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The shape and idea of safes is iconic because it conveys safety, reliability, and security. Check the logos of anything with security in the name, and you are likely to find an image of a safe.
However, not every safe is built the same. From the outside, a cheaper safe may look like any other, but upon closer inspection, you will find small vulnerabilities that can end up helping burglars.
These vulnerabilities can also cause the safe to fail in extreme circumstances such as during floods or fires. This is why it is important that you think of your purchase as an investment and consider going with reputable safes that are thoroughly tested and built using industry standards.
Read below to learn more about why cheap safes often fail and the pros and cons of purchasing safes from a reputable supplier:
WHY CHEAP SAFES OFTEN FAIL: THE DOWNSIDE OF CHEAP SAFES
All safes, especially the cheaper ones, differ significantly in construction quality, locking technology, certification, and resistance against attack.
There are several reasons why you should not go with a cheaper safe; let’s go over a few:
Lower Security Ratings and Limited Protection
Safes protect against opportunistic and determined attacks. They are built to withstand brute force attempts and are designed in a way that makes it extremely difficult for burglars to break in.
Cheaper safes typically have:
- Thin steel construction
- Basic locking mechanisms
- Weak hinges or door frames
- Limited resistance against drilling, cutting, or forced entry
- No recognised security certifications
For people in the UK, purchasing a safe isn’t just as straightforward as going with any brand. In most cases, insurers often require safes that meet specific standards. On top of threats, failing to invest in a standardised safe can lead to increased premiums and difficulties in making claims.
Standardised or insurance-approved safes offer far more reliability and convenience. These safes are built using strict standards such as the EN 15540 and the EN 1143-1.
This allows them to withstand brute force attacks and keep your belongings safe, even during natural disasters such as fire, floods and earthquakes.
Lack of Insurance Approval
One of the biggest problems with cheap safes is that they may not meet insurer requirements, which can cause a whole range of problems down the road.
Unapproved safes lead to:
- Lower or invalid insurance coverage
- Difficult claims processes
- Higher premiums
By going with a safe by a reputable supplier, you can not only protect your possessions but can also have them insured for a certain cash amount.
Poor Build Quality and Reliability Issues
This one is the most obvious downside of going with cheaper safes. As mentioned above, these safes may look secure, but they will likely cut costs through materials and manufacturing, which leads to unreliability and failure points.
Potential problems include:
- Lock failures
- Misaligned doors
- Damaged bolts
- Electronic keypad faults
- Difficult access when needed most
Safes that fail during an emergency defeat their purpose and may cause you more damage and loss than going with a standardised and tested safe.
Incorrect Safe Selection
Security safes come in different sizes. A mistake people often make is that they go with a very large safe thinking that it will provide better protection and more space.
The truth is, you don’t need an extra-large safe if all you are going to store is your property’s paperwork or small items.
The size of the safe should reflect what you want to store in it since smaller safes typically are built for specific purposes. For example, if you want to store files, then a medium-sized safe that provides an airtight seal with fire and water protection is the way to go.
Sizing usually depends on:
- What is being stored
- Cash or valuables value
- Location
- Risk level
- Insurance requirements
- Fire protection needs
BENEFITS OF BUYING FROM A REPUTABLE SAFE SUPPLIER
Here are some of the reasons why you should opt for a reputable safe supplier:
Experience and Correct Specification
Security companies like Calder Security understand safety requirements and help customers find the right safe for their needs. Professional suppliers understand security ratings, certifications, and industry requirements.
Not only this, but if you go with a professional installation company like Calder Security, you can get the safe and its installation all under one roof.
Calder Security can help you obtain:
- Cash-rated safes
- Jewellery safes
- Fire-resistant safes
- Commercial-grade solutions
- Insurance-approved models
Certified Products and Compliance
Buying from certified suppliers means that you can be guaranteed that even if you come across the (very rare) problem in your safe, you can easily get it replaced or repaired without worry.
Standardised safes are built using extreme precision, which makes failure points exceedingly rare; however, if the safe is damaged during installation or transport, then you can easily get it replaced.
Professional Installation
All safes installed by professionals such as Calder Security are done using strict standards and compliance, which means that you will get the best service possible.
Professional installation helps ensure:
- Correct anchoring
- Secure positioning
- Compliance with manufacturer requirements
- Better resistance against removal attempts
Long-Term Reliability and Support
This is another important but less thought-of reason for going with reputable suppliers. When you purchase a certified safe, you can have peace of mind knowing that you will get a reliable and long-term service commitment.
Benefits can include:
- After-sales support
- Maintenance assistance
- Replacement parts
- Guidance if security needs change
THE CONS OF PURCHASING FROM A REPUTABLE SUPPLIER
Yes, there might be some cons to purchasing from reputable suppliers. However, this is a matter of perspective. If you reframe these cons, you will realise that they are actually benefits in disguise.
In most cases, the biggest con of going with reputable suppliers is that they have a higher initial purchase price, higher installation costs, and a longer decision process due to proper assessment protocols.
Keep in mind that the additional investment often provides better protection, compliance, and peace of mind, which significantly offsets these “cons”.
UPGRADING YOUR SAFE
If you already have a safe and have been going through troubles with its features or maintenance, then it may be time for you to upgrade.
Safes are built to last a lifetime, but under certain circumstances, you may have to upgrade your current safe to a new one.
Here are all the signs your safe needs to be upgraded:
Depreciation
Time is the enemy of all manmade things. Despite the quality of construction and the level of sturdiness, every safe is bound to suffer wear and tear over time.
If you opted for a cheaper safe in the past, then it’s likely that you will face a faster rate of depreciation than if you go with standardised safes.
Signs of wear and tear are important! We recommend that you look for visible signs of loose hinges, rusting on the safe, a damaged locking system, and any dents or cracks.
Safes that show wear and tear can become vulnerable quickly. Keep in mind that these problems can lead to a loss of structural integrity and lead to the safe developing failure points that can be exploited.
While some issues may simply need repairs, some damages may be too serious that the only solution would be to change and upgrade the safe.
Storage Needs
Sometimes safes need to be upgraded to fit growing security or storage needs. If you have a small safe and want to store more items, then there is no use stuffing items into a limited space.
If you want the most out of your safe, then go for a larger safe that offers modern security benefits and storage.
As a best practice, go for a medium-sized safe if you currently have small items to store but require futureproofing. Similarly, go for a large safe if your current contents can fit within a medium-sized safe.
This strategy can enable you to futureproof yourself and get all the benefits of modern safe designs.
Outdated Security Features
Safes come with different types of technologies.
Safes are becoming smarter and more resilient every few years thanks to breakthroughs in material science and security protocols.
Criminals, on the other hand, are also becoming well-versed with legacy safe designs and have come up with ways to bypass security measures.
If your safe is more than 10 years old, then we recommend that you consider upgrading to a more reliable solution.
Newer safes come with a range of features. These features can range from biometric locks and alarm integration to even safes that provide smart digital interfaces which offer a higher level of protection against forced access attempts.
Fire or Water Protection
If your safe isn’t rated for fire and water, then your possessions may potentially be vulnerable.
Modern and well-designed safes are built to withstand manmade and natural disasters. For example, safes that are rated for fire can protect your possessions from extreme temperatures without breaking.
Safes are also built with earthquakes in mind. Earthquakes indirectly cause damage due to falling debris. These safes are built to withstand pressure and damage from various angles.
Rated safes are reinforced and provide a comprehensive solution to people who want to be protected on all fronts.
Keep in mind that while your primary goal is to keep your belongings safe from intruders, a safe can provide you even more protection if it is rated for disasters.
Insurance and Cash Ratings
Insurance requirements are not static and may be updated. If your safe does not meet the current requirements, it becomes necessary to upgrade it so that its contents remain covered under insurance in case of theft or damage.
Standardised safes come with a cash rating. The cash rating assigns a value to the other items in the safe. For example, a safe with a cash rating of £1,000 will cover valuables up to £10,000 (10x times the amount in cash).
Cash ratings from £1,000 to £4,000 are awarded by The Association of Insurance Surveyors (AiS).
Poor Installation
Sometimes safes can be damaged due to poor installation. If you have bought a cheap safe and have it installed unprofessionally, then chances are that you will not get your money’s worth and will be vulnerable to threats.
There are several types of safes: some can sit in a corner on a stand while others can be integrated into the structure of your home or office. These safes require careful installation practices.
If you have not installed the safe properly, then you might see a higher rate of depreciation. This is why we recommend that you go with professional installation by a reputable company like Calder Security.
Reputable companies can help you pick the right safe for your needs and ensure that everything is in order.
Furthermore, a professionally installed safe is also covered under warranty, and you can have it repaired or replaced in the rare event of a problem.
This level of convenience is often absent in unprofessionally installed and cheaper safes.
Previous Break-in
If your safe has been compromised in the past, then an upgrade is worth considering.
Safes can be breached using brute force, and if the structure of the safe is compromised, then it is not worth getting it repaired. Think about it: you have already faced loss using the same model; would you want to continue trusting it for future security needs?
We recommend that you go for a safe from a reputable supplier. Please make sure that you share your concerns with the supplier and inform them of the circumstances of the previous break-in.
Professionals will assess your security needs and give you a product that covers the previous breach and helps you secure your belongings for the long term.
If you are unsure about how to get started with purchasing a standardised safe, then you may speak to a safe engineer to help determine the best course of action for you.
Engineers can also help with simple repair and servicing for safes that have not been breached. It is also recommended to speak to your insurance provider to make sure all your valuables are still covered if you decide to go with repairs/replacements.
WHY CHOOSE CALDER SECURITY?
We, at Calder Security, are members of the Master Locksmith Association (MLA) and are familiar with a wide range of safes, cash boxes, and strong boxes. Our SSAIB-approved contractors can help you assess your security needs and recommend a suitable safe perfect for your requirements.
We offer professional safe installation services to not only prevent theft and fire damage but also ensure that the safe is secured in place properly, cannot be removed, and is not in danger of falling or damaging anything.
We also offer safe opening services since misplacing the keys, forgetting the code, or failure of the safe itself can all lead to the contents of the safe being inaccessible. By design, of course, safes are very difficult to access in these circumstances, and you need a professional safe engineer to do it for you. Our Calder specialists can open most safes and restore them to full working order afterward.
When you need to relocate or remove your safe entirely, you can count on us to carry out the job with ease. In addition to that, our professional safe repair and maintenance services ensure that your safes are always in optimal health, providing you with the best security.
Contact us here or call us at 0800 612 9799 to talk to our security professionals for more information on why cheap safes often fail, and the pros and cons of purchasing from a reputable supplier.
Photo by Zulfugar Karimov on Unsplash