Overview

A safe is a secure lockable box used for securing valuable objects against theft or damage. A safe is usually a hollow cuboid or cylinder, with one face removable or hinged to form a door. The body and door are usually cast from a metal such as steel.

Specifications for safes include some or all of the following parameters:

• Burglar-resistance
• Fire-resistance
• Environmental resistance (e.g. to water or dust)
• Type of lock (e.g. combination, key, time lock, electronic locking)
• Location (e.g. wall safe, floor safe)

In 1835, Charles and Jeremiah Chubb took out their first patent for a burglar-resisting safe, although it is possible that safes were made by the firm before this date as the company Chubb Safes began designing safes and locks in 1818. www.chubbsafes.com

Opening a safe without access to the key or knowledge of the combination is known as safe-cracking. This is a popular theme in heist films.

A diversion safe or hidden safe is a safe that is made from an otherwise ordinary object such as a book, a candle, a can, or even a wall outlet plug. Valuables are placed in these hidden safes, which are themselves placed inconspicuously (for example, a book would be placed on a book shelf).

Classifications of Safes

Safes are rated into three classifications, as defined by the Underwriters Laboratories, or the UL. The rates determine how fire-resistant a safe is.

• Class C -- Protects paper documents for up to 1 hour at temperatures up to 1700°F
• Class B -- Protects paper documents for up to 2 hours at temperatures up to 1850°F
• Class A -- Protects paper documents for up to 4 hours at 2000°F

For most residential fires, a Class B or C safe is fine for protecting irreplaceable papers.

Further reading

• LOCKS, SAFES, AND SECURITY: An International Police Reference, published by Charles Thomas Publishers, Springfield, Illinois, United States. (2000) ISBN 0398070792 (See http://www.security.org/ for more details).

See also

• Concealment device
• Strongroom - a bank vault
• Safe deposit box - a lightweight safe not designed to resist violent attack
• Lock

References