One of the key issues when it comes to running a business – and this applies to any industry – is security, considered on many levels. The challenge in business is to protect values, such as assets, cash, documents, digital data and even various types of goods and many other things perceived as valuable. In an age of increasing threats such as burglary, theft and also cyber attacks, burglar-proof security is a priority and safes undoubtedly provide such protection.
The most important goal of our business is to provide customers with products that are tailored to individual needs and fulfil their primary function – to protect the values deposited in the safe from unauthorised access, burglary and theft, as well as to protect the deposit from fortuitous events, such as fire.
In this article, we will discuss the importance of burglar-proof safes in business, their types, and the important features to look out for when choosing the right safe for your business.
Protecting valuable items in your business
A burglar-proof safe is a specialised device, made of high-quality materials, that protects against theft and burglary.
Every company has valuable items that require special protection. These may include money, financial documents, particularly sensitive documents with customer and employee data, information stored on data carriers, as well as other items that are perceived as important and valuable within the company. The risk of losing these valuable items through burglary and theft can lead to serious financial, legal as well as reputational damage to the company. For some industries, having burglar-proof security is even mandatory, such as in banking, jewellery or the pharmaceutical or technology sector.
Security classes for safes
Two aspects are taken into account when assessing the security of safes: protection against burglary and protection against fire (in the event of a fire), hence safes are awarded a burglar-proof certificate or a fire-resistant certificate after passing the tests they undergo. There are, of course, safes in our range that have both certificates.
The certification of safes is carried out by independent institutions, and testing takes place by checking, using various types of tools, how long the safe can ‘withstand’ burglary attempts. On the basis of such tests, certificates are awarded with a specific resistance class, and the burglary resistance classes themselves are designated as S1 and S2, 0 and Roman numerals from I to V.
The security class of a safe is nothing more than an indication of how much burglary resistance a particular model provides. One thing follows from the other – the higher the level of security provided by a burglar-proof safe, the higher its burglary resistance rating (it takes more time to get into it) and thus you can store things of increasing value in it.
The burglar-proof classes are as follows:
• S1 according to EN 14450: these are safes that have a single-walled body and a double-walled door.
• S2 according to EN 14450: safes in this class have a double-walled door and a double-walled body.
• from class N(0) in accordance with EN 1143-1, through I, II, III, IV to class V: safes have a multi-walled door and a multi-walled body. In addition, there are various types of permanent fillings between the walls. The degree of burglary resistance depends on the amount, type of material and thickness of the walls: the more material, the higher the security class.
Fire-proof safes – fire resistance classes
A fireproof safe protects the items deposited in it against the effects of fire and high temperatures and against flooding by water or fire extinguishing liquids (thanks to the use of special seals which swell when the temperature rises and thus seal the door gaps).
In addition to fillings made from e.g. concrete mixtures, various types of insulation are used in fire resistant safes to limit the temperature rise inside the safe.
Safes are tested under extreme conditions before they are awarded a specific fire resistance certificate. This is a test of fire and impact resistance – in short: a safe is placed in an oven at a temperature of up to 1,090 °C and heated for a specific period of time, and then (while still hot) dropped from a height of 9.15 metres to simulate the collapse of the ceiling during a fire (this is the height of the second floor). Only after passing a test under these most difficult conditions does the safe receive its certificate:
• LFS 30 P or LFS 60 P according to EN 15659 – 30 or 60 minutes of protection against fire (for paper documents),
• S 60 P, S 120 P in accordance with EN 1047-1 – 60 or 120 minutes of protection against fire (for paper documents),
• S 60 DIS, S 120 DIS according to EN 1047-1 – 60 or 120 minutes fire protection (for data carriers).
At Hartmann Tresore, we offer a variety of safe models with different combinations of burglary resistance and fire protection safes. The safes are available in various sizes and can, of course, be personalised. Choosing the right model depends on a number of factors, such as the type of items stored and their value, the budget for purchasing the safe, and the level of security required by law.
Permissible limits for stored values
The appropriate security class of a safe is important not only in terms of the length of time it can withstand burglary attempts, but also in terms of the values that can be stored (and possibly insured) in a given safe class.
The permissible limits of stored values in each security class are indicated in the Ordinance of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration of September 7th 2010 on the requirements to be met by the protection of monetary values stored and transported by businesses and other organisational units (Journal of Laws of September 9th 2010). In order to calculate the limits, the so-called calculation unit has been adopted – this is the value of the limit amounting to 120 times the average gross monthly remuneration for the previous quarter, announced by the President of the Central Statistical Office in the Official Journal of the Republic of Poland ‘Monitor Polski’. For the second quarter of 2024, this is PLN 8038.41 (PLN 8038.41 x120 = PLN 964,609.20). Thus, the permissible limits in the various security classes are as follows (in equipment not protected by an intruder alarm system):
• S1 (according to EN 14450) – 0.1 of the calculation unit, i.e. PLN 96,460.92,
• S2 (according to EN 14450) – 0.2 CU, i.e. PLN 192,921.84,
• 0 (according to EN 1143-1) – 0.5 c.u., i.e. PLN 482,304.60,
• I (according to EN 1143-1) – 1 c.u., i.e. PLN 964,609.20,
• II (according to EN 1143-1) – 1.5 c.u., i.e. PLN 1,446,913.80,
• III (according to EN 1143-1) – 3 c.u., i.e. PLN 2,893,827,60,
• IV (according to EN 1143-1) – 5 c.u., i.e. PLN 4,823,046.00,
• V (according to EN 1143-1) – 8 c.u., i.e. PLN 7,716,873.60.
The values given are increased if a burglary and assault alarm system with transmission of the alarm signal to an alarm receiving centre is used and a monitored CCTV system with event recording function is installed.
The issue of limits to the values permitted to be stored in safes is also addressed in another text: Security class of a safe and limits of deposited values.
Locks on safes
Once you have chosen a particular safe model, it is worth considering further how you want the safe to be opened. There are several types of locks to choose from:
• key locks – these are the mainstay. Every safe comes with a key lock as standard. It is reliable, but some customers see carrying keys as something inconvenient.
• electronic locks – you open your safe with a few digits. The electronic lock is powered by batteries and can be connected externally if the batteries are completely discharged. You open the safe quickly and without unnecessary steps.
• cipher locks – similar to electronic locks: you quickly get into the safe by setting a combination of numbers with a dial on the dial.
• biometric locks – these are advanced solutions. You can open the safe very quickly by putting your finger on the reader.
How to choose the right safe for your business?
Choosing the right burglar-proof safe depends on a number of factors, which you should consider carefully before making your decision:
• risk assessment: Threats always exist, indeed there are a whole range of them. It is good to consider factors such as the location of the company, additional security features within the company (e.g. cooperation with a security company, alarms), the type and amount of valuables stored. Risks such as the occurrence of burglary and theft, as well as a fortuitous event such as fire, are exposed to everyone.
• needs analysis: The next step is to analyse the company's security needs. Determine what items or data require special protection and to what extent. Do you need the safe primarily to store cash or are you more concerned with a solution for storing documents or data media? Determine the capacity of the items you intend to store in the safe. Consider where you want to place the safe and whether it is possible to anchor it to the floor or wall in that location.
• budget: this is often the deciding factor when choosing a safe. However, it is worth remembering that an investment in a quality safe is also an investment in the security of your business, which can protect it from much greater losses. Remember also that a safe is often a one-off investment in a product that will serve you for many years.
• consultation with an expert: If you are unsure about which safe to choose, it is worth consulting a security expert. At Hartmann Tresore, a professional advisor will help you and select the right safe for your needs, taking into account all the factors that are important to you.
Summary
Burglar-proof safes provide excellent security and play an important role in protecting a company's valuable assets. Choosing the right safe is a decision that should be made after a thorough needs analysis and risk assessment. It is worth investing in high quality safes that will not only ensure protection against burglary, but also against another threat such as fire. In today's world, where security threats are increasingly complex, a properly chosen safe can become a key part of your company's value protection strategy.
