Tips: Safe Protection

  • Oct 28, 2008

As money-conscious savers continue to lose sleep over the financial institution crisis, consumers are increasingly taking their nest egg back to their nest -- and into a personal safe. Consumers are buying personal safes in record numbers as an alternative to storing cash as well as to maintain and store financial information, personal data and medical records. But before consumers run out and buy a safe, they should be aware of important information regarding how to choose a safe that is safe and where to place it in the home.

"When consumers purchase a personal safe, they should feel confident it can withstand certain circumstances -- like a fire -- and still protect their valuables," said John Drengenberg, manager of Consumer Affairs for Underwriters Laboratories. "Whether it is an ATM, gun safe, bank vault or personal safe, UL puts these products through meticulous testing to evaluate their design for certification."

Clad head-to-toe in protective gear, the professional technicians at Underwriters Laboratories (UL) place a personal safe -- that could contain irreplaceable documents, cash and personal records -- into a furnace chamber for 30 minutes to evaluate if the assets within the safe would get damaged.

If nothing is damaged, the technicians increase both the temperature and humidity in the furnace and heat the safe. If the assets are not destroyed, then the personal safe passes one of the many test requirements of UL, a global product safety certification organization that has been testing and certifying personal and commercial safes for more than 80 years.

"We take personal and commercial safe testing and certification very seriously," said Drengenberg. "When testing commercial safes for potential burglaries, we may use anything from wrenches, powers saws, crowbars to nitroglycerine. We may even simulate the impact a commercial safe would endure if it falls three stories."

In addition to testing and certifying personal safes for fire resistance, UL is also providing consumers with tips to help them keep their safes safe in their homes.

  • Make sure your personal safe is rated for fire protection. UL-Listed safes can be rated for fire resistance -- for example, a one-hour rating means that the safe can withstand 1,300-degree Fahrenheit heat for an hour while still protecting the contents of the safe.
  • Consider the weight of the safe. The more the safe weighs, the less likely a burglar can carry it out of a home.
  • Place the safe in the basement to decrease the risk of it falling through the floor in the event of a fire.
  • When purchasing a personal safe, look for the UL certification Mark indicating it has gone through rigorous testing and meets UL standards.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services

  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.