Should a High Security Safe Be Properly Secured?

For business owners or those who have lots of valuable items in their home, a high security safe is an important purchase for ensuring money, important paperwork and other valuable assets are secure and well protected.

Most safes will come ready for fixing either to the floor or to the wall, but when purchasing a heavier safe, many of us don’t always think it is necessary to bolt the safe down.

Why securing your high-security safe is important

Whilst some consider having a safe to be enough protection for their valuables, it is worth noting that some thieves will go through great lengths to obtaining valuable items or large sums of money but by securing your safe you are adding another layer of protection against robbery.

If a high security safe is bolted down, a thief is much less likely to spend time attempting to force it open as they know this can be time consuming. In comparison, if they attempt to move the safe and realise that it isn’t fixed they will do whatever they can to get it transferred in to a van so that they can find a way of opening it later.

In addition to deterring robbers, having your safe secured will also protect you if you ever have to claim on your insurance. As a rule, insurers will insist that any safe weighing less than 1000kg must be securely bolted, but the rules for those weighing over 1000kg can vary depending on the insurer.

If somebody manages to damage, break in to or remove your safe then your insurance company will ask you whether it was properly secured, and this could have an impact on whether they pay out or not.

How to secure a safe

There are a few options when it comes to fixing your safe. You can either fix your safe to a wall or floor, depending on the weight and size of the safe and there are a few fixing options.

Most safes, unless they are specifically labelled as wall safes, will have some form of fixing and bolts to be fixed to the floor. A concrete floor is preferred, but for maximum security, you will need to ensure that it can be fixed to a joist. Alternatively, you can use a strong adhesive or use coach bolts on wooden flooring.

Whilst adhesive is effective, it is worth noting that this will make the installation permanent, so your high-security safe will have to stay in that room or building.

Safes can be installed professionally, or you can try securing it yourself. If you are opting for the DIY method, it is advised that you contact your insurance company first to see if they allow claims on self-installed safes.

For more advice on choosing or installing your high security safe, get in contact with our team today