What do I have to consider when buying a safe?

What is important? What size do I need and how can I insure my valuables? Is fire protection necessary? All questions are answered here.

Step 1

Usage

What would you like to store in your safe?

First, think about what you want to store in your safe. Weapons and ammo require a different storage option than gold or jewelry. We also have the appropriate model for documents and keys.

Valuables
CASH, VALUABLES & JEWELRY

Appropriate safe types:

Safes, burglar-proof safes, fire-proof safes, furniture safes, wall safes

Documents
DOCUMENTS, FILES & FOLDERS

Appropriate safe types:

Document cabinets, filing cabinets, steel office cabinets, fireproof safes, fireproof safes, wall safes, fireproof cassettes, vertical cabinets

Data carrier
DATA CARRIERS & STORAGE MEDIA

Appropriate safe types:

Data safes, data cabinets, data security cabinets, data protection safes with fire protection

Weapons and ammunition
WEAPONS & AMMUNITION

Appropriate safe types:

Handgun cabinet, gun cabinet, long gun cabinet, ammo safe

Keys
KEYS

Appropriate safe types:

Key safe, key cabinet, key box, emergency key box, key issuing system, car dealer safes, drawer safes, drop-in safes

Step 2

Insurance

Where will the safe be used and what do you want to insure?

When using it, it is important to distinguish whether the safe is used for private or commercial purposes. This is what decides the sum insured - in other words, how much the safe can be insured for. Basically, safes in the private sector are more insurable than those that are used commercially.

The higher resistance level of a safe, the higher the maximum sums insured. Because of this, the security level increases the value that can be stored in the vault.

Note: The sum insured can be doubled if the safe is additionally equipped with a VdS-certified intruder alarm system (EMA). This is possible with safes with a higher security class.

IMPORTANT: Clarify with the insurance company what level of security the safe requires before you buy it!

Private use
PRIVATE USE

Application area:
In private apartments, houses, holiday homes, cottages etc.

Storage options:
Watches, gold, jewellery, cash, important documents (insurance, certificates, sales contracts, passports), personal valuables (camera, tablet), weapons & ammunition, medication, storage media (hard drives, memory cards)

Commercial use
COMMERCIAL USE

Application area:
Gas stations, car dealerships, banks, surgeries, other companies

Storage options:
Important keys, change, daily password, contracts, business documents, plans, personnel files, patient files, storage media and data carriers (hard drives, memory cards), balance sheets etc.


Step 3

Burglary protection

Which burglary protection should I choose?

The burglary protection of a safe is defined by the security class. For this purpose, the safe is subjected to certain tests. These tests are carried out by independent test institutes according to criteria defined throughout Europe. The test uses all mechanical, electrical and thermal tools that unauthorized persons could use to try to open a safe. The security levels for safes show how much time it takes to force open a safe without the right code or key.
This time is coded in RU (resistant units).

Especially when protecting cash, jewellery, important documents or valuables, you should choose a safe with quality and verified certification.

If a certain security level is required by the insurance company, it is important to comply with this so that the contents of the safe can be insured correctly.

Security levels according to EN1143-1

Step 4

Fire protection

Do I need fire protection?

Fire protection is important! If you want to store documents, important papers, insurance documents, storage media, pictures, etc. in your safe, it is important to choose a safe with fire protection. This is the only way to protect the contents of the safe from fire and to preserve your personal memories.

The fire protection class shows how long the content (paper, data...) is protected from the effects of heat without being damaged.

Fire-tested means: fire test at 1090°C for 30 minutes/60 minutes/120 minutes in a special furnace and subsequent fall test from a height of 9.15 m.

However, there is still a distinction between paper documents and paper and data carriers (CDs, DVDs, USB sticks, etc.). "P" is the designation for paper - "DIS" for data carriers.

30 minutes fire protection
30 MINUTES FIRE PROTECTION
60 minutes fire protection
60 MINUTES FIRE PROTECTION
120 minutes fire protection
120 MINUTES FIRE PROTECTION

Step 5

Locks

How should the safe be locked?

We offer a large selection of locks for our safes.

One of the most common questions is:"Which lock is the most secure?" This question is easy to answer because all certified locks are equally secure. You can simply choose according to your personal taste here.

We have listed the advantages of the individual locks here.

Electronic lock
ELECTRONIC LOCK

Code opening - product is battery operated

Code can be changed as often as you want
Entry via keyboard
Easy to read
Many different variants/possibilities
Key does not have to be hidden
Double-bitted lock
DOUBLE-BITTED LOCK

2 keys are included in the basic equipment

No number combination to remember
Code cannot be forgotten
Easy opening
Any number of keys can be trimmed
Mechanical combination lock
MECHANICAL COMBINATION LOCK

Entry by code in both directions

Change the code as you like using the changeover key
Changing is only possible for the code owner
Key does not have to be hidden
RFID lock
RFID LOCK

Any card with an RFID function can be used

No code necessary / cannot be forgotten
Key does not have to be hidden
Any card with RFID function possible
Quick & easy opening
Perfect for a hotel
Touchscreen lock
TOUCHSCREEN LOCK

Enter the code using your finger on the touchscreen lock

Quick & easy opening
Easy to read keyboard
Code can be changed as often as you want
Key does not have to be hidden
Modern look
Bluetooth lock
BLUETOOTH LOCK

Opening takes place with the Rottner Unlock App

No key or code needed
Can be connected to the mobile phone by Bluetooth
Opening possible via app on the mobile phone
Simple operation
Fingerprint lock
Fingerprint lock

Opening by fingerprints

Quick & easy opening
Code cannot be forgotten
Key does not have to be hidden
Excellent for hotels

Step 6

Place of installation

Where should I set up my safe and what are the options?

Think carefully in advance about where the safe will be placed and anchored. The safe should be stable and not tip over or fall over.

! PLEASE NOTE: Approved safes under 1000 kg must be anchored in the concrete floor or a solid structure (concrete). Anchoring in the screed is not sufficient. It is essential to pay attention to the soil conditions/load-bearing capacity of the subsoil. Check that there are no pipes/underfloor heating under the location where the safe is to be anchored.

The safe can either be anchored to the floor and/or wall, built into the wall, or screwed/integrated into a piece of furniture.

We offer safes with different holes on the bottom and/or in the back wall. Please pay attention to which holes you need. Wall safes are specially designed to be built into the wall.

Our tip: Clarify all questions about the location and attachment before purchasing the safe so that there are no nasty surprises afterwards.

Freestanding safe
FREESTANDING SAFES
Walled in safe
WALLED IN SAFE
Safe in piece of furniture
FURNITURE SAFES

Step 7

Delivery

What are the delivery options available to me?

Please select one of our delivery options before ordering the safe.