There may not be many people thinking of purchasing a Residential safe for their home but if you are one of the few who has to think of such a purchase there are a number of things that you need to consider. Where would you place it in your home? How much are you prepared to spend for one? What is its purpose?
Choosing the right one can be daunting. There are quite a lot of manufacturers and huge variety of safes to choose from. But before you begin your search, consider the kinds of things you want to protect and what the various threats are that you need to safeguard them from. The types of safes available are limitless, instead of making it easy to choose one, it may become a chore.
There are 2 types of safes. There’s one that’s resistant to fire and another that is burglar-resistant. There are some that will combine both of these features but those types are quite expensive. All safes are tested and rated by what’s know as the Underwriter Laboratories (UL), which is the company that determines the safe’s functionality.
There are a few safes Labeled as “Impact Rated” The safes are heated to 1550 degrees Fahrenheit in a furnace dropped from a high building onto piles of bricks, returned to the furnace and reheated. The temperature inside the safe has to be no higher than 350 degrees Fahrenheit and the documents must be readable to be titled as “Impact Rated.”
The series of tests are performed on the safes by actual professional safe crackers. Using their knowledge and skills, they try to break into the safe with their tools. The level of protection the safe offers is decided by the time it takes to break into it. Picking tools, drills, and mechanical instruments and torches are all used to make sure the safe will resist tools that apply pressure. It is possible for these safes to take the drilling because of the heavy metal doors.
If the safe you choose is for the protection of documents, then you will have to choose one that is built to keep your documents intact in a fire. Fire resistant safes are rated based on the amount of time it can keep the contents below 350 degrees Fahrenheit. These safes are constructed, with a couple of thin metal walls, that for a certain amount of time, will resist heat. The safe has an insulating material placed between the walls of metal which will release a moist substance that protects your documents; it also keeps the inside of the safe to a minimum temperature.
These types of safes are ideal for fire protection but would be no use against a burglar. You might want to consider a safe that needs only minimum fire protection if you are located in an area of town that is considered urban. But, if you are in a more suburban residential area, choose a safe rated to protect your documents for a longer period.
So, when you begin the search for your residential safe, keep these high priority issues in mind. By following these guidelines you will find a safe to meet your requirements.
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