shelves are useful if your safe is going to store small objects such as medicines or data drives. Many safes have adjustable shelves, but if the model you're looking at has fixed ones, be sure they're the right size for your needs.
Installation
Wall safes are easy to conceal, which is a point in their favour, but are easier to remove than some other types of safe; they're only as secure as the wall they're installed in. In addition, if you're looking at wall safes or safes sunk into a floor, get an estimate of installation costs. Some safes or lockboxes attach directly to a wall with woodscrews; these are simple to install but also simple to remove.
For more information on comparing your options, contact resources like AXCESS LOCKSMITHS.
