What type of safe is best for your needs?

There are a large number of safe products available on the market. If you are not certain of the different types available and their various differences, it can be difficult to select the right safe for your needs.

Although most safes generally have a similar purpose, many specialised designs exist for individual requirements and specific uses. These safes utilise features that you may not require, or may not include features that you do.

Knowing the differences between the common types of safes and understanding some of their features, will allow you to be better prepared when making a purchase.

Commonly available types of Safes

Whether you need to secure valuable items at home such as jewellery, or documents and data at the office, a safe can be a highly effective solution. Some of the most popular categories of safes include:

Residential Safes

Home Safes: These types of safes come in fire proof and non fire proof varieties. They are commonly made from heavy steel and use an array of locking mechanisms, such as combination locks, key locks and electronic locks. Fire proof home safes discourage theft due to their strength and weight, making them difficult to move and force open. These safes are very versatile, come in a range of sizes and can be equipped with different fire resistance levels, time delay locks and other popular features.
Wall Safes: This is a popular type of safe if you are wanting to secretly and discretely conceal valuables. A Wall Safe is convenient as it can be inconspicuously hidden in the wall, and covered over by furniture or a wall hung artwork. It is also easy to access, as they are often installed at chest or eye level.
Floor Safes: If you are concerned about the safe itself being removed during a robbery, a Floor Safe is a great choice. Floor Safes are installed under the surface of the floor and are concreted in place. The safe is accessed from above, and much like a Wall Safe, can be very discrete.
Guns Safes: A Gun Safe is often a requirement if you own a firearm. Due to the real danger of weapons, it is important that they are properly secured. Gun Safes must meet the criteria of your states firearm legislation. So ensure that you understand the legal requirements when making your purchase.

Commercial Safes

Jewellery Safes: Valuable collections of jewellery often necessitate secure storage. This is why jewellery safes are often designed with drawers and interiors that similar to decorative display cases. These safes range from small for domestic use, to large for commercial use. Jewellery safes can weigh anywhere from 100kg to 2,500kgs.
Office Safes: An office safe is much like a home safe, however they are commonly fire resistant as standard. Their locking mechanism is also often more advanced than a residential safe, and in many cases an electronic lock is used over a conventional key lock.
Drop Safes: This type of safe is designed for valuables to be “dropped” into an access hatch without opening the safe door. The items that are dropped into the safe are temporarily stored in a secondary compartment until the safe hatch is closed, at which time the “dropped” items are transferred to the primary compartment of the safe and are unable to be fished out.
Strong room doors: A strong room door or bank vault is a type of safe that is much more like a room than a traditional safe. Strong rooms are often located in the basement of a bank, which increases their security and theft protection. They often contain other small secure storage units inside them, such as safety deposit boxes. Their very large size allows for the valuables of a large number of people or large items to be stored easily.
Bank safe: Bank safes are made from thick steal that encases concrete. These safes have multiple safety devices internally like glass and re-lockers, that prevent anyone gaining entry without the authorisation. Money exchanges or jewellers will have their safe checked and scrutinised by insurance companies so it is important you choose the right one.

The best process to undertake when purchasing a safe, is to speak to a professional locksmith who has extensive knowledge of safes. They will discuss the various options available to you as well as get an idea of your needs, so that they can make an informed suggestion to you.

At Abbott Locksmiths we have been offering Professional Locksmith Services to customers in Australia for 50 years. You can rely on our knowledge and expertise for quality advice, workmanship, products and parts. We specialise in safe opening and safe relocation and offer a wide range of new safe and second hand safe products for purchase online and in-store. We also provide a 24hr emergency locksmith services, to ensure that our customers can reach us in their time of need. For more information on why to choose Abbott Locksmiths for your new safe, please read what customers have said about us in our reviews or contact our friendly locksmith team on 1300 655 787.