How to Choose a Safe or Vault in Belgium ?

For fire-resistant safes, a distinction must be made between the protection of paper and that of digital media. Paper ignites spontaneously at a temperature of around 175 °C, while digital media such as CDs or tapes can be damaged from about 55 °C onwards.

Read more about the fire-resistance classes and test methods applied to safes and fireproof cabinets.

The level of burglar resistance depends on several factors, such as the location of the building, the nature of the valuables to be protected, and the possible presence of additional security systems. When making a choice, an estimation of the value to be stored in the safe can also be taken into account.

Tested safes are classified into different resistance categories. Each category corresponds to an indicative content value, defined in collaboration with the insurance sector. This provides a realistic indication of the maximum value that can be stored in a given safe.

Read more about the burglar-resistance classes and the test methods applied to safes and security cabinets.

Many manufacturers now offer safes and vaults that provide certified protection against both fire and burglary. In most cases, these models are fire-resistant for the protection of paper. For digital media, an additional fireproof inner compartment can often be added.

It should be noted, however, that fire-resistant construction generally requires thicker walls, making combined safes and vaults less compact than models designed solely for burglary resistance.

The choice of lock is a key factor when selecting a safe. Depending on the usage profile and risk level, a safe can be fitted with key locks, mechanical combination locks, electronic code locks, or a combination of both. Electronic locks often provide additional features such as programmable user codes, time delay functions, or integration into an alarm system. Where possible, a combination lock (for example code + key) is preferred over a key-only lock: keys are bulky, difficult to keep secure, and if lost or stolen, they grant immediate access to the safe. Certified safes and fire-resistant cabinets must also be equipped with certified locks according to EN 1300. This standard classifies locks into Classes A, B, C and D, based on their resistance to manipulation and burglary attempts.

Any safe weighing less than 1,000 kg must, in accordance with the EN 1143-1 standard, be securely anchored to the floor or the wall. The ideal support is solid, crack-free concrete with a minimum thickness of 150 mm. Correct anchoring is particularly essential for lighter safes, in order to prevent them from being moved or carried away.

Where possible, it is recommended to choose a location above a concrete floor and/or against a load-bearing wall, to ensure the solidity of the anchoring.

We recommend placing a safe or vault out of sight. For professional users, accessibility and ease of use are essential. Private users may choose to hide a safe, which can provide additional protection but often reduces ease of use.

When selecting the location, it is important to balance discretion and accessibility, depending on how frequently the safe or vault will be used.

The required volume depends on the items you wish to store and the available space. The weight of the safe or vault may also influence the selection.

We recommend choosing a safe or vault that is slightly larger than what seems strictly necessary at the time of purchase. This helps prevent the unit from becoming too small with future use.

We are available to advise you in selecting the most suitable safe or vault. Our approach is based on providing accurate and objective information. We draw attention to potential risks and assist in carefully weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the different options.

We work exclusively with certified quality products from a wide range of brands. Since we are not bound to a single brand, we can always offer the most appropriate product at the best all-in price.

Our aim is to guide each client towards a sustainable and well-suited solution, thereby building a long-term relationship of trust.