1. Determine What You Will Put in the Safe
Take an inventory of all the things that you could protect with a home safe. Of course, the first things that come to mind are jewelry, guns or important documents. But do not underestimate what else you could protect, like irreplaceable sentimental items, prescription medications or old family photos. Knowing what you will put in your new safe will help you choose the correct size and type of protection you need.
2. Know What You Want to Protect Your Valuables From
Ask yourself what it is you want to protect your valuables from. Is it fire, theft or both? Be aware that not all safes offer protection from both of these perils. A fire resistant safe may come with a simple key lock that is inadequate for protecting its contents from theft. It may also not provide enough protection for all heat-sensitive items, like photos and negatives. Meanwhile, a safe that claims to be burglar-proof may not offer much in the way of fire board or special seals that provide fire protection.
3. Consider the Fire-Rating
Most commercially available home security safes that offer fire resistance are only rated for 30 minutes. If you live in a rural area or are away from home often, it could take some time before a house fire is noticed and help arrives. Look for a fire safe that provides at least 60 minutes of fire protection at 1200 degrees.
4. Check to See If the Safe Is UL-Rated
You want to make sure that both the safe and its lock have been certified by the Underwriters Laboratory. UL-ratings confirm manufacturer claims of fire resistance and theft resistance. It also confirms the safe is constructed with quality materials at the amounts that are claimed, too.
5. Big and Bulky Is Best
You should shop for a safe that is big and bulky, but make sure that bulk is because it is made from thick, heavy-duty steel that is at a minimum 12-gauge. The thicker steel works to prevent successful drilling, prying or smash and grab attempts. And if the safe weights more than 500 pounds, a lone burglar is not going to be able to cart it off on his own either. Whenever possible, you should also choose a home safe that can be bolted to your floor.
With Liberty’s home safes you get the best of both worlds with fire resistance and burglar resistance with strong durable construction and special features.