This solution makes it possible to protect far more items than an armoured safe, because an entire room or part of a building gains security. This is appreciated not only by entrepreneurs, but also by private individuals.
A vault (also called a safe room) or a safe – this is one of the frequent dilemmas faced by owners of valuable items. Before making the final decision, it is worth analysing the list of things that require solid protection. It is good to consider not only your current possessions, but also the changes that may occur in the future.
The longer this list is, the more arguments in favour of choosing the first option. Although safes come in various sizes, not everything can always be accommodated in them, e.g. large art collections. In a vault, this should no longer be a problem. Even if various documents, money, weapons, ammunition or anaesthetics are still to be found there. It is not without reason that this solution is used by banks, authorities, companies of various profiles, but also by private individuals.
We build a fortress
Vault doors, also known as armoured doors, make it possible to protect entire rooms or parts of a building. A diverse range awaits potential buyers, and the choice is best made at the stage of construction or reconstruction of the property. It is then easier to apply certain solutions. The mere insertion of vault doors is then easier, and it happens that their weight exceeds 800 kg. This applies especially to those of class III or higher.
Explosion resistance remains an important feature. Some models withstand up to 7 bar (101.53 psi) of explosive overpressure and up to 21 bar of reflected pressure. Companies test this under laboratory conditions. The doors remained fully functional after generating the overpressure associated with the detonation of 6 kg of pentrite. This charge had a force comparable to the detonation of approximately 755 kg of TNT at a distance of 20.9 m from the object in free space.
Explosion-proof armoured doors can be fully automated and linked to an alarm system so that they will automatically close if a threat is detected. This type of armoured door is mainly used in military applications, but can also be installed in civilian facilities.
We recommend to read: Protection against terrorist threats – blast-proof armoured doors
A sense of security
Some models are made of steel and reinforced concrete, with additional protection provided by multi-walled steel structures, among other things. In many cases, their thickness exceeds several centimetres. In turn, the door frames make it impossible to break the bolts, as well as to drill through and break the lock.
Armoured doors, for example, can be locked as standard. However, there is an option to replace it with an electronic or code lock. There are also products which guarantee a higher level of security, i.e. an electronic lock and 2 mechanical locks as an emergency solution. Sometimes it is possible to open the door from the outside and from the inside. Companies use a rust-resistant primer paint.
A safe and a vault have their undoubted advantages, and the common denominator remains the solid protection of valuable items. The optimal choice should therefore be determined by the needs of the individual customer. Manufacturers understand this very well, and today it is not a problem, for example, to manufacture armoured doors to individual order.
Door is not everything
It should be remembered that every security measure is only as good as its weakest element. Armoured doors alone, equipped with even the best locks, are not enough if the room in which they are installed does not have adequate burglary resistance parameters. In this case, you need to consider building a safe room from scratch, and in existing buildings you are left with the option of building a panelled vault even without doing the dirty work such as concreting and welding.
Which door to choose?
The security class of the door must be at least equal to that of the room. However, there is no shortage of customers who opt for a higher one. In addition, a choice can be made between left- and right-opening doors. It's also worth considering the type of lock. Here you can choose between a key lock, a mechanical code lock, an electronic lock and a biometric locking system with a fingerprint reader. There is also the option of combining two solutions. On individual request, a glass door or daylight grille can be added as a passage block.
You may be interested in: How to choose a secure anti-burglary door?
