Over the years of our presence on the Polish market, we have developed some statistics on the popularity of devices chosen by our customers, especially individual customers who need a safe for private use. The vast majority of you come to us with vague expectations, which can most often be summarized as not much: a safe for home, a safe for jewelry and/or cash, a safe for weapons, a safe for documents. Since the common denominator here is the term "undersized", two models that share many common features are making waves. Let's take a look at our bestsellers today.
Burglar-proof safe F 103-03
The F 103-03 safe is legitimized by the 1st class of burglary resistance in accordance with the European standard EN 1143-1. It is a very reserved design at first glance. The conservative and classic body is a cuboid with dimensions of 336 mm × 496 mm × 410 mm and a weight of 95 kg. The capacity of the safe allows you to store 3 file binders, and there is also a shelf that is adjustable in 50 mm steps. The F 103 series are sturdy armored safes, made of a multi-layer laminate of steel and concrete, which makes them quite heavy despite their compact dimensions. The compact and strong construction shows surprising resistance to burglary attempts, as our customers have repeatedly confirmed. Armored safes in this series are adapted from the factory for installation in the floor, but there is the possibility of additional mounting holes that allow the safe to be attached to the wall as well.
A characteristic feature and at the same time the biggest advantage of F 103-03 and the whole series is the compact solid without protruding elements. The hinges are located inside the body, making the total external dimensions of the safe smaller. In addition, the F 103 series is one of the few units available on the market in which the lock can be flush almost to zero with the door panel. The keypad buttons literally stand off from it by a millimeter. Hence, this safe is most often chosen by customers who have limited space, especially the depth dimension. F 103-03 is an ideal safe for built-in furniture.
Burglar- and fireproof safe D 109-08
The D 109-08 is the smallest representative of a very popular series of safes that combine high burglary class I according to EN 1143-1 with 60-minute fire resistance. The nominal dimensions of the safe are 380 mm × 463 mm × 440 mm, with a minimum of 25 mm added to the external depth, which is occupied by the hinges and, depending on the lock chosen, the dimensions of the keypad and handle. The D 109-08 weighs 105 kg. Inside there will be enough space to store 3 binders, and as standard we have 1 shelf with height adjustment in 50 mm intervals. As mentioned above, D 109-08 is the smallest model in the series, which is characterized by a modern and robust design. The multi-walled structure consists of three steel plates, concrete and, significantly for fireproof safes, salt solution plates. Salt is an excellent insulator of heat. Surrounding the door frame is a gasket that swells when exposed to heat and permanently seals the safe so that no fire can get inside. The safe has a mounting hole in the floor, but it is not possible to mount it to the wall, fire resistance does not allow through holes in the body. D 109 safes have external hinges, so it is easier and more pleasant to access the interior, the door opens wide. Protection in case the hinges are cut from the outside are the so-called fixed bolts located on the inside of the door.
What do the F 103-03 and D 109-08 safes have in common?
The reason why we are comparing these two models today is that there are many common features that unite the two devices. They are of similar size, proximate weight, and have similar usable capacity. Both can be installed in the floor and built into furniture. The price of both devices is also similar, the difference between them is a few hundred zlotys, but we will tell you about this in the summary.
What are the differences between the F 103-03 and D 109-08 safes?
Between the models discussed today we have two major differences. The first is the construction model adopted. The F 103-03 is a safe that prioritizes small and stackable dimensions, especially the depth, which is the most sensitive dimension in furniture construction. This approach, however, forced the door opening angle to be limited to 90 degrees. The D 109-08, on the other hand, is a more modern design, though also compact. The door opens wide and comfortably, but the components of the safe itself, such as the hinges, and the lock components, keypad and handle, stand out from the structure.
The second difference, coming directly from the build of the appliances themselves, is the level of security. While the F 103-03 is a typical burglary safe, the D 109-08 also has a fireproof class, and this is based on the strict European standard EN 1047-1, which requires manufacturers to perform a physical resistance test in a metallurgical furnace.
I have compiled the main summary of features into a table:
figures | F 103-03 | D 109-08 |
|---|---|---|
external dimensions | 336 x 496 x 410 mm | 380 x 463 x 440 mm |
internal dimensions | 245 x 412 x 291 mm | 279 x 351 x 298 mm |
weight | 95 kg | 105 kg |
anti-burglary class | VdS I acc. to EN 1143-1 | VdS I acc. to EN 1143-1 |
fire resistance class | no | S60P in acc. with EN 1047-1 |
hinges | internal | external |
door opening angle | 90 degrees | 180 degrees |
number of shelves | 1 | 1 |
way of mounting | to floor or wall | to floor |
Summary
Choosing between the two models is not an easy thing. On the one hand, the objective features of the D 109-08 safe indicate that it is the better solution. After all, while maintaining a compact design, we have a more versatile device, ready to serve not only as a confidant of valuables, but also documents. The slight difference in price between it and the F 103-03, which has no fire resistance at all, also makes it a more cost-effective expenditure. On the other hand, however, the depth reaching, including the handle and hardware, 500 mm, makes it impossible to put it everywhere. It also happens that the presence of underfloor heating makes it impossible to mount the safe to the floor, in which case any fireproof model will be a problem. Both safes, however, have a lot to offer, and in this view it is not surprising that among safes chosen for home use, it is these two that are chosen most often.
Read also:
Why might a wall safe be a good choice?
Money safe – which one and why choose?
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