A place for your valuables.

What needs to fit inside?

First list what you want to store: jewellery, contracts, cash or keepsakes. Measure the largest item, including its case. For documents, use the actual folder dimensions; for devices, include accessories. Allow some spare room and decide which items need to be within daily reach. A sketch of the layout you need is more useful than comparing capacity in litres alone.

Check burglary and fire protection separately

EN 1143-1 and EN 14450 concern resistance to burglary; EN 1047-1 and EN 15659 concern fire resistance testing. Evidence from one group does not replace evidence from the other. Keep separate columns for the standard, classification and supporting document in your comparison. Ask for the documents covering the exact model variant. A general description such as “secure” does not answer these questions.

Background: ECB-S: accreditation scope and standards for secure storage units

• Check fire protection separately

Three steps towards a suitable choice

First, define the contents, access needs and spare capacity. Second, measure the installation space and the entire delivery route, including the door opening and handles. Third, compare the documentation for the specific model with your requirements and discuss unresolved insurance questions directly with your insurer. Then compare the lock, internal layout and installation. Price and external dimensions alone are not enough to make the decision.

• Plan the contents and measure the available space
• Compare keys and electronic codes

Make your enquiry specific

Include the internal dimensions you need, available floor space, floor level and preferred handover point. Explain whether access is for you alone or for several people. Do not share codes, key hiding places or detailed inventories of valuables through a general enquiry form. The type of contents and your organisational needs are sufficient for an initial selection. The models shown here remain development examples; their category does not demonstrate tested protection.

Keep a comparison with open questions

Use the same short table for each shortlisted model: usable internal space, door opening, intended installation, operation and available evidence. Clearly mark missing information as unresolved. This shows whether you are comparing two similarly sized containers or two solutions with evidence that matches your needs. Add your priorities, such as daily access, flexible shelving or a particular location. For a later enquiry, this order is more useful than a long list of arbitrary features. Keep answers and product documents together so you can trace the reasoning behind your choice.