The unstable global situation means that many people are increasingly choosing to keep their money at home. No wonder, as a threat of war or an economic crisis makes it difficult to withdraw money from an ATM. On impulse, people line up in long queues to withdraw cash. Of course, no one is urging you to keep all your savings at home. Don't panic. However, it is worth stashing some of your cash in a home safe. Don't have a cache for your money and valuables yet? Check out which approved safes to choose to feel safe.
A certified home safe – a guarantee of security
Not everyone knows that an ordinary safe does not guarantee security. When buying an armoured wardrobe or locker, pay attention to the burglary resistance class. A safe without a certificate is just an ordinary piece of furniture. You might as well keep your valuables in a lockable wardrobe.
Buy a certified safe and you will be assured that money, jewellery and other valuables are effectively protected. Safes can have different classes of burglary resistance. The Polish and European EN 14450 standard defines their resistance class.
Approved safes undergo stringent tests that determine how long it takes and what equipment must be used to open them illegally. Safes and strongboxes can have the following burglary resistance classes: S1, S2, 0, I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII (S1 is the lowest resistance class).
Domestic lockers usually have a maximum resistance class II. If you need more security, you can order a safe with up to class V certification. Higher security levels are used in vaults.
The burglary resistance class depends on the limit of the value to be protected. A safe with an S1 certificate can store items with a value of approximately PLN 60,000. The limit of the protected value is conditional upon the average gross salary and can therefore vary. Insurers also apply their own conversion rates for this limit.
If your armoured safe deposit box has a security class that is too low, the insurer may refuse to pay the entire claim in the event of theft. Buy a safe with an approval that corresponds to the value of the items stored in it.
An approved safe for your company – secure all your documents and employee data
If you have a business, you are well aware that you have to keep your accounting documents for five years. A tax inspection can demand even the oldest receipts and invoices from you. What can you do to keep your archived documents secure? You need a certified safe.
For storing large amounts of documents, it is worth buying several armoured cabinets. Choose those designed for businesses. The shelves in the safe are designed to accommodate the maximum number of files.
Remember that you don't just store accounting documents in an armoured cabinet. You also need an approved safe to store proprietary data, confidential company information and employee personnel files. The Data Protection Act obliges you to secure employee information.
A filing cabinet can also serve other purposes. Many companies' approved safes are designed to hold room keys. You can also keep such important items as:
● your business telephone and computer,
● vehicle keys,
● registration certificates,
● cash,
● securities.
Safely storing weapons in a safe – all you need is an S1 certificate
Are you planning to obtain a firearms licence? Are you a member of the uniformed services? Or do you want to become a hunter? No matter what kind of weapon you want to own, you should know that an S1-certified safe is required to store your weapon.
A safe with this certificate has the weakest burglary protection, as it is the lowest security class. If you plan to have a larger arsenal in the form of several weapons and, in addition, optical equipment, then you should consider purchasing a safe with S2 certification or higher.
For those who want to display their collection, armoured display cabinets are designed. These special cabinets are fitted with toughened bulletproof glass. Behind the armoured glass, your weapons will be safe. You can also opt to pad the shelves with cloth of any colour - this will further emphasise the appearance of your weaponry.
When choosing an approved gun safe, pay attention to the size of the cabinet. You may only want to have a few pieces at first. Over time, however, your collection is bound to grow. Invest in a model that has multiple gun holders. Don't forget additional shelves for ammunition and documents authorising you to own and purchase a gun.
Regardless of what you will need the armoured cabinet for, one thing is important. You should choose an approved safe. In the case of weapons, the legislator has regulated that it must be at least class S1. When it comes to storing cash and valuables, there are no such regulations. However, for your own safety you should choose a safe with the highest possible burglary resistance.
Other interesting articles: The home safe – frequently asked questions
