We want to protect the things that are precious to us at all costs. This is not a new situation, as for hundreds of years people have been trying to secure what is valuable and precious in various ways. In the past, these safeguards did not look like today's safes, but they were robust enough to significantly protect valuables from theft and thus loss.
When customers contact us and say they are looking for a safe for their house or flat, what often comes to mind is a small armoured cache or case to hide in, for example, furniture. Sometimes they say that they have seen safes in a hotel or guesthouse and something like this will be enough for them.
But are they sure? Are lockers, cassettes or a classless hotel safe a good idea when it comes to securing your home values? Is it worth investing your money and depositing your values in such a solution? There are various models available on the market, it is worth getting to know them and then making a decision.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the topic of home safes. You will find out which safes are worth investing your money in, so that your possessions are protected effectively. It is a comprehensive guide covering all key aspects and important issues related to choosing and using safes.
Buying a safe – first steps
The number of burglaries is increasing year on year. They intensify during the summer (holidays) and around long weekends, when many people leave their homes and flats and go on travels. But the reality is that many burglaries happen every day and at any time. If you haven't reviewed your current security measures, now is the time to do so.
Start by considering what valuables you need to protect—this is the first step in choosing the right safe for your needs. Take a moment to think about your valuables that you have at home. Perhaps there are some savings in PLN or other currencies, binders of important documents or electronic versions of them, jewellery and watches, investment products (gold, silver) or collectibles (coins), works of art.
• How many things do you have that you consider valuable and precious?
• Where do you store them at the moment?
• Are the stored items secured in some way against unauthorised access and potential theft?
• Do you sometimes find things (by accident) that you have forgotten existed?
Now imagine that these things actually go missing, theft occurs. Burglary and theft is a random situation that can happen. That's why it's worth investing in a home safe where you can store these things, lock them up and keep them protected. A burglar-proof safe provides a secure place to store valuables and important documents when those are not in use, ensuring peace of mind. Please remember, however, that a safe should function as the last line of defense among other security measures. It can be equipped with features that increase its effectiveness.
There is a wide range of safes available, tailored for your home or business, including models designed specifically for cash, documents or data protection. Businesses require specific safes, such as depository safes for cash handling or digital media safes to protect sensitive data, to ensure compliance and security in a commercial environment.
We all have items that have material or sentimental significance. It is quite risky to leave them without protection for some of them are not to regain in case of loss. More and more people are also storing firearms, but here the matter is simple, because storing weapons in a safe is a necessity and a legal requirement.
Despite our sincerest intentions and wishful thinking, each of us is at risk of a break-in and the loss of things that are valuable to us. And although many times in our work we hear from customers "I don't plan on being broken into" – life writes its stories. That's why it's always worth investing in a safe, because the most valuable or important things deposited in it, at home or in the company, will not only be secured (compared to keeping them in a regular cupboard or drawer). A safe not only means security for precious items but also keeping all your valuables in one place, in an organised manner. Ensure that the safe you choose meets your security needs and provides the level of protection required for your valuables. Always look for proof of certification or compliance as evidence of the safe’s security standards.
Types of safes
It is often said that choosing the right type of safe for your needs is essential for your security. There are many kinds of safes, each with unique features tailored to the user. Floor safes are concealed beneath the floor, making them difficult to find and remove, which is ideal for hiding jewelry and cash. Wall safes can be built into thick walls and easily hidden behind a picture or furniture, providing discreet security.
Fireproof safes (among them are safes for electronic media) are designed to shield valuables and data carriers from fire and water damage. Deposit safes allow users to deposit cash or documents without opening the main compartment, while cash management safes are equipped with advanced security features for handling cash efficiently. Gun safes are specifically made for the secure storage of firearms and ammunition.
Portable safes are small, lightweight and easy to transport. Furniture safes can be mounted inside of a cupboard or a cabinet. When using electronic safes, the user must enter a code to gain access, which ensures only authorized individuals can open the safe.
Home safes and security
The security of valuables is of great importance. As an expert in the field of safes, Hartmann Tresore has been dealing with this topic for many years, so we are happy to share our knowledge and experience with our customers and recommend the most suitable solutions.
Valuable items require safes for special tasks, i.e. high-end burglary protection. Choosing the right safe is crucial for each user, as various users may have different needs regarding access and security features. Our team will help find the best solution for you, tailored to your individual requirements.
How do you choose the ideal home safe?
Here are some tips to help you choose the right solution for your needs:
- • installation location: Customers prefer concealed safes (wall safes, floor safes, furniture safes or free-standing safes, but suitable for incorporation into furniture). The choice of a suitable location is also important because of anchoring – no installations, including underfloor heating, must run through the wall or floor. Proper placement can be crucial to guarantee maximum security for your valuables.
- • approvals and certifications: it can't be just any safe, but simply the best safe you can afford. Approvals and certificates guarantee the right level of security.
- • security class: the higher the rating, the better the protection. The better the construction of the safe (multi-walled body, thick doors, locking system and fillings used), the greater the resistance to burglary.
- • the right size and capacity: the larger the safe, the better. We know from experience that as time goes by, our valuables increase. Choose a model larger than what you think is adequate at the time of purchase. Safes are available in a wide range of sizes and capacities to provide flexibility for your growing needs.
- • suitable locks: which is the best lock? One that you will be most comfortable using. Find out more about safe locks from our blog, such as the article "Safe locks under a magnifying glass. Choose optimally".
- • insurance rating: Seek for safes with insurance ratings that match the value of the items you plan to store, as this can affect coverage and provide peace of mind.
- • fire rating: Consider the fire resistance of the safe if you plan to store important documents, cash or data media. Fire ratings indicate how long a safe can withstand high temperatures without damaging its contents. Safes with higher fire ratings (i.e. S 90 P or S 120 DIS) generally cost more due to their enhanced protective capabilities.
- • budget: Set a budget for your safe purchase to help narrow down your options and ensure you find a suitable model from the broad range of available safes.
Safes can be equipped with a range of features to guarantee protection against unauthorized access and fire. Always assure the safe you choose is tailored for your specific requirements and provides the level of security you need.
Interesting facts about safes
There are times when home safes are still seen as something only available to the wealthiest people but safes have long since 'gone under the radar' and are being bought by people who are aware that it is better to secure their values earlier – with foresight. The security of our values is crucial.
Since safes arouse excitement and are a bit of a mystery, here are 5 interesting and surprising facts about safes:
• The most expensive safe in the world is called 'Narcissus'. Karl Lagerfeld, among others, collaborated on its design and one was in his possession (and that's no mean feat, as only 30 were produced). "Narcissus" is made of steel and covered in shiny, chrome-plated aluminium. The price of such a safe is around €250,000 😎.
• The most mysterious safe is the Granite Mountain Records Vault. It is the world's largest collection of genealogical records stored in a secure vault located in the mountains near Salt Lake City, Utah. The vault is owned by Mormons and safeguards billions of images on microfilm, microfiche and digital media (relating to Mormon families and their family trees).
• The largest safe in the world is the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. It stores more than half a million gold bars weighing a total of 6350 tonnes and several thousand tonnes of gold coins. Part of the vault is open to the public.
• The safe with the strangest contents is The Svalbard Global Seed Vault hidden in a glacier on Spitsbergen. More than 770,000 seeds of various plant species are stored there – they are protected to survive any cataclysmic event.
• The largest office in the safe – Cheyenne Mountain is a US Army base. Its entrance is guarded by a 25-tonne door capable of surviving a 30-megaton blast.
