FREESTANDING SAFES

These safes usually stand directly upon a floor and are bolted down from inside to the floor or sometimes a wall.

UNDERFLOOR SAFES

These safes are sunk into the floor and cast into concrete.

WALL SAFES

Very low quality safes cemented into a wall.

INSURANCE RATING

Safes come in varying qualities and by quality we mean how resistant to attack. The higher the level of cash or valuables being kept in the safe, the better the quality. As quality increases, then generally the body of the safe becomes thicker as does the door. This is due to more barrier materials being used in construction to impede attack. As quality goes up, so does size and weight.

Insurers categorise safes in relation to the protection offered, the categories vary depending upon whether the risk is private or commercial. As rule of thumb Insurers multiply the cash rating given to a safe by ten to give the level of jewellery cover for private risk.

WHAT SIZE OF SAFE DO I NEED?

Size will depend upon what will be stored in the safe. It is worth gathering items together and then decide what space will be required. Will items (jewellery) be kept in boxes? Are paper documents being stored (it is worth noting that not all safes are fireproof and increased fire protection costs more).

WHERE SHOULD THE SAFE BE FITTED?

The two deciding factors are accessibility and cost. Generally, safes are quite heavy and from a cost point of view are cheaper to fit on a ground floor location. Larger & heavier safes are more expensive and in some instances cannot be taken upstairs due to their weight. If jewellery is being stored it may be more preferable to have the safe in the bedroom as this where jewellery is put on and removed. Having to go to another part of the home to put items away can become annoying. The more flights of stairs involved, the more expensive the job; for health and safety reasons and due to safe weight.

A loft is not usually a good option as only small low quality safes are light enough to carry up ladders. Also, a safe in a loft is less likely to be used.

Garages are usually only considered by insurers if they come within an alarmed area.

Basements can be used, as long as they are not damp. When the safe is fixed, moisture can rise up the bolt thread and affect safe contents. If a basement has been tanked it may not be possible to fix the safe as this could damage any water proof membrane.

Underfloor safes can usually only be fitted at ground floor level (unless there is a basement). In a solid floor a hole needs to be dug. This can be noisy and very dusty. In a timber suspended floor a box frame is constructed and the concrete jacket formed around the safe. The size and installation process means they cannot be placed between the floor and ceiling on an upper level for example.