Security Safes

Security safes can be underfloor, wall fitted, or free standing which is the most common. Free standing safes are available in many different sizes, depending on the requirements and the volume capacity that you require to secure all your valuables. Safes are graded for insurance purposes for securing cash and valuables (notably jewellery). The higher the grade – the more you are covered for in the event of theft or fire.

Grade                Cash Cover             Valuables Cover

0                        €10,000                     €100,000

1                        €17,000                     €170,000

2                        €29,000                     €290,000

3                        €58,000                     €580,000

4                        €100,000                   €1,000,000

5                        €158,000                   €1,580,000

6                        €220,000                   €2,200,000

Security safes have different types of locking mechanisms:

High Security Key Locking – Requires a key to open

Combination Locking – Mechanical keyless opening

Digital Electronic Locking – keyless locking with audit trail

Dual Key /Combination Locking – Double security opening

Time Lock – Lock will only open at a pre set time

Time Delay Lock – Safe will only open at a set time after the lock is opened

There are different means of depositing and securing money and valuables especially for commercial applications which have different requirements for staff usage and for those where it is impractical to give keys out.

Deposit Chute – Deposit cash / keys without opening the safe

Envelope Slot – Deposit documents without opening the safe

Rotary Trap – Deposit large items without opening the safe

Coffer – Internal secure compartment within the safe for management use only.

Free Standing Safes are made of very heavy material and should be bolted to the floor to provide a very high level of protection. High security safes have added protection against drilling and explosive attacks.

Fire Resistant safes and cabinets

Fire Proof Safes, Cabinets and Cupboards although not as secure as security safes are designed to offer higher protection against fire and smoke damage. These are more suitable for the protection of documents, files and data discs. They offer protection from 30 minutes upwards and are regulated by grading standards similar to security safes.

Fire protection is offered for small data safes and large filing cabinets. Fire safes can be secured by key, combination and digital locking depending on the requirement.

When choosing or specifying the most suitable safe, you might need to ask the following questions

• What do you need to protect? Cash , Valuables or Data
• Do you need security, fire resistance or both?
• How much space do you have available?

Security Safes for cash or valuables

• What value needs to be protected?
• Is fire resistance needed as well?
• Does the safe need bolting down?
• Lock Option – Key or electronic?

Fire Resistant Safes for paper & data

• Which is most suitable – a safe, cupboard or filing cabinet?
• Are you securing paper or data discs?
• How many fire hours resistance is needed?
• How much storage space is required inside the safe?
• Lock Option – Key or electronic

Always check with the insurer to make sure they approve of your choice of safe! For sales and further information visit http://safesdirect2u.ie/

The post How to Choose a Safe appeared first on Expert Security.

• Standards and Regulations
• Doors, Locks & Cylinders
• Patented & High Security Keys
• Master Key Systems
• Door Closers
• Handles / Hinges
• Access Control
• Electric locks and Mag locks
• Wire Free Electronic Locking
• Mechatronic & Electronic Key Systems

Regulation, Standards and Safety Compliance For Door Locks and Hardware

As a property or facility manager you need to be aware of standards and legislation that affect door locking in the buildings that you manage including

• EN 179 standards for emergency door exits. This standard specifies that a lever handle or pad should be fitted to exit doors. The handle has to be of a certain length and height. Exit for people exiting the final door of a building should be with one movement of the body.

• EN 1129 standards for emergency exits specify that a panic latch should be fitted in public buildings like halls and cinemas. Exit should be possible using only a single touch.

• EN 14846 standards for specification of egress hardware for emergency exit doors fitted with electronic locks and access control. Two exit type buttons or mechanical handle should be fitted for safe egress.

• Construction Product regulations 2013 Act legislates for the quality of door hardware. It is a criminal offence since July 2013 for building managers and installers to permit EU non-compliant products on fire and emergency doors. Products should have a DOP certificate to validate the CE marking.

• Equality Act 2005 /  DDA Act is compliance for disabled persons to enter and exit a building easily and without hindrance and discrimination.

• Private Security Act 2004 provides for the installation, repair and servicing of access control, locks or door closer fitted to any common door operated by two or more intercoms or other access controlled devices. Contractors engaged to work on access controlled doors must hold a current PSA security license to install and maintain the hardware on access controlled doors. It is a criminal offence to engage an unlicensed contractor and any insurance claim may be invalidated by engaging an unlicensed contractor.  Licensing for the installation, opening and servicing of locks & safes and the supply of security and master keys will be introduced in 2014. Only licensed contractors will be able to install, repair and open locks or supply security keys with authorisation. 

PRSA licensing is conditional on compliance with these and other regulations. Noncompliance with any of the above may affect an insurance claim.

Doors     

Doors are a very important part of the building security and safety. Every effort should be made to have heavy duty doors at main entrances that will withstand attempted forced entry and vandalism. Fire doors should be compliant with building regulations to curtail a fire and prevent smoke passing through the entire building. Fire doors and emergency exits should conform to the safety standards set out by the local fire officer and building inspector.

Locks

Locks are the mainstay of security for perimeter and internal doors in a building. Modern locks are typically euro cylinder operated where the barrel slides through the lock and the door from the outside to the inside of the door. These can be keyed both sides or with a thumb turn on the inside for easy exit without using a key. There are other types of cylinders including rim cylinders for Yale locks, Scan cylinders for Swedish doors. Chubb type mortise locks are still around but usually on internal doors.

Cylinders

Cylinders are the part of the lock where the key enters and  are usually mushroom shaped. Over time the cylinders wear and it is more difficult for the keys to operate the lock. It is advisable to fit a replacement when the cylinder wears as eventually lock outs occur. A cylinder can be replaced made up to an existing key. However if they are regular keys that can be cut in a shoe repair shop, the chances are that not all the old keys will operate the new cylinder as some of the old keys may be worn as well. Most of these standard cylinders are manufactured in China and wear very quickly and cause problems in opening.

High security patented cylinders

High Security and Patented Cylinders can be fitted for added security with protection from wear and tear. They are more durable than the standard cylinders with anti-pick / bump / drill and 3D printing resistance. These cylinders are operated by high security keys and require authorisation from The Property or Facilities Manager to get copied. These keys are computer originated and will always operate a replacement or keyed alike cylinder added. Tenants cannot get duplicate keys copied without authorisation from the building manager.

The Patent on these key systems last for 20 years from the original date of filing. Many locks on the market are no longer patent protected and can be copied by milling machines, spurious blanks and even 3D printers. The Mul-T-Lock patent expires on December 31^st 2013 and these keys can be copied legally from January 1^st 2014 by any key cutter.

Master key systems

Master key systems can be supplied so that all locks in a building can be opened by their own individual key while all the locks can be opened with a single master key. It is also possible that all the same keys can open a single lock on an entrance gate or refuse shed. It is preferable that a master key system is built using a security key as it can be controlled better by the building manager.

Mechanically coded / digital locks

Mechanically coded / digital door locks and padlocks are suitable for doors where common access requiring lower security is required. They are practical for refuse or utility rooms. Great care should be taken that the codes are not made available to unauthorised persons as it will compromise the security.

Access Control

Access Control normally refers to magnets or electric locks on doors or gates operated by fobs, cards or keypads and the intercom system. Most access control systems are hard wired. You can control who has access with fobs and cards as these can be deleted from the system if someone loses their card or you want to deny access for whatever reason, this can be done by a hand held programmer on site or from a remote computer at a desk.

Battery operated electronic locks

Battery operated electronic locks and access control systems are getting very popular. These can be fitted to any door for low cost access control solutions using fobs or cards. They are cheaper than hard wired systems to install as labour costs are reduced because there is no cabling involved. They are particularly suited to doors that are not pre wired like inner doors at different floor levels or individual office doors. Property managers can still manage to control access and to replace individual fobs or cards without changing the lock or all the keys.

Electronic key systems 

Electronic key systems or Mechatronic keys offer higher security due to the mechanical key security embedded with an electronic chip to delete lost or stolen keys from a locking system. A regular lock cylinder is replaced by an electronic cylinder and gives all the benefits of an access control system with added mechanical security

Magnets

Magnets on doors and gates are normally opened on the outside by a keypad, card /fob or a key switch and from the inside by a push button release and break glass units. Magnets are fitted to the top of the door but over time they cause the door to warp and misalign from the frame. Doors fitted with magnets break more easily when brute force is applied.

If the power fails or a break glass unit is broken, the door will remain open until repaired or reset. This is commonly referred to as fail safe or fail open. Special attention should be given to magnetic locks fitted to ensure that they comply with EN standards as many of them do not.

Electric locks

Electric locks are preferable to magnets as they are more secure in the event of a power failure or vandalism while still retaining safe egress. Electric locks are fitted to the middle of the door which prevents warping and more secure against forced entry.

Electric locks can be opened by all of the above along with mechanical keys on the outside and a handle on the inside. If the power fails or a break glass unit is vandalised, the door remains locked. This is commonly referred to as fail locked or fail secure.

Door closers

There are different types of door closers with closing power ratings. Doors closers are graded by the strength of their closing and latching action. Internal or light duty fire doors are normally graded 2/3 strength while main and heavy doors require a 4/6 rating. There are different valves to adjust the piston for the door speed and latching action. The heavy duty closers have a back check function for smoother action

Door and latching speeds should be synchronised properly to avoid slamming when closing. Winds can affect the door operation and high power closers should be fitted if the door is exposed.

4/5 graded closers should be fitted where necessary to ensure a smooth latching action to compliment the secure latching of a lock while preventing the door slamming and creating excessive banging and noise.

Hinges and pivots

Hinges and door pivots should be maintained in good condition as any excessive wear will cause the door to drop. Hinges and pivots should be lubricated frequently to minimise wear and friction.

Handles

Poor quality handles fitted to doors are prone to breaking and denying users safe exit. The internal springs and clips are weaker. They break easier and disengage from the door. Handles should be fitted to the door with long screws or preferably with bolt through fixings to prevent the handle coming away from the door.

 IF IN ANY DOUBT YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BUILDING OR FIRE OFFICER TO ENSURE THAT THE LOCKING HARDWARE THAT YOU USE, COMPLY WITH THE APPROPRIATE LOCAL STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS.

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Irish Lock & Security News  Welcome to this edition of  Irish Lock & Security News  brought to you by Expert Security Ltd.  It is our intention to bring you current news and information on new trends and products with videos and content.   See how homes can be broken into in 13 seconds! Click on the picture or link below to view. http://www.euro-secure.com/flovids/LockSnapping.mp4 See how a high security key locking system works! Click on the image or link below to view  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yecUQ81cBZA Electronic cylinders that give you wireless access control Replace a standard key euro cylinder with an electronic one operated by a card or fob for low cost access control. Delete a lost or stolen fob without changing the lock and record who and when used the lock”                   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBCFvpD5c04                        www.expertsecurity.ie          Copyright © Expert Security Ltd 2014, All rights reserved.   Visit www.expertsecurity.ie for all your locking solutions. Our mailing address is: irishlockandsecuritynews@expertsecurity.ie

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