Investing in Certified Safes for Home: Why It Matters & Key Benefits

Home security has never been more important, with rising concerns over burglary, fire damage, and digital theft. While alarm systems and surveillance cameras play a role in home protection, they cannot physically safeguard valuables. This is where premium certified safes come in, offering a robust solution for securing important documents, jewellery, cash, and even digital assets. Unlike basic lockboxes or standard safes, premium safes provide enhanced security, durability, and features that justify their investment. 

1. What Makes a Safe Certified?

Premium certified safes stand out due to their superior construction, advanced locking mechanisms, and stringent security certifications. Unlike conventional safes, premium models undergo rigorous independent testing and certifications from globally recognised institutions such as the European Certification Body (ECB-S) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to ensure compliance with high-security standards. 

Key elements that make a safe certified include: 

• Burglary Resistance: Premium certified safes are built with multi-layered walls, relocking mechanisms, and high-security locking bolts to resist forced entry attempts. 

• Advanced Locking Systems: Many premium models feature biometric scanners, electronic combination locks, and dual-lock mechanisms for an added layer of security. 

• Security Ratings: Chubbsafes certified models comply with internationally recognised burglary resistance standards such as EN 1143-1 (for high-security safes and vaults) and UL 687 (for burglary-resistant safes in the U.S.). 

• Fire and Protection: Premium safes often integrate multi-layered insulation to withstand extreme heat and fire conditions, having been tested and certified to fire resistance standards such as EN 1047-1 and UL 72 to confirm their fire resistance capabilities. 

• Unique design and flexible customisation possibilities. 

2. Protection Against Theft

A premium certified safe acts as a formidable barrier against burglars, significantly reducing the risk of valuable items being stolen. Chubbsafes premium safes undergo stringent testing according to standard EN 1143-1, a European standard for burglary-resistant safes, which classifies safes, strongrooms and vault doors into Grades 0 to XIII based on their ability to withstand attacks. Higher grades indicate greater resistance to break-ins using tools like drills, crowbars, and thermal cutting equipment. 

Key security features of burglary-resistant safes include: 

• Anti-Drilling Protection: Hardened inserts protect areas of the locking mechanism against drilling attempts. 

• Re-Locking Devices: If an attempt is made to force open the safe, the safe automatically locks down further. 

• Anti-Cutting Reinforcements: Some models include additional layers, such as manganese steel and specially developed compounds to prevent cutting with power tools. 

• Dual Control & Duress Feature: Dual control, also known as the "four eyes principle", requires two separate codes to open the safe, ensuring shared access responsibility. A time delay lock introduces a programmable pause between PIN entry and access, discouraging attackers by increasing the risk of exposure. The duress feature allows the safe to be opened with a specific code that simultaneously triggers a silent alarm to a remote monitoring centre. To protect against PIN guessing, the lock also enters a sleep mode after a set number of incorrect attempts, usually between three and five, temporarily disabling further attempts. 

3. Fire Resistance

Fires can cause irreparable damage to crucial documents and valuables. Investing in a fireproof safe ensures that essentials like passports, property deeds, and digital storage devices remain protected. Chubbsafes offers a wide selection of fire-resistant models, many of which are certified to UL 72—a demanding American standard for fire protection. Selected models, such as the DuoGuard G1, are also tested to EN 1047-1, a European standard that assesses performance under extreme heat. Most of our safes are certified to NT Fire 017 or EN 15659, providing reliable protection for less demanding fire-resistance needs. 

A fireproof safe must undergo tests such as: 

• Fire Endurance Test: The safe is placed in a furnace at temperatures up to 1,090°C (2,000°F) for up to 120 minutes. 

• Impact Test: Simulating a building collapse, the unit is dropped from a height of 9.1 metres (approx. 30 feet) to assess structural integrity. The unit being dropped has also undergone furnace heating so at the time of being dropped it's still at a very high temperature. There's a maximum time of 15 minutes allowed between coming out of the furnace at about 900 deg C and being dropped onto rubble. Then it has to go back into the furnace for further heating afterwards. 

• Internal Temperature Check: During extreme fire conditions, in order to protect paper documents, the internal temperature must not exceed 177°C (350°F), and for digital media, the limit is 52°C (125°F). Actual thresholds may vary slightly depending on the certification standard. 

By choosing a safe that meets both burglary and fire-resistant certifications, homeowners ensure comprehensive protection for their valuables, even in extreme conditions. 

4. Convenient & Secure Storage

Home safes provide an accessible yet secure place to store daily-use valuables. Instead of keeping important items in drawers or cabinets, a safe offers a dedicated, highly secure space with advanced locking mechanisms such as biometric access, digital keypads, and time-delay locks. Certified safes go a step further by offering smart connectivity, allowing users to monitor access remotely and integrate the safe with home security systems. 

Some advanced models feature interior lighting, adjustable shelving, and even silent alarm options that discreetly notify homeowners in case of unauthorised attempts. With seamless integration into modern home security solutions, these safes enhance both convenience and protection, ensuring valuables are always within reach yet fully secured. 

5. Peace of Mind 

Perhaps the most valuable benefit of all: owning a premium certified safe ensures that your most treasured possessions are protected 24/7. Whether at home or away, you can rest assured that important assets are safeguarded against theft, fire, and unforeseen disasters. Knowing that your valuables are stored in a high-quality safe eliminates the stress of worrying about security breaches. 

6. Chubbsafes latest certified Safes: Chubbsafes 1835, DuoGuard Grades I, II & III, and Europa T2 Grades I, II & III

Chubbsafes offers a selection of high-end safes designed to meet different security needs while providing stylish and durable solutions for home protection: 

• Chubbsafes 1835: A heritage-inspired safe that embodies superior craftsmanship and cutting-edge security. The Chubbsafes 1835 is a premium-grade safe that meets rigorous burglary and fire-resistance standards. Its spacious interior allows for versatile storage, making it an excellent choice for securing high-value assets, including cash, heirlooms, and confidential documents. 

• DuoGuard Grades I, II, & III: DuoGuard combines certified burglary resistance (EN 1143-1) and one-hour fire protection (NT Fire 017 – 60 Paper) in a modern design that fits effortlessly into both home and office settings. Its lightweight construction using Dualite barrier material makes installation easier without compromising on protection. 

• Europa T2 Grades I, II, & III: Europa T2 in Grades I, II & III is certified to EN 1143-1 for burglary resistance and NT Fire 017 – 60 Paper for fire protection, offering strong defence against advanced attack tools. Available in a wide range of sizes, it combines modern T2 barrier technology with practical fittings and lock options to suit both residential and commercial needs. 

Choosing the Right Safe

Selecting the best safe depends on individual security needs. Chubbsafes offers a wide range of home safes with different sizes, security levels, and features, ensuring there’s a perfect fit for every household. Investing in a premium safe means opting for top-tier security, durability, and peace of mind for years to come. 

Explore Chubbsafes’ premium safes today.