Commercial Safes 101
How safe are you?
More specifically, what steps are you taking to protect your business in the event of a fire or burglary? Can you easily replace any lost or stolen documents that are integral to your company’s operation?
Our solution is to purchase a commercial safe. Generally speaking, a commercial safe is more difficult to break into and more fire resistant than a residential safe. While a commercial safe is also a bit pricier than a residential safe, it’s hard to put a dollar sign on peace of mind.
At Action Lock & Key, we take great pride in offering sound solutions to make your Boston area home or business safe and secure. If you decide to purchase a commercial safe, we would like to give you some factors to consider.
Fire Ratings With Commercial Safes
If you own a restaurant, manufacturing facility—or any other type of business with a high risk of fire—purchasing a fire-rated commercial safe is a smart investment. A quality fire-rated safe can protect your documents anywhere from 45 minutes up to two hours under extreme conditions.
Our recommendation is to purchase a safe with the longest fire protection that you can afford on your budget. Anything less than one hour and you’re taking chances.
UL Ratings With Commercial Safes
You want a safe that has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). The UL rating tells you how difficult it is to break open your safe. The higher the UL rating, the more resistant the safe is to being burglarized.
One of our certified safe experts can help you determine the best UL-rated safe for your type of Massachusetts business. Most thieves do not want to take the risk to spend the extra time it takes trying to crack open a safe with a higher UL rating. Fire ratings and UL ratings are two of the most important factors to consider in making your purchase.
Does Weight Matter?
Absolutely. The heavier the safe, the harder it is to move. Most thieves would love to grab your safe and move it to a convenient location where they can take their time cracking it open. Purchase a safe with a little heft to it, and then anchor it. Remember—you purchased the safe to protect your valuables.
What About the Size of the Safe?
Size matters when it comes to purchasing a commercial safe. More often than not, our customers tell us they regret not buying a bigger safe because the one they purchased quickly filled up.
This is an investment that will last for the life of your business, if not longer. It only makes more sense to buy a larger safe.
Can You Keep a Secret?
The fewer people who know about your safe and its location, the better for you. It never fails that someone in your family or business tells someone else you just purchased a safe. They might even share what you have in the safe. The wheels start spinning and suddenly your business is a target.
Buy a Safe
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there is an average of 3,340 fires in office properties a year. Less than one-third of these occurred between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., but these fires accounted for 67 percent of direct property damage.
If a fire occurs, or if a pipe should burst when no one is at your business, the damage will likely be substantial. This is the moment when you look back and wish you had invested in a commercial safe.
Call Your Certified Safe Experts
Our business is your security. You can count on our experts at Action Lock & Key to ensure you make the right choice for your business in Boston, Massachusetts, and get the most value out of your investment. Call 781-229-9992 or request service online today to learn more about commercial safes and how purchasing one can provide you with peace of mind.