Understanding Safe Ratings and Standards: A Guide to Choosing the Right Protection

When investing in a safe, understanding security ratings and standards is essential to ensure you choose the right level of protection for your valuables. International certifications assess safes for burglary and fire resistance, providing clear benchmarks for security and reliability.  

Below is an in-depth look at the most internationally recognised safe ratings and their implications for safe users.  

1. Burglary Resistance Ratings
Traditionally, home safes were designed with a singular focus: security. They were often large, heavy, and industrial in appearance, designed to be difficult to move or break into. While this approach was effective for security, it sacrificed convenience and aesthetics.  

As consumer demands shifted towards more lifestyle-centric products, Chubbsafes has explored how to integrate advanced security features with modern design principles. The result is a new generation of home safes that offer both high levels of security and modern usability. Not only do these safes withstand physical attacks, but they also integrate seamlessly into home environments. Moreover, they combine advanced security features with cutting-edge materials, user-friendly interfaces, and ergonomic designs. 

a) Western standards 

EN 1143-1 (European Standard for Burglary Resistance)

This classification applies to safes, vaults, and strongrooms, categorising them into Grades 0 to XIII The grade is determined based on the safe's ability to resist attack under controlled conditions. Higher grades indicate greater resistance and typically align with higher insurance coverage limits. The value limits will vary by country and insurer and should always be individually confirmed, but by way of comparison for safes:

• Grade 0 – Low-level protection for storing up to €8000, in cash.
• Grade I – Suitable for storing up to €20,000 in cash and so on upwards through Grades II, III, IV, V and VI to the highest current Grade of safe, VII suitable for storing up to €500,000.

Whereas vaults and strongrooms, whilst classified in the same way, from Grade 0, go up to much higher security levels reaching Grade XIII. Insurers view vaults and strongrooms differently and always by considering the complete scenario. 

EN 14450 (European Standard for Secure Cabinets)

Cabinets tested to this standard fall into two categories:

• S1 – Basic security, typically suitable for home or light use.
• S2 – Increased resistance, offering more protection.

UL 687 (Underwriters Laboratories, USA)

• TL-15: Tested against tools for 15 minutes.
• TL-30: Provides 30 minutes of tool resistance.
• TL-30X6: Extends protection on all six sides of the safe.
• TRTL-60X6: Resistant to both tools and torches for 60 minutes.

b) Asian standards 

JIS S1037 (Japanese Industrial Standard)

The JIS certification evaluates safes for their resistance to fire. Fire resistance levels are categorized as follows:

• Category P – for the resistance of paper against fire for 30, 60, or 120 minutes or longer. After furnace heating, during which time internal temperature cannot exceed 177°C, and natural cooling, the contents are examined and should not be discoloured or charred. An optional drop test can be included if manufacturers require it. 

• Category F – for the resistance of magnetic data media storage against fire for 30, 60 or 120 minutes. During the furnace heating process, internal temperature cannot exceed 52°C nor relative humidity exceed 80%.

GB/T 10409 (Chinese National Standard)

This certification assesses the burglary resistance of safes based on their construction, lock strength, and ability to withstand forced entry. The classifications cover 12 classifications of burglary resistance:

• A – Basic protection.
• B – Medium resistance.
• C – High resistance for commercial security needs.

c) Australian standards 

AS/NZS 3809 (Australian/New Zealand Standard for Safes and Vaults)

This standard specifies burglary resistance requirements for safes, vault doors, and ATM safes, classifying them based on resistance to various attack methods. The classifications include: 

AS/NZ categorise by grade and from their standard. The table shows how they would classify the grades in the market. 

• Category A – High security, suitable for banking and commercial applications.
• Category B – Medium resistance for residential and business use.
• Category C – Basic protection for home safes.

2. Fire Resistance Ratings 

Fire-resistant safes are essential for protecting paper documents, electronic media, and other sensitive items from extreme heat and smoke damage. Fire testing is conducted under controlled conditions, exposing safes to high temperatures while monitoring internal temperatures. 

Note that the standards listed below are some, but by no means all that can be encountered in the world:

a) Western standards

EN 1047-1 (European Fire Resistance Standard)

This standard tests safes for their ability to withstand fires at high temperatures, with classifications based on protection duration:

• 30P – 30 minutes of fire protection for paper.
• 60P – 60 minutes of fire protection for paper.
• 90P – 90 minutes of fire protection for paper.
• 120P – 120 minutes of fire protection for paper.

NT Fire 017 (Nordic Fire Protection Council, Nordtest)

The NT Fire 017 standard classifies fire-resistant safes and cabinets based on how long they can protect their contents under extreme heat. The classification system is divided into two main categories, depending on the type of material being protected:

Classification for Paper (P): These safes and cabinets are designed to protect paper documents from fire. Paper starts to degrade at around 175°C, so the internal temperature must stay below this level.

• NT Fire 017 – 60P → Protects paper for 60 minutes.
• NT Fire 017 – 90P → Protects paper for 90 minutes.
• NT Fire 017 – 120P → Protects paper for 120 minutes.

Classification for Data Media (D or DIS): Data media, such as magnetic tapes, hard drives, and USBs, are much more sensitive to heat and humidity. The internal temperature must remain below 50°C, and humidity should stay under 85% to prevent damage.

• NT Fire 017 – 60D (or DIS) → Protects data media for 60 minutes.
• NT Fire 017 – 90D (or DIS) → Protects data media for 90 minutes.
• NT Fire 017 – 120D (or DIS) → Protects data media for 120 minutes.

UL 72 (Underwriters Laboratories Fire Rating)

This American standard evaluates safes by exposing them to temperatures up to 1,700°F (927°C) while monitoring internal temperatures. UL72 is very similar to EN 1047-1 with the difference that manufacturers can chose whether to include the impact (drop test) component or not. In EN 1047-1 it is mandatory.

• Class 350 – Maintains internal temperature below 350°F (177°C) for paper documents.
• Class 150 – Suitable for magnetic storage media like floppy disks.
• Class 125 – Provides the highest level of protection for digital media.

b) Asian standards

JIS S1037 (Japanese Industrial Standard)

JIS also includes fire resistance ratings, categorizing safes based on the duration they can maintain internal temperatures safe for paper and digital media storage:

• 30 minutes – Basic fire protection.
• 60 minutes – Moderate protection. 
• 120 minutes – High fire resistance.

There is no Chinese standard as yet, it is a work in progress.

c) Australian standards

AS/NZS 1841 (Australian Fire Resistance Standard)

This standard sets requirements for fire-resistant safes and cabinets, ensuring they can protect contents from extreme heat exposure for specified durations: 

• 30 minutes – Basic fire resistance.
• 60 minutes – Moderate protection.
• 120 minutes – High fire resistance.

3. How to Choose the Right Safe

To ensure you select the best safe for your needs, consider the following factors: 

• Where you are in the world. As we’ve just seen, depending on the continent you’re living in you will have to adhere to different standards.
• Security Needs: Assess whether burglary resistance, fire resistance, or a combination of both is required.
• Certification Level: Choose a safe with internationally recognised standards such as EN 1143-1 or UL 687 for burglary resistance and EN 1047-1 or UL 72 for fire protection.
• Locking Mechanism: Modern safes offer key locks, digital keypads, combination locks, and biometric authentication for enhanced security.
• Storage Requirements: Ensure the safe has adequate internal capacity for cash, documents, jewellery, or digital media while fitting within your available space.
• Installation Considerations: Some safes can be bolted to floors or walls to prevent unauthorised removal.

Invest in Certified Protection 

Choosing a safe with the appropriate certifications ensures maximum protection for your valuables, whether against burglary, fire, or both. Understanding these ratings enables you to make an informed decision that aligns with your security needs, insurance requirements, and peace of mind.