Buying a safe is important and highly recommended for anyone wishing to protect items of monetary and sentimental value, or sensitive documents and data, but there are a few things you need to consider before you rush out and purchase one:
Table of Contents
What Size Safe Do You Need?
The simplest answer to this question is: ‘the bigger the safe, the better.’ Think about whatever you need to store in it now, and appreciate that this will doubtless increase as the months and byears pass.
Not All Safes Are The Same:
Whatever kind of safe you’re buying, whether it be a home or gun safe, it must be strong enough to withstand criminal intent, and be able to stave off flames in the event of a fire. When shopping for a safe, think about:
- How the safe is constructed
- The thickness of the steel body and door
- How does it lock?
- Fire rating
What Security Rating Do You Need?
If your items are of any real value to you, you’ll need a safe that has the highest security rating, and to know more about how safes are rated, talk to your local safe specialist or locksmith. It might also be worth checking with your insurance company in case they have any specific limitations.
What Fire Rating Do You Need?
This should always be one of your top considerations when buying a safe, and most safe specialists and locksmiths recommend that you buy a fireproof safe that is at minimum 1-hour fire rated, any less, and those items stored inside simply won’t be adequately protected from a standard home or business fire.
What Should The Lock Be Like On The Safe?
Should you choose a dial lock, or an electronic one? Will the lock require maintenance? What is
a redundant lock? These are all common lock related questions that you should be asking your
local safe expert, and below are the answers to some of these:
- The better quality the lock (whether dial or electronic), the better the level of protection
- Redundant locks are both mechanical and electronic, so if one fails, the other will enable you to gain access to the safe
- You should get your safe lock serviced by a professional, qualified locksmith at least every 5 years.
- Note that your electronic safe lock should be sealed at the time of purchase, if not, the warranty will be void. Replacing the battery in an electronic safe lock is generally the only maintenance required.
If you still have questions about buying a safe, you can drop into your local locksmiths for a more detailed discussion about which type of safe would best suit your requirements. With their breadth of knowledge and qualifications, they are in a perfect position to offer you professional, nonbiased advice, and often stock a range of safes for purchase, too.
