Value Safes

Having a supply on cash on hand may seem like an antiquated practice, but you can never be too careful. With all of the recent volatility in the global economy and questions about the viability of the banking industry, frankly I’m a little scared to put all of my proverbial eggs in one basket. In case of an emergency, I want to have instant access to some of my funds.

Of course, having a cache of cash out into the open isn’t advisable, so I’ve invested in a money safe for my home. I certainly don’t keep my life savings in there, and I still have a well-diversified portfolio, but it’s nice to know that if the banking system comes crashing to its knees, I’ll have a Plan B.

Hollon Safe company offers a wide range of safes, from wall safes to depository safes, to fireproof home and office safes.  They are made excellent and usually have a safe that is great for your needs.  This Hollon HS-1200E, two hour fireproof safe, is great for home use for storing a lot of items or ideal for an office setting wanting to keep records safe from fire.  It has a great drawers on the inside that is lockable to lock up certain items you want to be a bit more protected or not seen every time the safe is opened.

If you’re looking for a used safe check out the Scratch and Dent safes that are offered.  I know there are two of these models plus many more available that have very little paint chipping or dents and you can usually find them 10% off through Valuesafes.  These safes still come with a warranty as if it were a brand new safe.  Can’t really beat a deal of 10% off can you?  Give them a call - they would love to assist you!

If you are in the market for a safe, chances are you don’t really know what to look for. Unlike many other products, most of us will only purchase one safe in a lifetime, so most people simply rely on industry professionals to glean information pertaining to their purchase. For those looking for a standard safe with well-balanced features, the TRTL-30×6 safe is your best bet. The abbreviation TRTL stands for “torch and tool resistant,” which is exactly what these safes are.

Numerous jewelers, financial institutions and other business utilize these safes to house there most valuable assets. All six sides of the safe are highly reinforced with concrete material and magnesium hardplates to withstand an attack or damage on any front. These safes are fireproof and feature a sleek façade, maintaining a professional appearance. 

When it comes to protecting your home and all your assets, there’s no such thing as being too careful. If you happen to own some valuable heirlooms, or objects of sentimental value, you will want to protect them as best you can. Keeping valuables in a top dresser drawer or semi-concealed location will not deter a burglar. These are professional thieves who probably have experience knowing where people hide their possessions.

For maintaining the security of your valuables, the best protection is a wall safe or an entrenched combination safe. You don’t want a safe that can be carried out of the house, because a burglar will take it if they can hold it. Wall safes are easy to conceal and will be passed over by a burglar, while an entrenched combination safe is impossible to remove from the wall without excessive effort and demolition, which can arouse suspicion from people outside of the home.

It’s important to remember that most wall safes are not as ruggedly constructed as free-standing safes.  They can’t use the thicker materials because they have to fit in the space between walls and studs.  So most of their security comes from being well-hidden.  Behind something against the wall in the back of closet is a good location.   Also, rather than mounting the wall safe to studs in the wall, you might consider having it concreted in place.

Another fact to keep in mind about wall safes is they are not made using fireproof construction - if you added the extra insulation necessary to make a wall safe fireproof, there wouldn’t be much room left to store anything.  As long as you keep these facts in mind, wall safes can be an effective deterrent against burglars.  For more information on wall safes.

A good wall safe is one of the most secure storage places available for your valuables.  They can be concealed behind a picture, behind a piece of furniture or in the back of a closet.  And, if properly mounted, even if the thief finds it they won’t be able to carry it off to open it.  Wall safes come with flanges that allow for mounting in a wide variety of materials, including walls with metal or wood studs, or even in concrete.

Most burglars are not going to be in your home long enough to find a wall safe- and even if they do, most don’t have the skills to open one.  So your valuable documents and other valuable items are safe from thieves.  Think about what it would take to replace some of the documents that you have around your home or business?  Why not consider getting a wall safe and gaining a little piece of mind in the process.   For more information on the wall safe.

Home safes are a good investment.  Think about the valuable documents you have around the house - what would it take to replace them if they were stolen or destroyed in a fire?  And what about valuable jewelry and cash?  If you’re considering purchasing a home safe, make sure that it carries a good burglary and fireproof rating.  Example burglary ratings are UL TL 15 and UL TL 30.  These ratings ensure that the safe has been tested against attempts to open it by professionals.

Example fireproof ratings include a 1-hour fireproof rating and a 2-hour fireproof rating.  These ratings mean that the safe has been tested under actual fire conditions to make certain that the contents remained safe from fire and water damage.  Also, if you choose a cabinet style safe, be sure to use the boltholes in the bottom to bolt the safe down - this will ensure that it is not carried off by determined thieves.  For more information on home safes.

When you think about the security of the valuables, cash and important documents used by your business, one of the first things that should come to mind is safes.  A good bolted down safe can keep burglars from getting to these valuable items - they’ll have to settle for what’s easiest to take if they break in.  Think about the documents or computer backup data that would be nearly impossible to replace if lost in a burglary or a fire.

So a good burglary rated, fireproof safe is a must for any business.  Check to make sure the safe is rated in both of these areas.  Some common burglary ratings are UL TL 15 and TL 30.  Some commone fireproof ratings are a 1 hour or 2 hour fireproof rating.  These ratings mean that these safes have been tested to withstand burglars attempts to open them and tested under actual fire conditions.  If you need to safeguard valuable computer backup media, make sure you get a special media fireproof safe, as these have a much stricter rating to ensure that your media would not be damaged during a fire.

Buying a safe and placing it in a closet may seem like a good idea, but if it’s not bolted down it can be carried off by a determined burglar.  Most burglars don’t have the skills necessary to quickly access a good safe, but if they carry it off where they have time to work on it, that’s a different matter.  So look for a safe that includes boltholes in the bottom.  These boltholes go clear through the bottom of the safe, so you have to unlock the safe to gain acess to the nuts that have the safe bolted down.

If you’re having a new house built, make sure that they include the bolts in the concrete foundation or wood floor.  If you have an existing house, go ahead and take the trouble to have the bolts installed or install them yourself - your safe may not be really protecting anything if you don’t.  Also, be sure to check the burglary and fireproof rating of the safe you purchase for an even more secure setup.

TL 30 safes are safes that have been tested by UL to withstand burglary attempts and to protect the contents from damage due to fire.  A TL 30 burglary rating means that a professional locksmith has attempted to access the safe using common locksmithing tools, and was unable to do so in a period of 30 minutes.  This may not seem like a long time, but to a burglar it is - they rely on getting in and out quickly, and don’t have over 30 minutes to open a safe.  Besides, very few burglars have the skills necessary to open a TL 30 rated safe.

TL 30 rated safes also generally carry a fireproof rating.  A 1-1/2 hour fireproof rating means that the safe has been subjected to a 1700 degree F fire for a period of 1-1/2 hours, and that the temperature inside the safe did not rise above 350 degrees F.  This is a low enough temperature to protect your valuables from permanent damage.  The humidity is also measured inside the safe during the test, to ensure that the safe would protect against water damage due to the water used to put out the fire.  For more information on TL 30 safes.