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

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.