Product Terms

Security Safes
Designed and constructed with the primary purpose to protect money, important papers and valuables such as jewellery against theft (physical attack). Cash safes will also provide some protection against fire.

Cash Rating This is the overnight cash rating given by the manufacturer in conjunction with Insurers. The cover level indicates the most monetary value insurers suggest can be stored in that safe overnight.

Valuables Cover Typically insurers give up to 10 times the cash rating for valuables, for example, a 4k cash rating would equate to 40k for valuables.

Document Fire Safes Protect all paperwork such as birth certificates, passports, legal documentation, wills etc from fire damage. Safes designed and tested to maintain an internal temperature below 177oC, at which paper burns.

Media Fire Safes Designed for secure storage of media records CD's / DVD's / USB sticks / drives from fire damage, these media materials have special requirements as they corrupt at lower temperatures than paper documents.

Data Fire Safes Designed to provide the highest level of fire protection protects all media i.e. CDs, DVDs, data tapes or photo negatives as well as paperwork from being corrupted or destroyed by fire.

Testing Standards

ECB.S            European Certification Board which operates as the accredited certification body for security products (see Euro-grade below).

Euro-grade System was devised by the insurance industry to give rating consistency across Europe. When a safe has a Euro-grade insurers would give cover equal to the rating. Certifications include EN 1143-1 (for safes), EN 14 450 (for secure safe cabinets) and EN 1047-1 (for data cabinets).

European Ratings S1 EN14450 = 2k S2 EN14450 = 4k Grade 0 = 6k Grade 1 = 10k Grade 2 = 17.5k Grade 3 = 35k Grade 4 = 60k Grade 5 = 100k Grade 6 = 150k

LPCB The Loss Prevention Certification Board assesses and tests safes to ensure that they meet quality standards set by a team of experts who include insurers, manufacturers and engineers.

VdS - German testing laboratories which undertake controlled tests on the lock workings. All our optional high security digital locks available on Chubb Grade 3 and above are VDS class 2 approved.
DIN - German Standards Authority that is the equivalent to BSI - British Standards Institute.

U.L graded Underwriters Laboratories (U.L) is an American independent product safety certification organisation. Safes are graded for their security and fire resistance.

NT Nordtest (NT) Scandinavian organisation which tests and certifies fire resistant safes. The NT Fire 017 certification relates to the test for Fire resistance for safes and cabinets.
ETL Semko Fire Testing
Sentry® Fire-Safe® products with an ETL rating have been tested by the independent testing firm ETL Semko.
ETL Waterproof Verification
Sentry® Fire-Safe® Waterproof Chest and File products undergo testing for waterproof submersion. Tests would involve products being completely submersed, with up to 2 inches of water above the uppermost surface, for a one hour time period. The amount of water entering the Sentry unit was no more than 0.5 grams (8 drops).
Water Resistance Testing
Sentry® Fire-Safe® Advanced Business and Home / Office safes are water-resistant to protect contents from water damage.
The above safes are tested in-house by Sentry’s quality control department and undertake the following tests:-
Tested for a time period of 15 minutes with up to 1,000 gallons of water spray
Tested for a time period of 1 hour standing in 6 inches of water

ISO Certification International standard setting body. Certificates such as the ISO 9002 are awarded as a means of recognising a company dedication to providing customers with high quality products and the best level of customer service.