What to put in a Home Safe
Having a home safe is an excellent way to secure your valuables and important documents. But deciding what to put inside it can often be a daunting task. The items you decide to secure should typically be irreplaceable or carry significant value, whether emotional or monetary. In this guide, we will elucidate what items are most suitable for keeping in a home safe, ensuring they are protected from theft, fire, or any other unforeseen incident.
Items Covered Under the EN-1143-1 Grade
When considering what to store in your home safe, it’s crucial to understand the coverage provided by the EN-1143-1 Grade. This European standard governs the construction and resistance levels of secure safe cabinets, doors, and locks. Among the items that should be safely stored under this grade include:
- Valuable documents: These can be anything from property deeds, birth certificates, passports, and legal documents. The EN-1143-1 Grade ensures these invaluable papers are safeguarded against theft and fire.
- Cash and valuable assets: This could involve a substantial amount of money that you may not want to keep in a bank or any other precious items like jewelry, medals, or rare collectibles.
- Digital data: Digital data such as hard drives, USB sticks, and other digital storage devices containing sensitive or critical information can be securely stored in a EN-1143-1 Grade safe.
- Weapons: If you own firearms or other weapons, it’s essential to secure them in a safe that meets these standards for safety and legal reasons.
Remember that the EN-1143-1 Grade has different levels of security, with each level offering an increased degree of protection. Always be aware of the insurance level of your safe and store your possessions accordingly.
Common Items to Store in Your Home Safe
Important Documents
One of the top priorities for a home safe is the secure storage of important documents. Birth certificates, social security cards, and titles to property are essential to proving your identity and ownership. Insurance policies, wills, and other legal documents should also be safely stored to ensure they are not lost or damaged in case of emergencies. Consider storing physical photos, especially those of importance like home pictures, in your safe as a backup to digital copies.
Important Keys
Home safes can also be an excellent place to store spare keys. These could be keys to your car, house, or any other locks that you may need to access in the event of a lost or broken key.
Valuable Jewelry
Safes provide an excellent level of security for valuable jewelry. Whether it be family heirlooms or expensive personal pieces, a home safe can protect these items from theft or damage.
Emergency Cash
Having a cash reserve available can be essential in emergencies. By storing a certain amount of money in your home safe, you can ensure you always have access to cash when you need it most.
Guns
For those who own guns, security and safety are paramount. A home safe can provide a secure storage place, preventing unauthorized access or use. Always remember to store firearms unloaded and separate from ammunition for safety.
Things Not to Put in a Home Safe
While a home safe is an excellent place to store many valuable items, there are certain things you should not keep in one.
House Plants: House plants require sunlight and water, both of which a safe deprives them of.
Your Only Keys: If your only set of keys are locked in your safe and you forget the combination, you could be in a tough situation.
TV Remote: While it might seem convenient to keep your remote safe from pesky misplacements, this would make changing the channel quite an ordeal.
Pets: It should go without saying, but pets need to roam freely and they certainly won’t appreciate being locked in a safe.
Ice Cream: A safe is not a substitute for a freezer. Your ice cream won’t stay frozen and you’ll end up with a mess on your hands.
Another Safe: Storing a safe within a safe might seem ultra secure, but in reality, it’s just a waste of space.
Fire Extinguishers: These need to be easily accessible in case of a fire, not locked away.
EpiPens: Much like fire extinguishers, these need to be handy in case of a medical emergency.
Traps: Whether for pests or burglars, these are better used outside the safe.
Chemicals and Anything Explosive: These can be dangerous if mishandled and should be stored according to their safety instructions, not in a home safe.
Remember, a home safe is for protecting valuable and essential items. If you’re unsure about what to store, consider whether the item is replaceable, its importance, and its safety requirements.
This should help you make the right decision.
Conclusion
A home safe is an excellent way to secure your valuable possessions and important documents. By understanding which items are covered under the EN-1143-1 Grade, you can choose what to store and ensure they are adequately protected. Keep in mind that there are certain items that should not be stored in a home safe, as it could be detrimental to the item or pose a safety hazard. With these tips, you can make sure your important possessions are always secure.