Home > Locksmith Blog > High-Security Safes 101: What You Need to Know

Here at Eastway Lock & Key, Inc., we understand that while some people only need the level of protection that a standard safe provides to keep their possessions secure, there are many others who need the added assurance of a high-security safe. As their name suggests, high-security safes are designed to provide a high level of protection from things like burglary, fires, and other forms of attack. In this article, we’ll explore what makes high-security safes so beneficial and review a few of the options that are available to our customers.

High-Security Safes 101: What You Need to Know

The gold standard for high-security safes is those that have achieved a TL Rating from the Underwriters Laboratories (UL), which is an independent, not-for-profit testing agency whose sole purpose is to test equipment to determine its safety. The testing process for high-security safes involves exposing them to various tools and environmental conditions and evaluating how they hold up in adverse conditions.

For example, during testing, a high-security safe might be attacked with a sledgehammer, saws, blowtorches, drills, and other safe-cracking equipment. The UL rating a safe gets depends on how long it can withstand the attack without compromising whatever is inside.

One of the best names in the high-security safe world is ISM, and we’re proud to carry several of their high-security safes in our inventory. Our options include:

  • TL-30 (Tool Resistant for 30 minutes): Safes with a TL-30 rating are designed to withstand a determined and skilled burglar armed with common hand tools, such as drills, saws, and sledgehammers, for 30 minutes.
  • TL-30×6 (Tool Resistant for 30 minutes on all six sides): This rating indicates that the safe has been tested and proven to resist burglary attempts from all six sides (top, bottom, back, sides, and both doors) for 30 minutes.
  • TRTL-30×6 (Torch and Tool Resistant for 30 minutes on all six sides): Safes with a TRTL-30×6 rating are resistant to common hand tools and torches. This means they can withstand torch attacks and other tool attacks for 30 minutes on all six sides.

If you’d like to learn more about your options when it comes to high-security safes, our team would be happy to assist you. Contact our office today for more information!