Buying Guide

Looking for a safe? Don’t know what you want or need?

Below are four (4) important questions to answer.

1. What am I protecting?
   • Papers – Wills, insurance papers, deeds, birth certificates.
     You need a RECORD SAFE also known as FIRE SAFE.
   • Sensitive Material – Computer CDs, DVDs, tapes, negatives, photographs.
     You need a DATA SAFE rated for 125º
   • Valuables – Jewelry, coin collections, etc.
     You need a BURGLARY SAFE or Composite BURGLARY/FIRE SAFE.
2. What value would I place on the items being protected?
   • Up to $5,000 RSC Label recommended
   • $5,100 to $20,000 TL-15 Label recommended
   • $20,100+ TL-30 or higher recommended
3. What size do I need?
   • Determine what is going in the safe and what cubic feet is required. Stack the items you plan to place in the safe together and measure the height, width and depth.
   • Decide where you want to place your safe and take measurements – height, width and depth. Note: Beware of weight restrictions for stairs going up to 2nd floor and down to basement locations.

SAFE LABELS:

• FIRE PROTECTION
  • “UL” Underwriters Laboratories – Class 350°, will protect your important papers when directly exposed to fire up to 1,700° F,
  • “UL” – Class 125° - will protect your sensitive media, CDs, DVDs
    film, etc when directly exposed to fire up to 1,700°F.
• BURGLARY PROTECTION
  • "UL" Labels for Burglary Protection are rated based on resistance to attack from certain tools and torches for a specified length of time. Testing is based on the net time working on the safe with the proper tool and knowledge.
  • RSC (Residential Security Container) tested for 5 minutes with tools normally found in the home. It should be noted that burglars who break into homes usually “grab and run” and typically won’t spend much time trying to break into your safe.
  • TL-15 LABEL – tested with drills, grinders, picking tools, electric or mechanical
    tools, power cutters, etc for a net time of 15 minutes.
  • TL-30 LABEL - tested with same tools as above for 30 minutes.
  • TRTL30 LABEL – tested for 30 minutes with above power tools and oxy-welding and cutting torches.
  • TRTL-60 LABEL – tested for 60 minutes with above power tools and torches.
  • X6 LABEL – any label with X6 after the rate has been tested on all 6 sides.

How much protection do you need? We can help you make that determination.

The old saying “You get what you pay for” is very true in purchasing a safe.