Choosing a Home Safe

Homeowners often ask us about the types of safes that are fire resistant and burglar proof. These are generally the types of safes that are purchased for residential use. Cash, important documents and valuable jewelry are kept in home safes. This type of safe serves as all-in-one protection and security. Other types include, media, floor, fire, wall and under floor safes. Media safes protect sensitive digital items, such as, DVDs, hard drives, CDs and flash drives. This means they require high standards when it comes to being fire and humidity resistant. The floor safe is inconspicuously hidden inside your floor and isn’t easily detected by intruders. You have your pick of safes based on what you need it for. Your best option is to find one that is fire resistant and burglar proof.

Home Safe Anti-Theft Ratings

Underwriters Laboratories Inc. or UL offers product safety certification. You will notice that most home safes are rated. The rating system that is used most often is provided by UL. Once the safe passes the testing criteria, they receive the appropriate rating. Many insurance companies rely on the standards set forth by UL for safe testing. Safes with UL ratings include:

U.L. Residential Security Container- RSC

If you notice an RSC rating it means that the safe has been tested for five minutes with extreme physical activity to break-into. The methods used to break-in are those commonly used by a professional burglar. This is done on every side of the safe to ensure its effectiveness. It must not be able to be broken into within the five minutes of testing in order to be awarded this rating.

TL-15 Rate

This rating is awarded only after it meets specific construction requirements set forth by Underwriters Laboratories. It is tested for 15 minutes using hand held tools common to trying to break into the safe, such as, drills and hammers. If not broken into within those 15 minutes it is given the TL-15 Rating.

TL-30 Rate

As far as the construction of this type of safe, it is the same as the TL-15. The same test are also administered with the exception of the time used to test entry is 30 minutes.  If they are not able to break-in within 30 minutes, it is awarded the TL-30 Rating.