Safe: Protect valuables from strangers

Why is a security safe useful?

A security safe is required wherever the theft and loss of valuables needs to be prevented. It offers extremely secure storage. Depending on the security level, a security safe significantly increases the effort, time, and noise required during an attempted break-in. This makes an unnoticed burglary much less likely.

Another layer of security that a safe offers you is the ability to insure the stored valuables with your property insurer, ensuring that you receive the monetary value in the event of a loss. A prerequisite for this is that the safe is certified. These certifications are issued following extensive quality tests by official testing bodies such as ECB-S and VdS.

The demand for high-end safes is rising, as unfortunately, the number of burglaries is not declining. The Federal Statistical Office reports that there are currently 100,000 burglaries per year in Germany. Burglars usually take everything that isn't nailed down. Consequently, burglary gangs are not only looking for high-quality watches, jewelry, or cash, but almost anything that can be turned into money. Even expensive electronic devices or irreplaceable keepsakes should therefore be kept in a security safe.

Which safe is the right one?

To find the right security safe for your needs, you should first consider the items you want to protect and their value (monetary and personal) in order to decide on a security grade and an insurance rating. You can expand these with fire protection. You can configure your selection individually with us in terms of size, color, and equipment.

You should pay attention to the following when buying a security safe:

• Type of valuables
• Security levels
• Insurance matters
• Fireproof security safes
• Locking system
• Installation location and dimensions
• Delivery and installation

Individual consultation for you

At Bremer Tresor, your personal requirements are our top priority. Our experienced specialist consultants will personally support you in selecting the security safe that meets your needs.

We offer a comprehensive security package: from professional consultation and expert delivery and anchoring, to follow-up support for questions or requests for upgrades. Together, we ensure that you are optimally protected in the long term. Trust in our expertise to keep your possessions safe.

Private and commercial usage options

Basically, you should consider whether you need the safe for private or commercial use. The intended use has a direct impact on the recommended insurance coverage amounts.

For private use, generally higher insurance sums are recognized per security grade than for commercial use. For example, with a safe with security grade N (0), private values up to approximately €40,000 can be insured, while in the commercial sector, usually only about €10,000 is recognized.

Therefore, it is particularly important to coordinate with your insurance company before purchasing. This ensures that you have full insurance coverage in the event of a claim and that the correct insurance rating for the safe is specified.

1. What should/can be protected

First and foremost, you should consider what your home safe is intended to protect. A security safe can protect anything imaginable, but the strength and security of the safe should be adapted to its contents. This way, you can be sure that your safe has the correct burglary protection and that its contents can be insured with your property insurer. The content of your security safe also plays a crucial role in the subsequent selection of a suitable security level, the size of your safe, and the location of installation. Here is an overview of items worth protecting:

• Jewelry
• Cash
• Collections (art, antiques, coins, stamps, …)
• Technical equipment (cameras, laptops, …)
• Documents (patents, insurance policies, order books, …)
• Personal valuables (photos, keepsakes, …)

In addition to the private sector, security safes are also indispensable in the commercial sector. Every business that handles cash or valuables should protect itself accordingly. Here is a sectoral overview:

• Retailers
• Gas stations
• Supermarkets
• Bakeries
• Auction houses
• Pawn shops
• Jewelers

2. Selection of the right security level

To select the correct security level and insurance sum, you must decide whether you want to purchase the safe for private or commercial purposes. For private use, you are entitled to higher insurance sums.

What are security levels?

Security levels for safes are standardized certifications that are regulated according to the EN 1143-1 guidelines of the ECB-S (European Certification Board, Security Systems). A safe without certification from ECB-S or VdS offers no insurance coverage whatsoever.

There are 2 different guidelines for certified burglary protection:

• EN 14450: For light burglary protection in the private sector, there are certifications according to EN 14450 for security cabinets. These security levels are marked S1 and S2 and can be used for a maximum insured value of up to €20,000.00. Security cabinets are not recommended for commercial use.
• EN 1143-1: Certification according to EN 1143-1 for medium to high burglary protection is referred to as security safes. This certification is available in a total of 7 different levels. Each level has a different resistance grade, which corresponds to different insurance sums. With certifications according to EN 1143-1 and VdS 2450, you can realize insurance sums from 40,000 EUR up to hundreds of thousands.

Certifications according to EN 1143-1 and EN 14450 take place under strict quality control. Test models of the security safes are tested for break-in attempts by the testing institutes of the ECB-S and VdS under the strictest conditions. A professional team has a defined selection of mechanically and thermally acting tools with which they perform an attempted break-in of the safe. Depending on the duration of this attempt, resistance values are assigned with the unit RU (Resistance Unit), on which the security levels are based. The tools, as well as the times of the attempts after which the resistance values are assigned, are strictly confidential in order to provide potential criminals with no information for planning.

Another classification takes place according to the guidelines of VDMA 24992. This is a standard sheet created by the VDMA, which was withdrawn without replacement in 2004 due to lower quality assessment standards. For classification according to VDMA 24992, certain construction guidelines had to be met in order to obtain a classification of security level A or security level B. Since there are no quality tests or official certifications involved, any manufacturer can issue this classification themselves.

Furthermore, no one is responsible for verifying compliance with the guidelines, and thus the former spot checks of security safes according to VDMA 24992 that took place before 2004 no longer apply.

For security safes of safety classes S1 and S2 according to EN 14450, we additionally adhere to the outdated VDMA 24992 guidelines so that they also have classifications A and B, as some insurance companies still require them.

How are these security levels achieved by Bremer Tresor?

To pass the tests according to EN 1143-1 and VdS 2450, a compact design is required. Our security safes have a multi-walled body and a multi-walled door, filled with special concrete mixtures depending on the security level and VdS class.

The most sensitive part of a security safe is the connection between door and body. We secure this with multi-sided bolt locking mechanisms so that no leverage effects can occur within the door. With a security safe from Bremer Tresor certified according to EN 1143-1 or EN 14450 by the ECB-S or VdS, you can be sure of your burglary protection and enjoy your vacations carefree. Now you only need to select a security grade based on the value of your valuables.

3. Option to double the insurance sum

We offer an alarm system component as safe accessory for every security safe. The alarm system acts as a sensor that registers movements of the safe and can send an alarm. This can be programmed as a silent alarm to you or the police. Triggering a siren is also possible.

The special feature of this option is that safes equipped with an alarm system can achieve a doubling of the insurance sum. Thus, you are not only well-equipped with a security safe with a resistance grade and an installed alarm system, the insurance company is also prepared to insure higher sums in the security safe.

4. Need for fire protection

Among the security safes, there are also fireproof safes. These make sense, especially if your valuables include flammable items. Documents, cash, or savings books absolutely belong in a fire-protected security safe. Like a security certification, a fire protection certification requires an extensive quality test. There are certifications according to EN 15659 for light fire protection of the safe and certifications according to EN 1047-1 for medium to high fire protection levels.

• Light fire protection: This certification is called LFS 30 P. The test according to EN 15659 for LFS 30 P states that the safe has withstood a 30-minute fire test in a fire chamber of over 1000 °C without damage.
• Medium and strong fire protection: We designate the certifications held according to EN 1047-1 as medium and strong fire protection. It involves the same fire chamber as for light fire protection. After the fire test, the safe is additionally dropped from over 9 meters to simulate falling through floors. If the security safe is still functional afterward, it has passed the test. Medium fire protection is designated as S 60 P and lasts 60 minutes in the fire chamber. Strong fire protection is S 120 P, where the time in the fire chamber is 120 minutes.
• Medium and strong fire protection for data media: The fire protection levels for data media hardly differ from S60P and S120P, except in the temperature of the interior of the safe. The same tests according to EN 1047-1 are carried out, but the internal temperature of the safe must not increase by more than 30 °C. This protects data media and electronic devices from destruction. Medium fire protection is at S 60 DIS after a completed 60-minute fire test. Strong fire protection is S 120 DIS with a completed 120-minute fire test.

Level	Standard	Duration	For
LFS 30 P	EN 15659	30 minutes	Paper, folders
S 60 P	EN 1047-1	60 minutes	Paper, folders
S 120 P	EN 1047-1	120 minutes	Paper, folders
S 60 DIS	EN 1047-1	60 minutes	Data media, electronic devices
S 120 DIS	EN 1047-1	120 minutes	Data media, electronic devices

5. Selecting the lock system for your security safe

After selecting a security safe with the appropriate resistance grade according to EN 1143-1, and if necessary fire protection, you have already decided on a model from Bremer Tresor. You can configure this safe as you wish and adapt it to your needs.

An important decision here is the choice of a lock for the security safe. At Bremer Tresor, you can choose between various safe locks. As standard, all our safes are equipped with a double-bit lock with 2 keys. However, you can also equip your security safe with an electronic combination lock or a combination lock with override. The pros and cons:

Lock system	Advantages	Disadvantages
Double-bit key lock	Opens with a key, no risk of forgetting a numeric code	Storage of the key
Electronic combination lock	No key storage required, 8-digit numeric code	Remembering the numeric code
Electronic combination lock with key lock	Opening via code and key	Key storage
Fingerprint lock	No code and no key	No sharing of the access medium possible

6. Planning the right location

When considering a suitable location for your security safe, you should ask yourself a few questions:

How often do I want to access the safe?

If you want to access your safe daily or weekly, the security safe should be in or near your living area or office so that putting valuables back is not postponed. If it is for long-term storage, you can also place your safe in the basement or attic. For additional security, you could also consider a hiding place when using your security safe this way.

Is the structural integrity sufficient?

When storing in higher floors, you should consider the structural load capacity. Normal residential buildings are usually designed for a weight of 200 kg/m² on upper floors. Additional parameters are the distances to load-bearing walls and the size of the security safe. When in doubt, speak to your architect.

Do I have limited space?

If you plan to integrate your security safe into a cabinet or place it in a room alcove, measure this space carefully. There should be a suitable size in the model overview. If not, contact us; we can also produce special custom-made products. Pay attention to both the external dimensions and the internal dimensions (height x width x depth). These are often stated in centimeters (cm) or millimeters (mm).

7. Delivery and installation

Our delivery is absolutely discreet. We deliver our safes ourselves so that we do not have to pass your sensitive data on to third parties. We provide you with the security that as few people as possible register the ownership of your new security safe.

For this reason, we deliver in anonymized vehicles and leave the safe packed until it is inside your building. This discreet delivery is free of shipping costs. You can also book further services from our safe service with us. We are professional experts in safe installation and will bring your safe, regardless of weight, to your desired location. We have the right technical equipment and an experienced team that overcomes every staircase and corner. If this is not possible, we occasionally use a crane.

Upon request, you can have your safe anchored. This is advised by official institutes for safes with a weight of under 1000 kg. Professional installation not only increases actual security but is often a prerequisite for full recognition of the insured sum.

Be sure to discuss the requirements for anchoring with your insurance company in advance. Insurers often require permanent installation in a concrete floor or load-bearing walls using certified anchoring materials. Only if you meet these specifications will you enjoy full insurance coverage.

Buying safes and security cabinets

Security safes from Bremer Tresor are high-quality safes that have received certifications according to EN 1143-1 for security safes. We offer a large assortment, so you are certain to find a model that combines your desired burglary protection and fire protection. You can obtain this model in various colors and sizes so that it fits into its new home, both visually and physically.

We also offer various lock systems and accessories to further optimize your requirements. You can easily order additional safe shelves, drawers, or a burglary alarm system. We also have a wide product range of different types of safes:

• Furniture safes: Compact safes that can be discreetly integrated into furniture pieces such as cupboards or desks. Ideal for private households or offices to store valuables inconspicuously and securely. Approximate costs: €190 to €2,100.
• Gun safes: Special safes for the legally compliant storage of long guns and handguns as well as ammunition. Equipped with resistance grades according to EN 1143-1 depending on the model. Approximate costs: €500 to €16,000.
• Document safes: Safes designed specifically for the storage of important documents and files. In addition to burglary protection, they often offer certified fire protection. Approximate costs: €450 to €8,800.
• Wall safes: Safes that are built directly into the wall. They offer a particularly high level of discretion and security because they are difficult to find and remove. Approximate costs: €90 to €1,200.
• Key safes: Special safes for the secure and organized storage of keys. Particularly suitable for commercial areas such as car dealerships, hotels, or administrations. Approximate costs: €25 to €6,900.

Trust Bremer Tresor when looking for a reliable security safe or other types of safes. Find out more now!