One of the most important elements of the business or industrial use of safes is the secure storage of keys. If you have a dozen, dozens or even hundreds of keys to manage in your business, I invite you to briefly review your options.
What is a key safe?
A key safe is a device used to store and protect keys from unauthorised access. Key safes can be locked with a key, combination lock or electronic lock. Key safes are useful both at home and in the office, where keys to important rooms, documents or equipment often need to be protected. Key safes can vary in capacity, security class and functionality. Key safes are the solution for people who value order and security.
Key safes can vary in size and, depending on how capacious the safe is, you can keep up to several hundred keys in it. Dedicated hooks are used for this, usually mounted on slats and numbered.
Key safes versus key cabinets
As in every other category, there are both cabinets and safes in which you can store your keys. The difference between a cabinet and a safe is the degree of burglary protection. Cabinets are single-walled devices of simple and lightweight construction, access to which is provided by a simple key lock, usually a double-bit lock. In effect, they are more like boxes than devices with burglary resistance, devoid of any certification.
Key safes are something quite different. Even single-wall models have at least a security class S1 according to EN 14450 and a key lock with certification. The type of lock can of course be defined and an electronic lock can be fitted. It is important to note that key safes are designed to secure keys, not just to store them. In the heavier ones, the body is made of multi-walled layers of top-quality steel.
Who needs a key safe?
Key safe in business
Key safes are used where there is not only a need to store and record keys, but also to secure them. It goes without saying that a key safe will come in handy in offices and production facilities with many employees with varying levels of authorisation.
The keys themselves can be valuable enough to put in a secure place. A good example of this is a car dealership or service centre where car keys are in circulation. If you run such a business pay attention to the depth of your office safe and the spacing of the hooks, car keys are larger and often have registration cards attached as well.
A second example is a gun shop, where arms storages are still in operation with doors fitted with a key lock.
Key safes in a house or a flat
The use of a private key safe is not obvious, and yet it does happen, most often precisely to store car keys or keys to rooms over which you want exceptional control. It also sometimes happens that a classic burglar-proof safe with fireproofing is adapted to store keys. Hooks on the rail on the inside of the door can be fitted to any safe.
Check our category of home safes, too
How do you choose a key safe?
Depending on your needs, a key safe can be larger or smaller. You should consider several factors when making your choice:
• What is the appropriate external height?
• What is the appropriate external width?
• How many keys does the safe need to hold?
• Will additional lockers be needed?
• Will your safe need shelves and how many of them?
• What type of lock will be suitable?
• Will a single door be sufficient or is it worth considering double doors on the safe?
• Will the safe stand on the floor or would you prefer to mount it to the wall? Pay attention to whether the wall is suitable for mounting a safe of your chosen weight.
Whichever model emerges from your criteria, a key safe must, above all, be practical. As a manufacturer, we endeavour to meet even the most sophisticated criteria, so that purchases made with us ensure a product with the right performance and quality for the price.
Check also: Office filing cabinet
