Faqs

There are 3 types of protection offered by a modern safe.
1: Cash & Valuables
2: Fire Protection for personal paper records
3: Fire Protection for storing Digital media, photos, discs and cassettes

Not all safes have fire protection, not all fire safes have high security protection, not all safes have dual fire protection (Paper & Digital Media)
Before you purchase a safe for the home, consider this.

We advise a regular valuation be done every 3-5 years by a professional Jeweller.
Gold and gemstones tend to appreciate approximately 10-15% per year, so it is advisable to have a safe with a cash & valuables rating considerably higher than your current estimation or valuation.

You cannot store digital media in a fire resistant safe for paper, unless stated, however, you can store paper in a safe designed for digital media.
The point where digital information is lost can be as low as 48-55 degrees C. Whereas paper can self ignite at around 175 degrees C. In addition, a data fire safe has a different seal to protect against water ingress. This assumes that if involved in a major fire the fire brigade are not soaking down the property. A wet piece of paper generally can be read, wet digital media is destroyed!

All manufacturers have a remit to produce safes to differing strength and protection values. Rule of thumb: The higher the cash rating, the stronger the safe and the longer it takes to break into!
Most low cash rated safes have a single wall steel body, with a thin steel door and basic locking device. As you go up in cash rating, the locks get stronger and locking mechanisms get extra protection to prevent break in. In addition, bodies of the safe are generally double walled. This is filled with a barrier to prevent or deflect drilling from burglars. The Safe doors are thicker, and in the case of Euro Grade safes, given extra internal protection to deter theft. A higher graded safe also has additional bolt work and protection for the hinge side should the hinges be cut off.

All cash and valuables safes have provision for base and/or back fixing, wheras a fire safe for paper or digital media does not always have base fixing provision. A true fire safe does not have a base or back fixing hole in it, because if in a fire, the hole would let heat or moisture in or the fixing bolt can also heat up in a major fire.

This generally is a personal choice. However, most safes shown on this site have an option of Key lock or Electronic/digital lock as standard, & all higher cash rated safes have further options to change the lock to a mechanical combination (no keys) or auditable electronic lock or even dual locking.
EG: Retailers who have several users accessing the safe are advised to have an Audit lock in case of internal theft, or wanting timed lock out and/or opening periods. Any operations of the lock, leaves a trail record.

Rule of thumb: Call us: When you are down to one key we can either copy or replace the lock to an open safe. If your last key gets lost, damaged or worn costs go up to repair/replace.

Thankfully, nothing. All modern safes with an electronic/digital lock have non volatile memories, meaning that in the event of power failure, the information stored on the memory chip is not lost. We advise you get into the habit of changing your batteries every year, and use alkaline version replacements. In addition, most safes of this kind have facility of key override or battery connection. Open your safe: then change the batteries.

Call us. We have a national chain of trusted safe engineers who will solve the problem. If it is under warranty, and deemed the fault of the safe, then we will liaise with the manufacturer of your safe to put it right.

Call us! We offer national safe relocations at competitive prices to include bolting down again.

Yes, dependent on what your old safe is, we will evaluate a PX. Call us to discuss. Evaluations take into consideration. Viability resell, transport costs and removal costs.