Friday, March 3, 2017

IF YOU ARE SHOPPING FOR A COMMERCIAL SAFE, HERE’S WHAT YOU HAVE TO KNOW




If you have a commercial building, it’s essential that you protect whatever’s in your facility ~ the crucial documents, the irreplaceable valuables, and all the critical data of your business. For most businesses, a prime-quality commercial safe is a perfect way to do it.

When you start shopping, you’ll discover that there are many styles and types of safes. How do you decide what’s ideal for you? Before you buy, do your homework. Be sure to ask these questions.

1       Which safe lock is right for you?
There are many different sorts of safe locks, including the combination dial, electronic, redundant, and biometric.

2       How large does your safe have to be?
You could pile up every item you want to put in your safe, and then measure it. But the problem with that is, the safe you’ll need is likely much bigger than you first considered. Ask a professional what you ought to place inside your safe. Then, figure mathematically how much space you’ll need.

3       What’s the rough value of what you’ll be keeping in your safe?
The items’ value will influence the security level required. There are standard categories of safe classes, which play a big part in your insurance coverage, affecting potential insurance claims. Depending on the classification of the safe you choose, your insurance coverage increases. The safe’s class ~ from TL15 (approximately $150,000 in coverage) to TRTL60X6 (around $2 million or more in coverage) ~ is established by:


  • time testing (how long it will take a safecracker to break in);
  • area testing (how easy it is to get in the front door, or into the sides);
  • torch resistance (the level of resistance to a thief’s torch); and
  • tool resistance (the level of resistance to picking tools, carbide drills, hand tools, and electric or mechanical tools).


A TL15 rating means that the safe’s door can resist entry for a net assault time of 15 minutes total, with hand tools, picking tools, drills, electric or mechanical tools, grinders, or pressure devices. Business owners often prefer class TL30 or higher, that is, a safe that is time-tested to resist entry for a minimum of 30 minutes or more.

4       Do you desire fire protection?

Besides the standard classifications of commercial safes, there are also formal fire ratings. No safe is fully fireproof; but safes have various levels of fire resistance. They’re tested and certified according to how long they’re able to guard your valuables inside from destruction by fire. A fire rating of 1 hour or higher is ideal. During a fire, safes rated to protect paper stored inside cannot get any hotter than 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

A safe providing excellent fire protection along with major theft protection will have a steel door and steel walls, encased in a layer of composite material that’s as solid as concrete. There has to be a fire seal on the door, to block out most moisture from getting inside the safe, minimizing rust and corrosion. If a fire happens, the fire seal will expand, sealing out flames and smoke, and also preventing water from getting into the safe (because water is likely to be sprayed on the safe by a firefighter to extinguish the fire).

If you purchase a safe with a low-to-moderate fire resistance level, it actually gives minimal theft protection. If you want both fire resistance and theft protection, then get an outstanding-quality composite-fire safe, a burglar-fire safe, or a superior-security TL-rated fire safe.

5       What sort of safe should you have?

·         An office safe is a safe often used by retail businesses and restaurants. Bolted to the floor or freestanding, its fire rating is normally higher. This safe cannot be opened even if dropped repeatedly.

·         A depository safe (also referred to as a drop safe), is another one that’s popular with retailers and restaurant owners. You can drop cash, keys, receipts, and other small items into the safe through a small door at the top, which don’t allow access to the main safe compartment. You open the door by entering the right code.

·         An in-floor safe is hidden in concrete for exceptional security. One disadvantage is that it provides minimal fire protection, since it doesn’t have a fire board for dispersing heat. If you have to protect important papers or cash, get a freestanding composite-fire safe, a burglar-fire safe, or a top-security burglar-fire safe, which has a 1- to 2-hour fire rating. Anchor it correctly with bolts in your concrete floor.

·         A wall safe is very well hidden, because you can conceal it behind a picture frame. Nevertheless, a wall safe isn’t really your most secure choice, since it’s attached to the wall studs, which means it can be pried out by an experienced criminal. Take into consideration that this safe’s only fire protection is limited to the sheetrock in the wall.

·         A media or data safe is for effectively preserving your business information. It’s vital to shield your electronic devices from fire and theft. Computer drives, disks, and all other digital media are sensitive to variations in temperature, so choose a safe whose interior won’t go above 125 degrees Fahrenheit, or exceed 85 percent humidity.

·         A high-security safe will include a significant number of barriers to prevent drilling. Additional locking mechanisms will deploy if a robber attempts to force open the safe. A maximum security level costs a lot more, but depending on your circumstances ~ if you have a jewelry store, for example ~ then it’s smart to keep the heart of your business well secured.

6       Ultimately, how do you choose the right safe for you?

There are so many points to consider before you purchase your commercial safe ~ much more than what we’ve already discussed. Where you decide to place your safe is central, too. To keep from getting scammed, do your research, gathering your information only from reliable sources. If you’re located in Dorchester, Massachusetts, then hire a staff mobile professional safe technician of a legitimate company such as Dorchester Locksmith.

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