Burglary Resistance Classes and Test Methods for Safes and Vaults

During a burglary test, a safe or vault is subjected to an attack by experienced testers using professional burglary tools. Factors such as the tools employed, the time required and the level of skill needed to force an opening determine the final resistance grade. For safes and security cabinets, these grades range from Grade 0 up to Grade VI, while for large strongrooms or vaults, classifications extend up to Grade XIII.

Certification is directly linked to insurance guidelines. Insurers assign an indicative insured value to each grade: the higher the resistance class, the greater the value that can be safely stored in the safe or vault. This indicative value assumes standard conditions, such as storage in an unguarded and unsecured building. With additional security measures, insurers may increase the recommended coverage.

The EN 14450 standard applies mainly to burglary-resistant security cabinets designed for lower-risk applications, while EN 1143-1 covers safes and vaults built to protect higher values. Both standards are internationally recognised and provide a realistic indication of the level of protection.

By choosing a European-certified safe or vault according to EN 14450 or EN 1143-1, you are assured of a product tested for quality and burglary resistance, meeting the requirements of both users and insurers.

The effective insurance coverage may vary depending on the location of the building, the nature of the items stored and the presence of additional security measures. For a definitive determination, the insurer must always be consulted, and coverage may be increased if extra protection is provided. It is important to note that the amounts for cash and for valuables cannot be added together: for example, a Grade 3 safe is suitable for a maximum of €45,000 in cash or €90,000 in valuables.

The protection level of a safe is determined not only by its construction and resistance grade (EN 1143-1 or EN 14550), but also by the quality of the high security lock. The European standard EN 1300 assesses the resistance of high security locks and classifies them into four classes (A, B, C and D) according to their resistance against manipulation and destructive attacks. Key locks, mechanical combination locks, and electronic code locks can all be EN 1300 certified.

Each safe grade requires a minimum lock class:

• EN 14550 (S1–S2) and EN 1143-1 Grade 0–2: at least 1× Class A
• EN 1143-1 Grade 3: at least 1× Class B
• EN 1143-1 Grade 4–5: at least 2× Class B
• EN 1143-1 Grade 6–10: at least 2× Class C
• EN 1143-1 Grade 11–12: 3× Class C or 2× Class D
• EN 1143-1 Grade 13: at least 2× Class D

The choice of a high security lock therefore depends not only on ease of use and desired features (such as electronic control, multiple user codes or integration with an alarm system), but also on the required lock class corresponding to the safe grade.

In addition to standard burglary resistance, some safes are equipped with extra protection features. These provide additional resistance against specific attack methods and are marked on the certification:

• Explosion Protection (EX): in this test, an explosive charge is detonated inside the safe. After the explosion, the safe must still maintain a defined level of burglary resistance. Safes that pass this test are labelled with EX added to their grade.
• Core Drilling Protection (CD): an extra armour layer designed to resist diamond-tipped drilling and milling tools. Safes equipped with this feature are labelled with CD in their grade.
• Planar Protection: a fully integrated network of alarm wiring within the body of the safe, enabling direct connection to an alarm system.

These additional protections significantly increase resistance and are particularly relevant in high-risk environments or where specialised attack methods are expected.

The European standard EN 1143-2 has been specifically developed for deposit safes and night safes. It defines the requirements, classification and test methods for burglary resistance, but also tests the deposit system itself. An essential aspect is that deposited items or valuables cannot be reached or retrieved through the deposit system or deposit opening.

As with EN 1143-1, the same resistance grades are applied, with a corresponding indicative insurable value. In practice, the highest certification level achieved for deposit safes is generally Grade D IV.

Burglary-resistant safes and vaults are tested by independent, accredited laboratories in accordance with European standards such as EN 1143-1, EN 1143-2 and EN 14450. These laboratories work closely together, sharing experience and addressing new threats. This cooperation improves the overall quality of testing and makes it easier to add new requirements to existing standards. For example, a new class for ATMs (automated teller machines) was developed in a short time to respond to frequent gas explosion attacks.

Preparation

Before testing, the manufacturing plans of the safe are reviewed. Any comments are communicated to the manufacturer, who can revise the design. Once approved, the manufacturer must supply two units for testing.

Test Procedure

The test consists of creating two openings:

• a partial access of approx. 100 x 100 mm,
• a full access, providing complete entry.

Each resistance class corresponds to a specific number of Resistance Units (RU). For example, a Grade 3 safe must withstand 80 RU for partial access and 120 RU for full access.

Each tool has a fixed tool coefficient, which is factored into a formula to calculate how long it may be applied. Only the effective contact time is counted, and testers are free to use as many tools as they deem necessary. Testing always targets the weakest point of the safe, as identified from the manufacturing plans, and also verifies compliance with the approved design.

New Tool List T2

All testing is carried out with a standardised tool list. Recently, an updated version called the Tool List T2 has been introduced. When a safe is tested according to this stricter list, this is stated on the identification plate, for example Grade III T2.

Certification and Follow-Up

If the safe passes the test, it may be certified by an accredited body, typically the test laboratory itself or ECB·S. After certification, the manufacturer is subject to several unannounced inspections each year, and must comply with the ISO 9001 quality standard.

This process ensures that a safe certified according to EN 1143-1, EN 1143-2 or EN 14450 not only meets the laboratory criteria, but also continues to meet these requirements in production.

In addition to ECB·S-certified safes and vaults, there are products carrying certificates issued by organisations that are not accredited under EN 45011 and/or not recognised by ECB·S. Such certificates are not equivalent to the European standard EN 1143-1 and generally provide a significantly lower level of security.

Experience has shown repeatedly that safes tested by unrecognised or unqualified laboratories often do not meet the required standards. In several cases, safes advertised with a high grade were later retested by accredited institutes and found to achieve only a much lower classification.

Field experience confirms this problem. For example, in Antwerp’s diamond district, Atelier Boonen encountered a safe labelled as Grade VI that, despite its heavy weight and thick concrete-filled walls, could be opened in less than 30 minutes. It lacked adequate drill protection, the relocker was easily bypassed, and the installed locks did not meet the requirements for a Grade 6 safe.

These examples illustrate that a heavy or solid-looking safe does not necessarily provide genuine burglary resistance. We strongly recommend choosing only ECB·S-certified safes and vaults, which are tested independently and in full compliance with European standards.