Domestic Home Safes

The following provides a brief overview of recommended factors that you should consider, when selecting a Safe, Secure Cabinet, Key Safe or Gun Cabinet. Appropriate security standards are also highlighted, which can assist you in determining the correct secure storage, suitable for your needs to help safeguard your cash, valuables, or other assets from burglary or theft from your home. It is advised that you only purchase products from a reputable supplier, who specialises secure storage products

Most residential burglaries are opportunist’s occurrences, with the burglar’s aim is to take as many valuable items as possible, in the shortest time possible. They are looking for small items, which are easily portable, and can effortlessly be hidden in their pockets.

Jewellery, often stored in bedrooms, is a common target for burglars due to its high value and ease of resale. These items can also hold significant sentimental value and are often irreplaceable. Hiding valuables in drawers or wardrobes is not a secure solution, as these are among the first places a burglar will search. Keeping jewellery properly secured is essential.

So, what are the most common items stolen in a burglary?

Cash and credit cards
Jewellery
Mobiles phones
IT equipment
Car keys
Watches
ID Documents – Passports, driving licence or other identification documents
Electrical goods

These are items that can easily be stored inside a safe. Therefore, fitting a Secured by Design (SBD) approved domestic safe in your home is an effective way to improve security and protect these valuables from easily being stolen

SBD approved safes

There are several standards for safes in the UK, which can be confusing when looking for the right product for your home.

When buying a safe you must ensure that you make the correct choice for the value of the cash, valuables and assets you want to protect, along with the associated risk. The following considerations highlighted below can assist you in making the appropriate choice in selecting the appropriate safe.

When choosing a safe you need to consider:

1What asset needs to be need protected. Is it cash, important documents, jewellery, gold, watches, other valuables or item of significant value? This will help you determine what grade of burglary resistance / security rating the safe will need to meet (important for Insurance requirements & commensurate to the value of the items stored within. Further information on this is highlighted later within these advice pages, with a similar consideration for secure storage applying to commercial / business use).

2The type of residence and its construction and where the safe is to be installed - e.g. under the floor, in the wall or freestanding - may influence the type of safe you should purchase:

If the dwelling has a concrete floor this could make it extremely difficult to install an underfloor safe
It may well be that the substrate that a free standing safe is going to be anchored too is not sufficient for it to be securely fixed, so that it can easily be removed
Living in an apartment, may limit the type of safe that can be installed:

1. It may not be possible to have a wall safe, because the walls are not of a substantial enough construction to accommodate such products
2. An underfloor safe may not be viable in apartments above ground floor In all cases, the safe must be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions/guidelines.

3Other factors to consider around the suitability of installation include such factors like the size of the external hinges, handles and lock size in order that the safe or secure cabinet can open comfortably when in use

4It is recommended that they are installed by a reputable security professional who is vetted, to ensure that it is installed correctly, can demonstrate how to use it and that it complies with any insurance requirements where appropriate. This will also assist with addressing several of the considerations raised above and perhaps, even the type of safe that can be fitted.

5Tested and certificated safes can utilise either be locked/unlocked via:

- a key
- a mechanical combination lock
- an electronic lock

All can offer the same level of protection. However, there may be a more restricted choice on higher grade safes.

Advantages & disadvantages of each

The selection of a locking type will be based upon your personal preference and needs. This could be that the safe has multiple users, which benefits from a digital electronic/keypad lock, or it may be difficult to hide a key in a safe and secure place.

Keylock opening

The Advantages

Reliability: There are no electronic circuits to fail and no batteries to replace. It works every time, even after years of disuse
Simplicity: There are no codes to memorise or fingerprints to register. If you have the key, you have access
No "Lockout" Periods: If you enter a code wrong three times on a digital safe, it might freeze you out for 15 minutes. A key lock doesn't

The Disadvantages

Key Management: If you don't hide the key well enough, a burglar may find it or if someone gets temporary access to your key, they can potentially make a copy without you ever knowing
Risk of Loss: If you lose the key (and don't have a backup), you’re looking at a visit from a locksmith to drill the safe open
Lack of Audit Trail: Unlike digital locks, a key lock cannot tell you who opened the safe or when they did it

Combination lock

The Advantages

Longevity: Because they are purely mechanical, there are no wires to fray or electronic components to corrode
No Physical Keys: You don't have to worry about losing a key or a burglar finding one hidden away
Battery-Free: Like the key lock, you will never be locked out because of a dead battery or a power failure

The Disadvantages

Slow Access: It takes significantly longer to spin a dial than it does to punch in a code or turn a key
Memory Dependent: If you forget the combination and haven't stored it in a secure password manager, you’ll need a locksmith to drill the safe
Visibility: If someone is standing over your shoulder while you dial, it is relatively easy for them to watch the numbers you stop on

Digital lock

The Advantages

Ease of use: Entering a PIN or fingerprint is simple, making them suitable for people with poor eyesight or limited dexterity
Customisable security: Codes can be changed easily, and some models support multiple users and access tracking
Penalty lockout: After several incorrect attempts, the lock will temporarily freeze to prevent guessing

The Disadvantages

Battery dependency: Requires power and batteries will need replacing; if they fail, backup access may be needed
Electronic failure: Components can fail due to age, moisture or faults, which may require professional access
Environmental sensitivity: Can be more affected by extreme heat, cold or humidity than mechanical locks

6Do you need fire protection? If so, for how long? Similar to security rating, there are different levels of fire protection, so speak to a reputable supplier for further advice on this. For optimal protection, some manufacturers offer safes that are independently certified for both burglary and fire resistance. These dual-protection safes can be more expensive.

7Please check with your insurance company* to ensure that the grade of safe 1. you are going to purchase complies with their current policy requirements to ensure that you are appropriately covered.

* AiS (Association of Insurance Surveyors) are one of the leading accreditation bodies within the UK. Your insurance company may request your safe is AiS approved.

SBD have several members that specialise in this area that comply with the Police Preferred Specification and they will be able to advise you on the right product for you.

Secure Storage Units - Safe Standards

SBD Police Preferred Specification safes can be approved if they tested and 3^rd party certificated to one or more of the following standards. These include BS EN 1143 – 1 Secure storage units. Requirements, classification and methods of test for resistance to burglary - Safes, ATM safes, strongroom doors and strongrooms (the Eurograde system), These will often be certified by one of the following European bodies, including but not limited to ECB-S (European Certification Body, VdS Schadenverhütung or Svensk Brand- och Säkerhetscertifiering AB (SBSC).

Other certification bodies in the UK, include Sold Secure, who have a dedicated test specification for Domestic Safes - SS 304 - Specification for Domestic Safes) & the Loss Prevention Certification Body (LPCB), who also have a dedicated test and certification standard for safe storage units, LPS 1183-Part 1 Requirements and testing procedures for the LPCB approval and listings for safe storage units.

Under the Eurograde system, (BS EN 1143-1) specifies security grades for safes, ranging from Grade 0 (0) to Grade 7 (VII). These security grades can be also referenced in roman numerals.

Grade 0 (0) represents the lowest grade and Grade 7 (VII) the highest.

NB – BS EN 1143-1 also covers testing and certification for vaults and strongrooms, which are graded 8 (VIII) to 13 (XIII). This can offer significantly, high levels of burglary resistance for the security strongrooms and vault doors, providing the highest level of protection. These applications are not covered in detail here and professional advice should be sought. Many of the SBD member companies can provide such advice on these scenarios and the topics covered within this guidance.

These grades are based on the safe's ability to resist attack, with the technical term be called Resistance Units (Rus)* and are associated with an insurance recommended cash and valuables rating that can be stored within. In the UK this is indicated in £000’s.

*Resistance Units (RUs): The time it takes to breach a safe is measured in Resistance Units (RUs) rather than just minutes. A higher RU rating means the safe requires more RUs to breach, providing a greater delay for intruders. These are RU’s are incorporated in the safe burglary resistance grade ratings.

For example, a Grade 1 (I) safe has a cash rating of £10,000 and a valuables rating of £100,000, while a Grade 3 (III) safe has a cash rating of £35,000 and a valuables rating of £350,000 i.e. the higher the grade signifies greater protection and higher potential insurance coverage. The higher the grade, the more significant the attack test becomes, incorporating a wider range of tools, from hand tools, like screw drivers and crowbars to electric power tools and other attacks which may incorporate more aggressive attack methods, thus demonstrating a greater test & certificated resistance to attack, the higher the burglary resistance grade of the safe.

Safes that have passed the Eurograde system should have a blue badge on the inside of the door indicating the burglary resistance grade, for example 0 (0) -7 (VII), model, serial number, year of manufacturer and the certification body.

BS EN 1143-1 Grades and Approximate Cash / Valuables Ratings

The security grade determines the overnight cash and valuables rating that insurers will cover. The actual insured value can vary by country and insurer, but the valuables rating is typically 10 times the cash rating. The table below highlights the BS EN 1143-1 Eurograde grades and ratings for safes. These are approximations based on typical UK insurance industry ratings, and insurers may require confirmation of the exact coverage.

Secure Storage Cabinets

BS EN 14450 is the European standard for secure safe cabinets, designed for basic security in a residential or light commercial settings against opportunistic burglars attacks rather than a sustained, professional attack.

BS EN 14450 offers less resistance than higher-grade safes tested under standards like BS EN 1143-1, which are designed for high-value and highly sensitive items.

It classifies cabinets into two attack resistance grades, S1 and S2. S2 offers a higher resistance to tool attacks. This standard provides standardized methods for testing and classifying these units, ensuring they offer a reliable level of protection for documents, cash, and valuables without the higher security of a BS EN 1143-1 safe rated safe.

Secure cabinets are used in lower risk situations where a low to moderate level of security is needed Scenarios could include the following working from home have a garden office, small business or office, a security cabinet certified to this standard (BS EN 14450) should be considered for those sensitive business documents, files or low value amount of cash.

It is advised that you may want to check with your insurance company to determine if this standard meets the requirement of your policy.

Security Grades (Resistance to Burglary Attack)

BS EN14450 has two security levels (Resistance to burglary attack Grade), which usually relate to the value of cash which are to be stored within. These Grades can also be referred to as ‘Class’ and relate to the value stored within. These are: -

Grade S1 (Resistance to burglary attack Grade – 2K cash / 20k valuables value)
Grade S2 (this resistance to burglary attack Grade is the higher security of the two – 4K cash / 40k valuables value)

External Key Safes

Key safes are often positioned on the outside of a building and are normally used to store a door key. They are often used by care professionals to gain access into a dwelling to assist in the daily care of vulnerable clients with restricted mobility. Other applications of Key safe use, can be to assist in facilitating access for guests into a holiday let or internet B&B residence.

Access into a key safe can be via a combination code or other credential like your mobile phone via an app. There are several different models available.

Key safes must be installed into brick, concrete or other suitable substrate, recommended by the manufacture, using the supplied fittings, to ensure that they can be anchored robustly so that it cannot be easily removed by force.

Ideally, a key safe should not be positioned in a position where it can easily be seen from the road or the footpath, because this may create an attraction from the opportunist criminal to try and attack the safe. That said, it is essential that it is accessible for the end user.

The two main security standards for key safes are Sold Secure SS314 SS 314 - Specification for Security Cabinets and the LPCB standard, LPS 1175 Requirements and testing procedures for the LPCB certification and listing of intruder resistant building components, strongpoints, security enclosures and freestanding barriers. These are also graded

Please don’t leave your house keys under a flowerpot or front door mat!

Other standards you might see in relation to secure cabinets & storage containers:

Sold Secure, which is owned and administered by the Master Locksmiths Association, also test for Security Cabinets. This standard is called SS314 and has 3 security ratings, which are:

Bronze
Silver
Gold (this is the highest security rating)

Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB), offers a variety of standards to meet the requirements of BS EN 14450 & BS EN 1143-1 via the following standard (Previously referenced above):

LPS 1183

This body can / may also certify under other security standards for particular safe / cabinet applications via the following standards:

LPS 1175
LPS 2081 (this standard considers where the burglar attempts to use stealth to gain access i.e. the burglar looks to reduce noise in the attack to reduce the chance of an occupant for example hearing the attack).

Warringtonfire, offers a variety of standards to meet the requirements of BS EN 14450 & BS EN 1143-1 via the following standards:

STS205
STS225 (this standard considers where the burglar attempts to use stealth to gain access i.e. the burglar looks to reduce noise in the attack to reduce the chance of an occupant for example hearing the attack).

In regards the standards mentioned above, the higher the security rating, the more burglary resistant, the storage unit will be.

Gun Cabinets

The secure storage of lawfully held Firearms is a requirement for the Police, and a condition of the issuing of a firearms certificate. The Home Office have published revised guidance that the Police Firearms Licensing Department will be refer to when considering the suitability and issue of licences to be kept at home for example.

To comply with UK law, gun cabinets & ammunition storage must comply with the British Standard BS 7558:1992, which outlines the requirements for the construction and security of gun storage solutions. Compliance with these standards is crucial for firearm owners, as it ensures that their storage methods are acceptable to local Police firearms officers during inspections.

Before you buy a cabinet, you should ask the seller to show you a test certificate to confirm the cabinet meets the above standard or above.

SBD approved gun cabinets are approved to Sold Secure SS302 Security Cabinets for Firearms.

Sold Secure tests and certifies to three Security Grades (Resistance to Burglary Attack), ranging from Bronze*, Silver and Gold (being the highest grade).

*The Bronze level meets all the requirements of BS 7558:1992.

For further guidance on firearms law please refer to the government website or contact your local police firearms licensing team.

If you are looking to fit a safe or security cabinet, a Locksmith registered with the Master Locksmiths Association can fit it securely.

Home Office Guide

Secured by Design Police Preferred Specification (PPS)

It should be noted that the Police Secured by Design initiative recognises a number of companies that supply many of the products outlined above. These products have not only been tested to relevant security standards, but also fully certified by an independent third-party certification body, accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) or similarly accepted body. Such products, if listed on the Secured by Design website meet Police Preferred Specification.

Independent certification involves both initial testing of the products and regular re-tests as well as inspections of the manufacturer’s production facility to ensure the correct processes are maintained constantly over time to provide a more secure and reliable product.