Grade 2 safes and fire safes | EN 1143-1 burglary and fire resistant

For resistance grade II, the indicative insurable value is €25,000 in cash or €50,000 in valuables. This indication is based on standard storage conditions in an unattended and unsecured building. Where additional security measures are in place, the insurer may allow a higher level of coverage.

To obtain EN 1143-1 Grade 2 certification, safes and fire safes must be equipped with at least one lock, certified in accordance with EN 1300, Class A. Depending on the design and application, some Grade 2 safes can also be fitted with two locks, for example a combination of a key lock and a code lock.

The EN 1143-1 standard relates exclusively to the burglary resistance of safes and fire safes. Fire resistance is not an integral part of this standard and is therefore always assessed separately in accordance with specific fire-resistance standards. Within Grade 2, there are consequently both burglary-only safes and fire-resistant models that have obtained an additional fire protection certification.

Depending on the selected model and the fire test applied, Grade 2 fire safes may provide 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes of fire resistance for paper. In addition, there are versions offering tested fire protection of up to 120 minutes for data media, making this grade suitable for applications where, in addition to burglary protection, a high level of document and data protection is required.

Grade 2 burglary- and fire-resistant safes according to EN 1143-1 offer a well-balanced combination of reliable burglary protection and high fire resistance. Compared to higher burglary-resistance grades, resistance grade II allows for a significantly higher level of fire protection, making this grade particularly attractive for users looking for a Grade 2 fire safe with extended fire resistance.

This difference is technically explained. In higher burglary-resistance grades (Grade 3 and above), very high-density materials are used, such as high-performance concrete and UHPC, combined with steel reinforcement and armour layers. These materials are essential to achieve a high level of burglary resistance in accordance with EN 1143-1, but they are less effective as thermal insulation and conduct heat more rapidly.

With fire safes up to EN 1143-1 Grade 2, the construction can be more strongly optimised for thermal insulation, making it possible to comply with stricter fire-resistance standards, such as EN 1047-1. This demanding standard allows fire protection levels of up to 120 minutes for paper and even 120 minutes for data media.

As a result, a Grade 2 fire-resistant safe represents an excellent compromise between high fire protection and reliable burglary resistance according to EN 1143-1. Grade 2 safes and fire safes are therefore particularly suitable for applications where the protection of documents and data in the event of fire is at least as important as protection against theft.