| There's no safe designed to protect against | | | | minutes, while lower-rated ones protect contents for |
| everything. Most safes do better against some | | | | about 30 minutes. Conventional fire safes do this by |
| threats than others. If you're looking to protect your | | | | converting trapped moisture into steam as it gets |
| valuables, here are some of the more common types | | | | hot. |
| of safes on the market. | | | | Media safes are designed to protect digital equipment |
| Freestanding safes come in many sizes, and they are | | | | from fire and theft. A media safe keeps the |
| the most basic type of safe. When buying a | | | | temperature inside considerably lower than a |
| freestanding safe, look for one with thick metal all | | | | conventional fire safe does, because media |
| the way around--since burglars can access all sides of | | | | equipment is more sensitive to fire than paper is. It |
| a freestanding safe, make sure that all sides can | | | | also does not use steam conversion to control |
| stand up to break-in attempts. In addition, a | | | | internal temperatures, so the contents won't be |
| freestanding safe should always be bolted to a floor, | | | | damaged by moisture. |
| preferably a cement floor, so burglars can't carry it | | | | Gun safes are sized to hold guns. They come in |
| off. | | | | many different sizes, and most potential buyers are |
| Wall safes. These are installed in your wall, and on | | | | encouraged to buy more space than they need in |
| TV, they're often concealed behind a picture or | | | | case their gun collection grows. A good gun safe |
| poster. This is probably the easiest way to conceal a | | | | protects a gun collection from theft as well as from |
| wall safe, and also the least effective--burglars watch | | | | curious children, and it should always be bolted to the |
| those TV shows, too. The best way to conceal a | | | | floor so burglars can't remove it from the premises. |
| wall safe is by installing it behind a panel specially | | | | Gun safes are usually freestanding. |
| designed to match the wall. | | | | Diversion safes are safes concealed inside an object |
| Floor safes can be extremely secure. Even if an | | | | to look inconspicuous. Diversion safes can be made |
| unconcealed safe is bolted to the floor, burglars can | | | | to look like books, household cleaning products, |
| still attack it from all sides. Not so with a floor | | | | candles, bottled drinks, and more--the varieties are |
| safe--only the door is accessible, and that's the | | | | endless. These are usually large enough only for small |
| toughest part of most safes. A floor safe is installed | | | | items such as keys and credit cards, and are often |
| in concrete--either in a concrete floor, or encased in a | | | | not recommended for serious security, as once a |
| concrete block beneath the floor. While the safe | | | | burglar finds your diversion safe they can easily |
| itself may be less expensive--many floor safes are | | | | remove it. |
| only reinforced at the door, because the sides are | | | | Laptop safes are sized to fit laptop computers, and |
| inaccessible--it can cost more to install. Floor safes | | | | they come in many different models. Some can be |
| offer some fire protection, and can often be | | | | attached to a desk or installed in a drawer; portable |
| concealed more effectively than wall safes, because | | | | laptop safes can be carried. Many hotels provide |
| you can position a heavy and difficult-to-move piece | | | | laptop safes for business travelers in each room. |
| of furniture over it. | | | | They are much more effective than security straps |
| Drop or deposit safes are often used by businesses | | | | used for laptops. |
| whose employees handle large amounts of cash, | | | | Medical safes are usually shaped like a cabinet, and |
| such as banks and car dealerships. Some drop safes | | | | are used to lock up drugs and other medical |
| have a simple slot on the top or the side where | | | | paraphernalia. They are usually used to keep drugs |
| money can be dropped in, while others have more | | | | away from children, and are not designed to |
| elaborate drawer mechanisms for depositing larger | | | | withstand serious burglary attempts. Businesses |
| items. Some drop safes can be installed in the floor | | | | sometimes use medical safes to store drugs and |
| or wall, but many are freestanding. Drop safes are | | | | equipment for employees with medical conditions, and |
| often relatively light, and are rarely designed to | | | | they are sometimes found in pharmacies and doctors' |
| protect against serious break-in attempts. Most | | | | offices as well. |
| businesses use them for cash or valuable storage | | | | It's recommended that you invest in a good |
| during the day and remove the items at night. | | | | safe--don't simply pick the cheapest. It doesn't make |
| Fire safes are specially designed to shield valuables | | | | sense to protect valuables worth £10,000 or |
| from fire. Most fire safes are designed to keep the | | | | more in a £100 safe. Do a little research and |
| temperature inside below the temperature at which | | | | decide which safe makes sense in your situation, and |
| paper chars for a certain period of time. Higher-rated | | | | you'll have a good chance of finding the protection |
| fire safes can control the temperature for up to 120 | | | | you need. |