There are times when even secure doors cannot protect against intruders. A safe can handle this problem. If installed correctly, it is difficult to detect. But even if discovered, it is unlikely that even an experienced thief will be able to quickly cope with the locks and the reinforced door. In addition to breaking, the safe will reliably keep the contents from fire.The rating of quality safes from the best manufacturers will help you choose the right device.
Content
There are a number of important points to consider when buying a safe. Consider what to look for, how to avoid mistakes when choosing, in order to be sure of the reliability of the acquired store of value.
According to their functions, all safes are divided into three types:
Burglary resistant are designed to prevent violation of their integrity in order to take possession of the contents by unauthorized persons, therefore they withstand strong enough mechanical stress, including drilling, do not lend themselves to deformation, removal from the room.
During the manufacturing process, walls, doors, locks, and fasteners are tested using special burglary tools. For the manufacture of locks, technological mechanisms with plates made of especially hard metals are used.
Depending on the level of secrecy and the number of locks, such storages have a burglary resistance class in accordance with the state standard from zero to fifth. Safes of 0-2 classes are closed with one lock, from the third to the fifth - with two. These storages have special holes for fastening to the floor, a reinforced door up to 20 mm. Reinforced concrete is poured between the walls of several layers of metal.
Fire resistant designed to protect valuables from the effects of fire, high temperatures, but they do not withstand hacking tools and will not save them from robbers. The walls of the cabinet and the door are made of two layers of durable metal with a refractory material in the middle: most often, it is porous concrete.
The design of the body ensures tightness (a door with a stepped profile and a seal, a minimum of holes), which affects the safety of the contents in case of fire. These safes are not attached to the floor, they are equipped with wheels for easy transportation during a fire.
Depending on the withstand temperature of 1100 degrees and the time of resistance to fire, all storages are divided into 12 classes of fire resistance: the first four have an internal heating temperature of up to 170 degrees, the next four - up to 70 degrees, the last four, thanks to a special internal thermobox - up to 50 degrees. The average time a fireproof safe can last during a fire is 30 to 120 minutes.
Fireproof reliably protect content from theft and fire. They have a special double structure: an external fire-resistant cabinet with an internal burglar-resistant box.
Based on your needs, you should decide in advance what will be stored in the safe in order to choose the most suitable one.
Main types:
Safe for documents - compact, with several shelves for easy storage of important documents. The best option for home and office, according to buyers. It can hold personal and payment documents, securities, checkbooks, banknotes, family photo albums.
Safe for valuables, money - small furniture or built into the wall, hidden from outsiders, fire-resistant. Suitable for saving money, preserving jewelry, small antiques, as well as short-barreled and traumatic weapons and knives.
Data safe - fireproof storage will protect flash drives, disks, tapes and other magnetic and digital storage media.
Weapon safe has an elongated shape, designed for storing firearms or bladed edged weapons at home. Inside there are cradles for guns, a compartment for ammunition. Special safes for hunters are produced, which meet the requirements for dimensions.
Book safe is not considered particularly reliable, it is used as a gift to loved ones or as a box for the necessary little things. What are the mini-safes:
Deposit safe - a storage for money with a unique design solution: on the top there are cashbox cells where bills are put, and below there is a burglar-resistant compartment, from where money can no longer be taken out without opening the lock. Such models are very specific, they are installed in retail outlets, banks, foreign exchange offices, pawnshops.
Safe thermostat - also a specialized storage model with an electronic combination lock, which is used in medical institutions for storage:
Such storage facilities are licensed by Roszdravnadzor, the production time on order is 1 month. The body of the inner chamber is made of stainless steel, equipped with a door opening alarm, backlight, temperature indicator, which ensures the safety of the contents.
How to choose a model by size, you can decide based on the area of the room in which it will be installed. The choice of the size of the safe depends on how invisible it will be in the room. For an apartment, it is better to choose an option with compact dimensions and weighing up to 80 kg, paying great attention to the reliability of installation: attach it to the wall, floor, or mount it into furniture to prevent it from being taken out of the apartment.
In a private house with a larger area than an apartment, you can install several safes in different places in order to keep money, valuables, weapons separately. In this case, even if attackers break into one storage, the contents of the rest will remain intact. Larger models can be used.
The dimensions of a gun safe are usually larger due to the elongated shape.Hunting models comply with special standards and are monitored by law enforcement agencies.
Depending on the number, size of the stored items, the interior of the room, the safes by the installation method can be:
Freestanding safe striking, but can accommodate more things. Such models are used as office ones; they are of little use for home use, since they take up a lot of space and may not be combined with the general interior of the room.
Wall recessed - the ideal version of a burglar-resistant safe, which is also a cache. On five sides, the case is reliably protected by a wall, so it is almost impossible to remove or break it, and the reinforced door can be masked with a painting or any piece of interior or room decor. The only difficulty in using such a model is installation, which has technological subtleties, which are not always possible to observe. It is advisable to install a built-in safe during the construction or renovation phase.
Furniture safe - suitable as a home cache in the case when you plan to use it often. It is built into a piece of furniture (wardrobe, niche, desk drawer), while the appearance of the furniture does not change, the safe is reliably hidden from prying eyes, and does not take up extra space.
Several options for locks are used to equip safes:
The number of locks is of no fundamental importance, as is the type of lock used, but almost every model has an electronic lock. The most popular are key and code electronic.
Key - are cylindrical (less burglar-proof) and lever (more reliable). They are very easy to operate, durable, trouble-free, and cheaper at a price. The only negative is that you always need to keep keys with you (very long keys to lever locks are especially inconvenient), while trying not to lose them or keep them in a certain secluded place.
Code electronic work from batteries, they are more expensive, fastidious to operating conditions. In addition, there is a risk of forgetting the code combination. However, they have many additional functions:
Many locks have a lock button in case of several incorrect code sets in a row. There are models with the function of connecting the lock with the alarm, which increases not only the convenience of using the safe, but also the price.
Mechanical code codes are much less common in new models of safes; they were replaced by electronic ones, which have more advantages, in particular, a significantly shorter opening time. Using a mechanical combination lock requires memorizing the combination of numbers and the opening algorithm.
The most expensive models are equipped with biometric locks. They are triggered by swiping on your finger by scanning your fingerprint. The advantages are obvious: no need to store keys, memorize codes, spend extra seconds opening. Therefore, biometric locks are very expensive. They require great care in handling as they are very sensitive to environmental conditions and depend on batteries.
It is preferable to purchase storages with combined locks (key and coded electronic, two key, coded mechanical and key, etc.). This will provide the best protection against burglary. However, both locks must have a high class of burglary resistance, which is reflected in the documents and certificates for the goods.
The price is influenced not only by technical characteristics, but also by the name of the manufacturer. Several companies producing these products have proven themselves from the best side. The popularity of their models is due to the high quality and positive customer reviews.
The best, proven manufacturers:
Technomax Is an Italian company that has been producing safes for over a quarter of a century. The assortment is very diverse: built-in, free-standing, furniture. Offers storage for weapons, jewelry, money, documents. The most compact - weighing up to 10 kg will fit perfectly into any apartment.
Valberg - Russian manufacturer with an amazing selection of models: from compact home to super reliable. The advantages of this brand are inexpensive prices and a developed network of service centers.
Ripost Is a Russian company producing a wide variety of safes for home use. Its products are popular not only in Russia, but also in European countries. The manufacturer uses innovative technologies, equips its models with Italian locks with a high class of protection against burglary.
Which company is better to buy a safe - everyone decides for himself, but the name of the manufacturer should not be in the last place when choosing a reliable store of valuable property and savings.
When buying, an important role is played by the question of how much a reliable safe costs. Answering it, you should take into account your budget, the amount of valuables to be stored.
Main price segments:
The first category presents budget models. They are characterized by a low class of burglary resistance, suitable for storing not particularly valuable, but important things, small amounts of money. The second purchase option is when there is no threat of intrusion by thieves, but you want to hide some valuables and important documents from prying eyes. The main manufacturers of inexpensive popular models are domestic companies Ripost and Aiko.
The second price category is represented by fire-resistant and fire-resistant safes of medium protection class. They are popular with buyers because of their reliability in preserving savings and values. Valberg, Technomax, Habeco, Format are represented in this price segment.
The most expensive are fire-and-burglar-resistant safes of increased protection class, which are offered by the world famous manufacturers Stahlcraft, Robur, Liberty. The cost of some models exceeds a million rubles, but this high cost is fully justified by high quality and reliability.
We offer several recommendations when choosing a safe.
We present the rating of the most bought safes in 2024 with a description of the main characteristics, an indication of the advantages and disadvantages of each model.
A high-quality safe of a well-known Italian brand with an electronic lock of a classic design that allows you to enter a code from 4 to 10 digits. Powered by a 9-volt battery, equipped with an emergency key and contacts for external power supply. Equipped with a three-sided transom system and a reinforced, centimeter-thick door. Porous concrete is poured between the inner and outer metal walls of the housing. Inside it is divided by a shelf into two compartments, so it is convenient to store short-barreled weapons with ammunition, money, valuables in it. Weight - 34 kg.
Average price: 53,500 rubles.
A weapon safe of a Russian brand that produces inexpensive models, with a convenient design, removable shelves and a reliable transom system, is popular among hunters and weapon lovers. Height 163 cm allows you to place up to four long-barreled weapons. A spacious taser with a separate door on a key bolt lock is divided by a shelf into two compartments and allows you to store not only a stock of ammunition, but also short-barreled weapons. The main compartment can accommodate shotguns up to 1350 mm in length, which matches almost all popular weapons. There is a special bracket for non-collapsible cleaning rods. The doors are equipped with three key locks. Weight - 37 kg.
Average price: 12,800 rubles.
The domestically produced safe has a large capacity (up to five weapons) and an electronic lock, which ensures quick door opening in case of emergency. The kit includes an emergency key. The height of the inner compartment is 1430 mm, the space at the top is freed up for weapons due to a narrower taser that does not reach the back wall. Burglar resistance class is the second. Weight - 178 kg. Therefore, anchoring holes are unlikely to be useful. For the same reason, intruders will not be able to take this safe out of the room.
Average price: 48,500 rubles.
Popular fire-and-burglar-resistant model of the Russian manufacturer. It is certified according to European standards with the assignment of the second class of fire resistance and burglar resistance. Heavy weight - 400 kg: the thickness of the side walls is 77 mm, of the composite door (two layers of metal and a refractory filler) - 105 mm. The three-sided transom system has 10 secure transoms and is connected to a key lock made in Germany. A solid internal volume of 232 liters, 32 of which is a taser with a separate door and lock.
Average price: 112,000 rubles.
Compact safe of domestic production for home use. Initial class of burglary resistance. Reliable three-sided transom system.Inside there is one removable shelf. Suitable for storing small amounts of money and not particularly valuable things and documents, rather than from robbers, but from children and strangers at home. The inner compartment corresponds to A4 documents.
Average price: 8000 rubles.
Built-in safe made in Germany. The combination of fire resistance and built-in construction allows you to keep money and valuables at home. The safe is equipped with two locks: electronic coded and key, which increases the reliability of protection. Also included is an emergency key. The model has a double structure: an external burglar-resistant cabinet and an internal fire-resistant box with a sealed door.
Average price: 190,000 rubles.
Inexpensive domestic safe for storing traumatic, gas, combat pistols and ammunition for them. The small size model is equipped with a reliable coded electronic lock. And although it runs on batteries, access to which is from the outside, it is impossible to open the safe by de-energizing. As in other models of this brand, the metal of the case is not thick enough (the door is 2.8 mm, the walls are 1.2 mm), so the safe is quite light in weight - about 5 kg. To exclude its removal from the apartment, it is advisable to screw it to the wall or mount it in furniture (anchors are included in the kit, there are holes for fastening).
Average price: 3000 rubles.
Data safe for magnetic disks from a manufacturer from South Korea. This storage is specially designed to securely house heat-sensitive magnetic storage media. The dimensions of this model are such that even with a decrease in the internal space due to the thermal insulation of the case, a sufficient number of CDs, flash drives, films and other information carriers can be placed. They generally do not require much space.
It has a high class of fire resistance, in case of fire it keeps the temperature in the inner chamber 50 degrees for at least an hour. The model is equipped with coded electronic and biometric locks, which ensures the safety of the contents.
Average price: 10500 rub
Another model from a well-known Russian brand with the maximum, fifth class of protection, two reliable keys, a three-way transom system, reliably resists the actions of intruders. The thickness of the walls of the case is 55 mm, the doors are 120 mm. The patented multi-layer technology for the manufacture of walls, concrete reinforcement, and protection of crossbars with tempered glass provide excellent burglary resistance. Includes emergency key and anchor bolt for wall or floor fixing. There is a sealing device.
Average price: 145,000 rubles.
Fire-resistant model of a popular domestic brand with a second class of fire protection. The lock is reinforced with a fire-resistant seal. The presence of two locks provides more reliable storage of valuables. The kit includes an anchor bolt for fastening and additional shelves for easy placement of valuables. The small size allows the safe to be built into furniture niches and drawers.
Average price: 15400 rub.
Which safe is better to buy - a compact built-in, solid free-standing, fire-resistant for documents or a weapon, it is up to the buyer to decide. Manufacturers annually release new models with improved design and convenient functions. If the house has something to hide from burglars or fire, the safe will become the basis of security, reliably preserve valuable property and the peace of the owners.