How the Quality of Security Safes Affects their Cash Rating
Cash rating is an indication of the level of security of a safe and the highest amount of money that should be kept in it. Depending on the cash rating and your postcode, an Insurer will cover the contents of the safe. It can be multiplied by 10 times for jewellery or other valuables. For Example, you can store goods with a worth of £10,000 in a £1000 worth cash rated safe.
Always check with your insurer before purchasing as some Insurance companies are more stringent than others and may require an independent testing certificate of the safe while others are content with just the manufacturer’s advisory rating.
Cash ratings will depend on the quality of the safe. The better the quality of the safe, the higher the cash rating will be. The thickness of the door, the depth of the wall, and the quality of the locking mechanism are some of the criteria that determine the cash rating of a safe.
Cash Rating Affects Insurance Coverage
Based on the security, the cash rating acts like a meter used in determining the optimum value for insurance coverage. In order to protect your valuables, you have to install the safe according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. You can store cash and valuables with a worth that is equal to the cash rating of the safe.
If your goods get stolen, you can then make a claim to the insurance company with which the safe is insured. But remember, you must inform the insurance company if you want to store valuables worth more than the cash rating.
Floor, Wall or Under-floor Safe
Since the late 1990’s there have been European Attack Test Standards that have been widely recognised by the insurance industry. These offer both the consumer and the insurer an independent, unbiased opinion on the security level of a safe.
To increase the security of the safe, you should purchase a safe with an independent test certificate such as EN14450 S1, En14450 S2 and the Eurograde EN1443-1
However the cash ratings available depend on the type of fixing the safe requires. For instance, wall safes have cash ratings from £1,500 up to £10,000, while under-floor safes have a higher cash rating ranging from £3,000 to £35,000. The most popular type of safe is the floor-standing safe that has a cash rating from £1,000 to £150,000.
All types of safes include either a security or fire rating. While the rating of some types of safes is measured by cash, some safes’ rating is measured by hours. For example, a burglar-resistant safe will have a cash rating but a fire-resistant safe will have an hourly rating. In the case of fire safes, the higher the hourly rating, the more time the safe can survive the heat and keep the valuables safe.
Security safes are becoming more popular by the day. People use them to protect their important data and precious jewellery. You should check the cash rating and test certification of your chosen safe in order to measure its safety level.
Beware of buying cheaper safes without independent testing and certification you are putting your valuables at risk.
See how easy it is to open some of the cheaper budget, non-certified electronic safes.
The Sales Team here at Standfast have over forty years of experience selling, delivering, opening, repairing and cutting keys for safes. We have a large showroom with a good range of new and reconditioned safes along with many other security products.
