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Five Things to Consider When Buying a Safe

Larry Skeim • May 23, 2020

5 Things to Consider When Buying a Safe

Purchasing a safe for your home or commercial space is an important investment that will bring security and peace of mind. Contrary to popular belief, safes are much more than just a heavy piece of metal that stores belongings. In fact, they are becoming increasingly popular with average industry growth of 2.5% annually. The safes available today offer many features, sizes, and protection levels to fit your needs. In this article, we will be discussing the 5 things to consider before buying a safe.

1. The Location and Purpose of the Safe

The first thing to narrow down is whether the safe is for a residential or commercial space. The reason for this is because there are styles designated to both. Once the location has been defined, then it is important to determine what contents will be kept in the safe. Below is an outline of the safe styles for specific locations. 

Residential Styles
  • Fire Safes
  • Gun Safes
  • Jewelry Safes
  • Burglary Safes

Commercial Styles
  • Drop Safes
  • Bank Vaults
  • Hotel Safes
  • Office Safes
  • Media (Data) Safes

As you can see above, the styles typically focus on storing a specific item which makes it easy to narrow down a general category. 

2. Size and Capacity

When considering the right safe for your space, the size and capacity is also an important factor in your purchase. The size of the safe will determine where it will fit and the capacity will give an idea of how much and what type of contents it can hold. For example, a firearm safe meant for rifles and shotguns will need to have a taller build and specific compartments inside dedicated to securely holding these items. When thinking of jewelry or document safes, these will be smaller in size (typically will fit under a bed or on a closet shelf) and will have a much lower capacity. 

The size of a safe will typically be measured by its inner dimensions. These dimensions are laid out in the order of height, width, and depth (HxWxD). You can measure the area in which the safe will reside to ensure that it will be a good fit before purchasing. 

The capacity of a safe is measured in cubic feet and will give you a solid idea of what can fit inside, however, you may choose to create compartments for certain items that will affect capacity. 

*Keep in mind that depending on the overall dimensions and weight of the safe, it may require professional delivery, handling and installation. 

3. Features 

Safes today offer a wide variety of features that should be considered before purchasing. A brief outline of potential features include:

Locking Mechanisms such as dials, digital keypads, biometric, and key locks.
Fire-Resistance Levels are based on how long the safe will protect your belongings while engulfed in flames which can range from 30 minutes to 4 hours.
Anti-Theft/Burglary Protection can include the thickness of the steel around the safe, the type of lock on the safe, and there are alarm systems that can notify you of suspicious activity. 
Water-Resistance will help reduce water damage to your belongings. 
Hidden Safes can be placed inside closets, floorboards, behind photos, and more. 

Many safe brands offer complete customization which allows the buyer to choose specific colors, steel types, locks and more.

4. Protection

When it comes to securing your valuables, safes offer different protection options. The protection you may need could be focused on the area you live in, where the safe is stored, and who will have access to the safe. 

For example, if you live in an area that is prone to floods or plan to store the safe underground (like in a basement), you may opt for a safe that has extensive water protection. 

If the safe is highly visible in a home or commercial space, it would be beneficial to include additional security measures such as an increased anti-theft rating and also bolting the safe down. 

When it comes to children being around the safe (especially those storing firearms) you will want to make sure that it is either non-visible or inaccessible to them, and if you choose to have a visible safe then select an advanced locking mechanism.

5. The Brand

Like many things, there are brands that offer superior versions of products. The safe brand that you choose will determine the quality and longevity of the purchase. Highly rated brands include Fort Knox, Browning, Liberty, and American Security. Between all of these brands, there is a wide range of features and customizations that can be made to truly fit your needs. Discussing your preferences with a knowledgable safe dealer will be the best way to get your questions answered and help you find the ideal fit for you. 

Conclusion - 5 Things to Consider When Buying a Safe

Safes are a wonderful way to store a variety of important items. Choosing the right safe for your space requires a bit of research and time but it will be well worth it. Working with a premier safe provider will help you feel confident in your purchase.

For more information on safes and vaults available at Colorado Safes, visit our website or contact us.
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