Fire protection is becoming a foremost requirement when considering protective storage for valuables, important belongings and documents. Throughout the last few articles, we have gone through the motions of what needs to be considered when buying a new fireproof safe box or either replacing or adding a new one. Selecting the type of locking mechanism that you would have on your fireproof safe should also be considered and this varies widely and can differ depending on your budget and requirements.
Securing the fire safe with the selected type of locking mechanism that helps to protect against unauthorized access is important as it is one of the key elements in protecting the contents within. The two mainstream locking mechanisms available are mechanical locks and electronic locks.
Key lock for fireproof safes is the basic protection against unauthorized access. A variety of key types are available depending on lock security level needed. Access would be limited to those whom have accessed to the keys. However in the event that a key is misplaced, it would either have to go through a process for replacement or an entire lock change.
Combination locks provide a dial in which a mechanical combination is inputted to unlock the safe. The upside of this safe against an electronic passcode is that there are no worries for battery depletion, although combinations are restricted to dials and combination available. Combinations are also split into fixed dial where the combination is set for life or a changeable combination, which is typically a more expensive option. On top of this, combination locks can either be stand alone or operated with a key/combination lock where a key is also required to open even when the set combination is dialed in.
Digital locks are powered by batteries and provide access via the entry of a set passcode through a keypad. The advantage of a digital lock is that the passcode can be provided to others for access and changed to prevent reentry. Digital locks can also be equipped with various functions such as time delay opening or dual code opening. A downside is that electronic locks are only functional if there is power and batteries have to be replaced in order to function normally. Some safes provide an override key in the event of a battery failure lockout. Digital locks these days can come with touchscreen for a more modern aesthetic looks as well as other remote operating and monitoring functions via wireless communications.
Biometric locks are a development in recent years and provide access to the fireproof safe box typically via a set fingerprint. Most biometric locks can take multiple sets of fingerprint allowing access by various authorized users. Biometric access has been extended to using iris recognition, facial recognition or capillary recognition.
Depending on access needs into your fireproof safe and the amount that one is willing to spend on, a range of locking mechanism are available from the traditional key and combination locks to the latest advances in biometric entries. Therefore, when buying a fireproof safe waterproof, selecting the lock type is also one of the areas one should consider. At Guarda Safe, we are a professional supplier of independent tested and certified, quality Fireproof and Waterproof Safe Box and Chest. In our line up, you can find one that can help protect what matters most, whether it is at home, your home office or in the business space and if you got a question, feel free to contact us.
Source: Safelincs “Fireproof Safes & Storage Buying Guide”, accessed 9 January 2022
Post time: Feb-07-2022
