Safes – nuances you should know about before buying them

In this article, therefore, we are concerned with exploring the ins and outs of safes – nuances that many customers are unaware of, and they come out most often in conversations and at the stage of researching needs and the possibility of implementing certain solutions. What is sometimes surprising to customers? What did they not take into account before talking to an advisor? You will learn about all this in a moment and we hope that these hints will influence your decision to purchase a specific model and satisfaction with its subsequent use.

The size of a safe is often the starting point for further conversation and the following parameters. Many customers are looking for a small and compact safe because they don't have room for a larger one, they think about current needs, following the principle of small = cheap.

What is the basic and most important rule for safe size? When you buy a safe, you are investing in security for years to come. It is worth choosing the largest model you can afford (both financially and logistically). We know from experience that valuable items are increasing every year. By choosing the maximum large model that fits your needs, you gain space for the things you will accumulate for years to come, and have the confidence that it will be sufficient now and in the future.

Find out if it's worth it to buy a cheap safe in the market.

Safes designed for storing cash, jewelry, documents and other valuables are models with increased resistance to burglary. A safe that is heavy enough, and additionally anchored to the floor or wall, provides a high level of protection and reduces the risk of quickly dealing with it being forced, torn out and carried away – should a break-in occur. We recommend choosing the heaviest possible safe. However, keep in mind that heavy safes or strongboxes cannot be placed everywhere.

What are the challenges when it comes to the weight of a safe? The load-bearing capacity of the ceiling, which should be verified and is a matter of your own safety, but also that of the team that will optionally deliver, bring in and install the safe. In addition to the weight of the safe itself, it is necessary to take the items that will be deposited in it into account, as they will further add weight to the whole.

Another topic is the way to transport the safe to its destination. We check together with the customer whether it is possible to bring the safe by a certain route, in a certain way. The safe is brought in by hand or using a stairlift. Elements that present obstacles are most often: the lifting capacity of the elevator is too low, the design of the stairs, the inability to use a stairlift, passageways or doors that are too narrow, corners on the stairs, the floor made of delicate and easily damaged materials, as well as floor heating at the place where the safe is planned to be installed.

Hartmann Tresore's assortment of safes includes safes in all security classes – from basic security to the most advanced ones with increased resistance to burglary. The safes we offer are certified and made of the highest quality materials.

Why is the security rating important? The security grade of a safe is very important, because it determines the degree of protection the product provides against various types of threats, such as theft, fire or unauthorized access. In the context of security, the class of a safe determines first of all its resistance to burglary – the higher the security class, the longer it can withstand attempts to open it (using various types of tools, even advanced ones). The higher the value of the things you intend to store in the safe – the higher the security class we recommend choosing.

Some safes offer protection against fire in case of burning, which is very important if you store documents or other heat-sensitive materials (data carriers).

Our product range includes many types of safes and cabinets. These include both home safes and models dedicated to companies, businesses and institutions – starting with the most discreetly hidden ones, i.e. wall and floor safes (to be built into the wall or floor), through furniture safes (relatively lightweight, so that they can be placed on a furniture shelf) and high-end free-standing safes and cash-boxes for special tasks. Choosing the right safe is primarily related to what you intend to store in it. If you want to store weapons and ammunition legally, a minimum class of S1 is sufficient, and there are models for short guns or larger metal cabinets that will accommodate various types of weapons, ammunition and other valuable items.

Document safes are usually equipped with adjustable shelves. Safes for valuables, jewelry, valuables have special compartments and inserts. Data media safes are equipped with drawers on telescopes, with special places for various media.

The choice of lock is an important detail when it comes to the later convenience of using the safe. The basic price always includes a key lock. But is this the best choice for you? A key lock means that you have to take extra care of the physical key (2 pieces are included) to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. Alternatives and thus more advanced locks are: electronic, combination and biometric locks.

Each of the locks has supporters and opponents, as they have both advantages and disadvantages, but we talk more about them in separate articles, dedicated to the topic of safe locks, such as:

How to open a safe equipped with a mechanical and electronic lock?

Keyed or electronic lock. Which lock to choose for a safe?

Premium safes are the proverbial icing on the cake – a combination of top-notch security and original design. The nuances associated with exclusive safes are many, because they are products designed according to the needs and indications of the customer. You have the opportunity to create an exceptional and unique product, equipped with special places for watches (watch winders), drawers and inserts for jewelry. Finished with the highest quality materials – wood, veneer, chrome elements, alcantara or leather. We offer a whole range of possibilities.

The decision to buy a safe requires consideration. It is worth taking advantage of the hints in the articles or the knowledge of Hartmann Tresore advisors.

There are many details to be aware of before choosing a particular model. After all, this is not a cheap product, but at the same time one that is meant to serve you for years and best protect the values you intend to deposit in it.