Types of Commercial Safes: What to Choose From

Investing in a high-quality safe with a high-tech locking system can protect your business from damage in the event of a burglary. So, let's find out how to choose the right commercial safes for your business.

A safe is essential for any business that stores cash, valuable documents, or jewelry. There are many types of commercial safes available.

Deposit Safe
Deposit safes are a popular choice for retailers and restaurants. Employees deposit cash into the safe through a special opening in the top or side wall. However, they do not have access to the main compartment. The safe owner or a designated security officer can access the safe's contents only with a passcode or a key that opens the lock. This allows for the temporary storage of banknotes or documents, which can then be retrieved and transferred to another designated permanent storage location.

Burglar-Resistant Safe
Burglars can break into safes using various tools, chemicals, and explosives. A burglar-resistant safe is much more difficult to crack. It's important to understand that no safe is completely burglar-proof. A burglar can open any store safe if they have the tools, skills, and time. The purpose of a safe is to prevent break-ins, deter unskilled thieves, and deter experienced burglars. When combined with video cameras and an alarm system installed in the room, such a safe can increase the chances of catching burglars before they complete the theft or preventing them from completing it.

Fire-Resistant Safe
These safes are designed to protect the contents of the safe from fire damage under certain conditions. They provide resistance only to fire for a specified period of time—long enough for firefighters to reach the safe and extinguish it. Typically, this period ranges from 30 minutes to two hours.

Hotel Safe
A hotel room safe allows temporary residents to store valuables, such as cameras, laptops, etc., as well as money, documents, and jewelry. Typically, such a safe has an electronic combination lock and an emergency key lock, which is kept by the hotel administrator and allows for opening in emergency situations. However, there is always a risk of staff dishonesty, which should be taken into account.

Office Safes
Office safes can be found in both offices and retail stores. They can be freestanding, floor-mounted, or wall-mounted. Large office safes (cabinets) are often used to store valuable business assets, cash, confidential documents, etc. They are made of high-quality steel and provide good protection against unauthorized entry. It is worth looking for a special certificate confirming the burglary resistance class.

Cash Box
A cash box, also known as a petty cash box, is a simple portable box with a hinged lid and a locking mechanism. A cylinder lock typically comes with two keys, making it the most common type of locking mechanism. It can also be a standard 4-digit combination lock.

These locks are great for protecting your cash and moving the drawer safely, preventing it from opening accidentally. To make sorting and retrieving cash easier, the drawer has compartments that can hold both coins and bills. Cash drawers often feature a removable tray that provides two levels of storage. Typically, the top drawer holds coins, while the bottom drawer holds bills. The lid has a carrying handle, making the cash drawer easy to move. This is ideal for use at fairs or mobile vending machines.

Pistol Safe
Many business owners own guns for security reasons. While it's acceptable to own a state-licensed firearm, it's important to protect it from any misuse. Some business owners prefer to store their handguns in a small furniture safe built into a desk or cabinet in their office. However, there are also special safes designed and constructed specifically for storing weapons.

Built-in wall or floor safes
Built-in safes are popular for businesses due to their compact size. They are often equipped with dual locks: an electronic or mechanical combination lock combined with a key lock. This means anyone wanting to access the safe must know the code and have the key. Built-in safes are ideal for small businesses located in their own homes or premises. They can easily be hidden behind furnishings from prying eyes.

What to Consider Before Choosing Commercial Safes
Choosing the right commercial safe for your workplace can be challenging. You need a safe that has multiple features to protect your valuables. It should also provide security for your business. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a safe for your business.

Size and Weight
Choosing the right safe size is important. A safe that's large enough but not too heavy is best for most businesses, as long as it's securely anchored to the floor or wall. If the safe is heavy, this can be a concern. These types of safes are more commonly used by banks and financial institutions. It's important to consider the future location of your commercial safe. Before purchasing a safe, consider both what you plan to store in it and how much space it will require.

Cash Rating
The insurance rating of your safe for cash storage is likely a significant factor to consider. Insurance companies use this rating to evaluate the security of safes. The cash rating is the amount of valuables or cash the insurance company will pay out in the event of a break-in.

Security Level and Costs
Don't compromise on the quality and security of your safes. You'll spend more if you need a high-security safe, but it will be more reliable. Be sure to consider what you plan to store in the safe and then choose a safe that provides maximum protection. High-quality, high-security safes are not cheap due to the high cost of materials and components, as well as the manufacturer's brand reputation. When allocating a budget for business security and protection measures, it's important to consider this an investment that will keep your business safe and last for years to come.

Certification
As mentioned above, reliable safes have the appropriate burglary resistance or fire resistance certifications. These certifications are issued by specialized, reputable organizations that conduct independent examinations and testing of products, thereby confirming the manufacturer's stated quality and reliability. For example, ECB-S (burglary resistance), LFS (fire resistance), and VdS lock certifications, developed based on European standards EN 1143-1 and EN 15659, guarantee a certain level of protection against burglary and fire at the appropriate security level. Therefore, when purchasing a safe, always inquire about the certification of the model you're interested in.

How to choose a safe for your business?

Suppose you need to store confidential data or valuable items on your premises. In this case, it's highly recommended to purchase and install a vault or safe to keep these items safe and secure.

This is because burglaries are common in commercial premises. Imagine the stress of losing property, the time it takes to clean up the mess, replace what was stolen, and deal with the insurance company.

Safes and vaults are two of the most reliable ways to keep valuables safe in your business. However, with so many options to choose from, you need to consider many factors to choose the perfect one for your business. A safe that provides complete protection should be your top priority. Consider what you'll be storing in the safe and choose one with the best features to keep your valuables safe. Consult with our professionals at the Safes and Locks store in Kyiv, located at 16 Hetmana Pavla Skoropadskyi (Lva Tolstoho) Street. We can reach you by phone at (044) 234-09-20, (068) 958-61-99, or (099) 975-84-66. Viber, WhatsApp, and Telegram are also available.