Frequently Asked Questions
- Are safes fireproof or theft proof?
- What is the difference between a paper fire safe and a data-media fire safe?
- Can I place cash in a fire rated safe?
- Can I place discs, CD’s, photos and negatives in a fire safe?
- Is it important to have 2 hours fire rated safe?
- Can I bolt my safe to the floor or ground?
- Does a safe need maintenance?
- Are less expensive safes in retail stores any good?
- Can I change my safe combination?
- Do mechanical combination locks and digital locks offer the same degree of protection?
- What happens if I forget the safe combination?
- What if the batteries go dead in an electric lock?
- What is the warranty on my safe?
- Do you provide delivery services as well as pick-up?
- How can I get my safe installed inside my home or office?
No, safes are ‘resistant’ against fire or theft, not 100% proof against attack. Safes will endure tool attacks and heat within a specific time period. Safes can be fire rated or cash rated by Underwriter Laboratories or Industry Testing Authorities.
[top] What is the difference between a paper fire safe and a data-media fire safe?There are two types of fire resistant safes.
- A fire resistant paper safe is engineered to keep the interior temperature below the level of paper ignition. In the event of a fire paper is more durable to extreme heat levels than media material which will distort.
- The second type of safe is the data-media fire resistant safe which have thicker installed walls and are engineered to keep temperatures inside the safe below 45 degrees Celsius.
No. Fire resistant safes are designed to protect against extreme heat and fire. The construction of the fire rated only safes are manufactured from light gauged steel which is easily penetrated. They offer only a small degree of theft protection, therefore it is advised to store cash in a cash-rated safe that is engineered to protect against intruders.
[top] Can I place discs, CD’s, photos and negatives in a fire safe?No, discs, CD’s, photos and negatives will distort under extreme heat levels. They need to be protected in a data-media safe.
[top] Is it important to have 2 hours fire rated safe?In most cases it is not necessary and 1 hour fire rated safe will be sufficient. Usually a fire burns at 426 deg Celsius for 20 minutes and a 1 hour fire rated safe will stand the heat of 926 deg Celsius for a whole hour.
[top] Can I bolt my safe to the floor or ground?Yes, by doing this your risk against attack is reduced. The majority of safe manufacturers have factory installed anchor bolt holes or a bolt-down kit. It is important to note that if the safe does not have factory installed anchor holes, drilling into the safe body may affect the burglar and/or fire rating. Aus Lock & Safe are safe technicians and can arrange this for you.
[top] Does a safe need maintenance?Yes, a safe is mechanical device just like your car that requires servicing. Over a period of time and use, the locks, bolts and hinges require cleaning, lubrication and adjustment. It is advised to service a safe every 2 years to ensure the internal mechanics are working precisely. Aus Lock & Safe are safe technicians and can provide a complete safe servicing.
[top] Are less expensive safes in retail stores any good?Hardware and retail outlets offer a basic range of home and office safes. While these safes appear attractive by price they generally do not protect the value of the items being stored. Inferior quality safes will not have fire protection ratings or cash ratings and therefore offer a lower level of protection. Also, you’re generally not going to receive expert advice from a store that sells a diverse range of products. It’s important to research and gain expert advice before you buy a safe. Refer to the ‘Ten Top Tips’ when buying a safe to ensure you select the appropriate safe for your protective needs.
[top] Can I change my safe combination?Yes. For combination and digital code access locks you will be issued with a set of instructions on how to change it to a new code. If you are unable to change the combination a qualified safe technician will be able to assist you.
[top] Do mechanical combination locks and digital locks offer the same degree of protection?Both types of locks undergo the same Underwriters Laboratory testing. The benefit of having a digital lock is that they are very convenient to use.
[top] What happens if I forget the safe combination?You will need to contact a safe technician to reset the combination lock. However, we recommend that you record the safe combination and give it to a trusted person. Make sure you do not keep the combination in you home or work office and not in the safe itself.
[top] What if the batteries go dead in an electric lock?Before the batteries go dead the lock emits a beeping sound to alert the user that the batteries need to be changed. Batteries can be easily changed. The private combination will be stored in a memory chip inside the electronic lock. Once the batteries are changed you will continue to use the same combination.
[top] What is the warranty on my safe?The time period on warranties vary, so refer to manufacturers guidelines. Warrantee time frames can be different for the safe construction and lock hardware. Retain all purchasing documentation and contact your manufacturer if required. However, Aus Lock & Safe will endeavour to have your warranty attended to as soon as possible.
[top] Do you provide delivery services as well as pick-up?Yes, we can arrange delivery as well as installation. You can also pick up your safe from an allocated location.
For safes 40kgs and over the safe will be sent by a courier which provides delivery to the door only. To move the safe into your home or business Aus Lock and Safe offer an inside delivery service. We also offer an installation service.