If you have something valuable in your home, you want to make sure it’s protected properly. In most cases, that means getting a safe. Safes have been around in one form or another for thousands of years, though their design has changed a lot in that time! They are one of the best protections you have against your valuables being stolen. Over 500,000 homes are burgled in the UK every year, with only around 5% of items stolen are ever recovered, so the more protection you have, the better: But with so many options available, how do you know which type of safe is right for you?
Biometric Safes
The security industry has evolved a lot over the years – you’re not just limited to combination locks anymore! We’re now at a stage where biometric safes aren’t just the stuff of sci-fi movies. Now anyone can buy a biometric fingerprint safe. This type of safe is much more secure than a combination – which can be cracked or guessed with enough time. This makes them one of the most secure safe options out there.
Fireproof Safes
fireproof safes are designed specifically to protect your valuables from heat or smoke damage caused by fire. They will usually be secured to the floor in your home to stop them being damaged if walls give way, and they have different fire ratings, which determine how much protection they provide. The level of fire protection you need depends on what you plan to store inside. For example, if you’re storing digital media or data, you’ll need something rated for temperatures of 1202. If you want to store paper (like a will for example), then you will need a safe that’s fire rated for 175%.
Key Safes
This is the only safe you will see outside your house! Sometimes you need other people to access your home, but you might not want to give them a key: That could be anyone from family and friends to healthcare workers or cleaners. A key safe allows you to give them temporary access, hiding a key inside a code. – locked safe. These safes are attached to your home, allowing you to lock away your spare keys. You can then give the combination to the relevant people. Don’t want them to have access anymore? Just change the code! You can read more about key safes in this blog.
Concealed Safes
Have you ever wanted to feel like a film star, opening up a wall safe cleverly hidden behind a painting? Thankfully, that’s an easy dream to fulfil. Concealed safes are safes that are installed in hidden locations in your home, adding an extra layer of security and protection to your belongings. After all, what’s safer than a safe a burglar can’t even see? Popular types of concealed safes include wall safes and underfloor safes. Most concealed safe units will also have some extra security benefits, including advanced locking, thicker structure (making it almost impossible to read into) and deadbolts.
Freestanding Safes
One of the most popular and common safe types in the UK is the freestanding safe. Usually made from heavy steel, you can choose the type of lock you want installed. Whether that’s a mechanical lock, a digital lock, combination locks or biometric, freestanding safes can accommodate them all. They’re called freestanding because they can be installed anywhere – Inside a cupboard, on a shelf, or anywhere else that doesn’t fit a ‘conventional’ safe. They can also be fitted to walls and floors too, since they already come with full bolt works.
If you’re not sure which safe option is right for you, you can always ask a professional. At My Locks, we have over 3 decades of experience installing, removing and cracking safes of all shapes and sizes, which means we’re perfectly placed to help. Just tell us what your needs are, and we can recommend the perfect style and make of safe We can even install it for you! For more information, just get in touch with the team today.