Office furnishings – is it worth having a safe?

A safe is a practical, durable and effective solution that protects your assets against theft, fire or unauthorised access by third parties.

You should consider buying a safe in several situations:

• • if you store the following in your office: accounting and financial documents, contracts and legal documents, HR records, sensitive and personal data (GDPR), technical and design documentation, permits, certificates, licences, insurance policies or other valuable documents,
• • when your customers occasionally pay in cash,
• • when you store data on digital media (e.g. backups),
• • when you want to secure access to company seals, keys or access cards,
• • when you keep other valuable items at your workplace.

A good safe is not an unnecessary expense. It is an investment in security and peace of mind. A safe is a certified barrier, an obstacle to burglars or unforeseen circumstances and at the same time a security solution tailored to your company’s individual preferences and needs.

Customers come to us with their problems and concerns regarding the storage of company assets. Our aim is to find and recommend the optimal solution – a safe in which the company’s valuables will be secure. We want to show how our solutions work in practice, so if you have similar problems – the stories below may prove interesting and inspiring.

Mr Marek, the owner of a food wholesaler, receives large amounts of cash from his customers every day. Until now, he had been storing the money in an S1-grade safe, which (although it met the basic requirements) was not suitable for intensive use or for storing larger sums.

One Friday afternoon, whilst routinely opening the safe, the key unexpectedly snapped. The weekend was approaching, and the cash deposited inside could not be left there – the premises were due to be closed, and the owner did not want to risk losing the funds. In this emergency situation, Mr Marek decided to act quickly – he grabbed a grinder and drilled open the safe himself. It took just 15 minutes.

Although he managed to recover the money, the safe was damaged and no longer fit for purpose. That was when Mr Marek came to us – in search of a reliable and more robust solution – a safe that would not only provide a higher level of security but would also be more resistant to heavy use.

Based on an analysis of his needs, we offered a model with a higher resistance class (Class IV, 30 minutes of fire resistance), fitted with a modern electronic lock, eliminating the risks associated with a key. Today, Mr Marek not only sleeps soundly, but has also gained the assurance that the cash in his company is properly secured.

Thanks to the new safe with a higher burglary resistance rating and a modern electronic lock, Mr Marek:

• • has gained the assurance that his cash is properly secured,
• • has eliminated the risk of a key breaking – the new safe is opened with a 6-digit code,
• • has a safe with enhanced resistance and the guarantee that it would take a potential thief well over 15 minutes to gain access to the contents.

This is a perfect example of how investing in a more robust safe is not an expense, but a real asset in the day-to-day running of a business.

Mr Andrzej, the owner of a petrol station, has been struggling with high staff turnover for some time. Every new employee was given access to the company safe to deposit the day’s takings. Over time, however, the owner realised that this way of working carried a significant risk – too many people knew how to open the safe, which made it difficult to control the cash and establish accountability in the event of any irregularities.Mr Andrzej approached us for help with a specific problem and a clearly defined requirement – “staff must be able to deposit takings, but only the manager should have access to the inside of the safe”.

The solution? A deposit safe with a slot. Thanks to its special design, staff can deposit cash into the safe without having to open it – they simply slide the money through a special slot. Only the manager, however, has access to the safe’s contents – using an individual key or code.

Thanks to this solution, the client:

     • reduced the risks associated with cash handling,
     • increased control over takings,
     • reduced the need to grant access to the safe to every new employee,
     • streamlined day-to-day work organisation.

This shows that a well-chosen safe is not just a matter of security, but also of effective management of staff and processes within the company.

We recommend the article:  How to prevent theft in your company? Part 1.

Mrs Monika, the owner of a textile company, experienced one of the most difficult moments in her business – a fire broke out at the company’s headquarters. Although the fire was quickly brought under control by the fire brigade, the intensive fire-fighting operation, involving water and chemicals, caused additional, serious damage inside the building.

Fortunately, the most important company documents were in the safe and survived intact. This prevented the business from grinding to a halt and avoided the tedious task of rebuilding the documentation.

However, although the safe had ‘withstood’ the fire, it was no longer fit for use. The plastic parts of the lock had melted, and the structure itself had lost its functionality. Mrs Monika approached us for a new, more robust solution that would be able to protect documents not only against theft, but also against extreme and unforeseen events, which undoubtedly include fire.

We proposed a certified fireproof safe, designed to protect paper documents and data storage media. At the customer’s request, the safe was fitted with a mechanical combination lock that operates without batteries – a solution that is not only convenient and durable, but also environmentally friendly.

What did the client gain?

    • maximum document security in the event of a fire,
    • peace of mind and a sense of security that key documents are protected,
    • compliance with insurance requirements, which may affect premium rates,
    • a durable and eco-friendly solution, in line with the company’s values.

This story shows that a well-chosen safe is not only protection against burglary, but also a key element in ensuring business continuity, even in emergencies and crises.

When choosing a safe for your office, it is worth paying attention to a few key factors:

• 1. Resistance class – for offices, S1 or S2 class safes are often sufficient, but this depends on the value of the items to be stored in the safe. If you are storing larger sums of money or very valuable documents, consider a safe with a robust construction and a higher resistance class (from 0 to V).
• 2. Lock type – choose certified locks with a high level of security: mechanical, electronic, fingerprint, or, as a basic option, a key lock. The ideal solution (especially for safes with a higher security rating) is an inspection function, i.e. the ability to open the safe in an emergency.
• 3. Installation – the safe should be permanently fixed to the floor or wall to minimise the risk of it being torn out and stolen.
• 4. Capacity and interior – safes are available in various sizes. Choose a size that suits what you want to store, or even opt for a larger one, as the number of documents and valuable items tends to increase over time. Make sure the safe will fit in the intended location and that it can be securely installed (e.g. no pipes or cables running through the floor, including underfloor heating).
• 5. Fire and heat resistance – if you store data or documents, it is worth investing in a fire-resistant safe, which protects your valuables from unauthorised access, theft and the destructive effects of high temperatures.

Definitely yes! An office safe is not only protection against burglary, but also a responsible approach. Our clients’ experiences show that choosing the wrong safe or a poor-quality lock can lead to stressful situations and incur additional costs.

That is why, when choosing a safe, it is worth trusting professionals who will help you select the right model tailored to your company’s individual needs.

Are you looking for a safe for your office?

Our range includes many S1, S2, 0 and higher-grade safes. All are made from high-quality materials and have the appropriate certifications. In addition to standard office and study safes, we offer armoured cabinets, as well as bespoke and aesthetically pleasing premium-class safes, characterised by original design and the option for personalisation. Contact us and we will help you choose the perfect safe for your office.