I did not realise there was so much to consider when buying a safe to protect valued possessions. After my grandmother passed and left me her jewellery, I quickly became aware of my need to get a safe to protect it. Because I live in a rental property, I needed secure options which were transportable when I move to future homes. In this blog, I want to share with you my findings on the best types of safe and the best location to hide a safe, so you can keep your personal belongings safe and sound too. You can use my research to help you whittle down your safekeeping needs quickly.
What to look for in a Security Safe
Security safes are one of the most reliable and time-tested access control systems that exist. For many years, safes have been used to store valuable items and to limit who can actually access what is in there. From keeping jewellery to storing important documents, safes have many uses in both homes and businesses.
Locksmiths equip the safes with a locking mechanism that serves to limit who can open the unit and gain access to its components. When looking to use a security safe as an access control feature, here is what you should keep in mind.
Locking options
There are many different ways in which a safe can be locked. You have options ranging from a traditional set of keys to biometric locking systems that can identify several features of your body (such as fingerprints, iris, face, etc.).
When exploring a locking mechanism, consider how many people will have access to the safe at any given time.
- Traditional keys
If you need to control access to the safe to only yourself or one other person, keys might be a good option. However, you need to be very organised and disciplined with keys to make them work. This means not losing them, and keeping them in locations where unwanted people cannot access them.
- Mechanical combinations
Safes that use a mechanical combination provide the convenience of keyless entry, but they can also be cumbersome if you need to access the safe multiple times a day. They can work in environments such as hotels and businesses where you can control who has access to the safe and you only need to open it once in a while.
- Electronic systems
For commercial environments where multiple people will need to access the safe, electronic systems can come in handy. These locks can be designed to use different codes for each person that has access, and they can also keep records on who the last person was to gain access to the safe. Such record keeping makes it much easier for users to keep track of the items being protected.
Durability
For a safe to truly carry out is purpose, it needs to be durable enough against common causes of wear and tear. The material used should be resistant to breakage or attempts to compromise it. In addition, security systems such as alarms can be interlinked with the locking mechanism of the safe so that any attempts at penetrating the safe can be deterred.
You should also select a strategic location for installing the safe. It should be at a place with low traffic to limit general access, yet enough accessibility in the event of an emergency.