Safes: What does Safe Burglary Grade or Rating mean?

Finding the right safe sometimes is a difficult task. Good understanding of Burglary Protection Levels is the first step to make the right decision.

Safes in Europe have to be certified according to Eurograde systems EN-1143-1 or EN 14450 regulations. These well-defined standards are tested at a handful of test facilities throughout Europe. In the context of money insurance, the amounts that can be insured in a specific safe vary across European countries (see Table below).

EN-1143-1 certification

Safes are being tested according to the EN 1143-1 standard. The aim is to figure out the approximate time a burglar needs to get partial or complete access to the contents of the safe. Afterward, they are classified into security grades as seen in the table underneath.

Complete access indicates the full and complete access to the valuables inside the safe. A burglar has partial access to a safe when he is only able to reach into the safe door with his hands and therefore not access all valuables.

The higher the grade, the longer it takes the burglar to access the contents of the safe. 

EN 14450 certification

The requirements for EN 14450 are lower than for resistance Grade 0 to EN-1143-1. Freestanding secure safe cabinets must pass an anchoring test.

Tests on safes consist of:

• attacks for partial and complete access;
• anchoring tests;
• additional tests with core drills, explosives, and gas.

According to European Security Systems Association (ESSA) the amounts that can be insured variate across European countries. When the insured amount increases it indicated an increase in the number and strength of the bolts.

Insurance Amounts in 1,000 € (mean values) in selected European countries for each burglary grade