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.

Panic bars; their importance in commercial properties

Every business operator should know about panic bars and how they can affect your Dorchester, MA business. Like any modern business tool, they have benefits and possible drawbacks, but after reading this post, you’ll know better if they are right for your firm or not.

Panic bars aka push bars

You might know panic bars under another name; push bars. They are also known as crash bars, and exit devices; all the same thing. Here at Dorchester Locksmith we’ve heard them called all of the above at one time or another but these different names all stand for those horizontal metal bars on exit doors that you’ve seen and used hundreds of times. In fact, we bet that you’ve used them so much that you hardly notice them at all or how or why they work so well!

Panic bars have been around since the turn of the century; they were designed for people to exit buildings easier and faster. They work so well and so efficiently that many commercial buildings must have them according to building codes and review board regulations.

With panic bars you don’t have to unlock a door, turn the knob and then open the door to go through it and exit the building. You simply push the bar which simultaneously unlocks the door and opens it and leave!

Panic bars everywhere!

Now you’ll notice panic bars everywhere you go in Dorchester, MA or wherever else you may be. Notice how simple they are to use and how effortlessly the public makes use of them. They are always installed on exit doors that swing out and that are locked from the outside. Notice that there are no door knobs on the outside or inside; only the push/panic bar to handily use when leaving.

You can find (and use) panic bars in movie theaters, restaurants, shopping malls, office buildings, government buildings, car dealerships, hospitals, club houses, warehouses, storage rentals, pet stores, home improvement stores, retirement homes, fast food locations and thousands more! Some panic bars open into hallways that lead to other panic bars as in the case of mall shop back doors leading to an interior hallway and then outside.

Are panic bars a requirement?

They can be! If you are a business leasing your store or building, you probably already have one or more panic bars already. If so, leave them in! They not only work well, they are probably required by the codes and enforcement as well as the fire department. If you are building a commercial location from scratch, be sure to check with your local authorities to see if panic bars are a requirement. Even if they are not; seriously consider using them!

Panic bars work; they just do!

Sure, panic bars offer safety and convenience to those exiting the building but they also offer something else that’s important; better crowd control. If your shoppers or clients have to exit in a hurry, panic bars allow them to do that without the hassles involved in two way traffic through a door with locks and knobs and handles. Emergency drills using panic bars always show dramatic improvement in crowd flow and control. During actual fires, medical emergencies or other events that need fast evacuation panic bars have proven over and over to save lives and prevent further deaths or injuries. This is especially important when there are possible terrorist threats or armed gunmen that can trigger a literal stampede out of the premises.

Let’s talk price

It always seems to come down to money so Dorchester Locksmith wanted to include this section on costs and items to look out for. Like any other commodity, panic bar materials and prices can vary from one dealer or manufacturer to another. You can buy panic bars online and from home improvement stores, contractors, commercial locksmiths, local builders, real estate developers and even from property rehabbers. As always, check around for the best prices and don’t forget to ask about labor charges, warranties and installation fees. Don’t forget volume discounts; you may get one if you need multiple panic bars installed so don’t forget to ask about it. Try and get all price quotes and installation estimates in writing and get several for the best deals.

Taxes and insurance

If you add panic bars to your commercial location you might just qualify for a tax break. It is after all, an upgrade to your business and property and since it is built-in it qualifies as an improvement to the real estate. We are not tax experts here so be sure to check with your own tax professionals about how to do this. You might also qualify for lower insurance premiums as major carriers often offer lower rates for having panic bars installed since they are such reliable safety features. Insurance regulators understand that having panic bars installed reduces injury, death, lawsuits and insurance claims for all involved.

Sometimes they stick

Once in a while panic bars get stuck. This may be when in the locked or unlocked position, but when you are trying to close your store for the night and go home, it’s a problem that you don’t want to have. If you are into do-it-yourself solutions you might try and make your own adjustments. In fact there are many videos online that offer help in doing this. The problem is that depending on the brand and panic bar model involved the online tips may be outdated or ineffective. Besides, as a business person isn’t your time worth more than that? Every local firm needs access to 24-hour commercial locksmith service from a licensed, bonded and insured shop. You can call Dorchester Locksmith or a trusted technician that you’ve used before but we recommend dealing with professionals. You’ll get the repair done faster and have peace of mind in knowing that the job was done correctly and by trained and skilled experts. Besides, save the repair receipt and give it to your accountant later!