A money safe is an important asset for many people. Some folks find peace-of-mind in keeping their cash at home or in a business safe, in a place they know is secure. It is possible to do this, and there are several factors to consider with money safes. Some shopping around might be necessary, and choosing a good model involves looking at factors such as the safe’s effectiveness at deterring burglars, its fire rating, the storage space, lock configuration, and price.
The main objective to getting a money safe is theft prevention. Each one has a cash rating that indicates just how well the unit will hold up to an attempted break in. This rating is calculated using an assessment of a combination of features, such as how strong the door and walls of the safe are, what kind of locking system the safe has, and how possible it is to remove the unit from where it is being stored. A high cash rating means that all of these features account for a more secure system of storing money or other valuable items.
A money safe should also have a good fire rating. By analyzing this rating, it is known just how long the money vault will maintain its integrity when exposed to fire. The longer it can be exposed without the contents inside bursting into flames, the higher the fire rating. A safe rated to withstand exposure to fire for an hour is generally considered to be good.
When a fireproof safe strong enough to resist a break-in is used, it is still wise to think about the lock. Combination locks can only be opened when the right sequence is entered and often preferred over keyed locks because there is always the risk of losing a small key. Number sequences can be written down and hidden in a safe place. Digital electronic locks provide the most convenience. These just require the numbers to be pressed in, and will automatically lock the money safe for a certain amount of time if the wrong combination keeps being entered.
Other factors when choosing a money safe include its size, whether the necessary items are accommodated, and if it is portable or can be permanently fixed in a wall or on the floor. Cost is another factor. Home safes can go for under $200 US Dollars (USD), but higher grade models come at a higher price, so it is often necessary to weigh savings over better security.