Safe Ratings Explained
What Is a Safe Rating?
Safes are tested against recognised European standards to measure how resistant they are to attack. The most widely used standard for high-security safes is EN1143-1, which classifies safes into grades based on their level of protection.
The higher the grade, the greater the resistance to forced entry.
Euro graded safes are categorised from Grade 0 through to Grade 7. Each grade is linked to an insurance rating, which indicates how much value can typically be stored inside.
| Grade | Cash rating | Valuables rating |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 0 | £6,000 | £60,000 |
| Grade 1 | £10,000 | £100,000 |
| Grade 2 | £17,500 | £175,000 |
| Grade 3 | £35,000 | £350,000 |
| Grade 4 | £60,000 | £600,000 |
| Grade 5 | £100,000 | £1,000,000 |
| Grade 6 | £150,000 | £1,500,000 |
| Grade 7 | £250,000 | £2,500,000 |
These ratings are widely used by insurers when determining how much cover they will provide for items stored within a safe.
Cash Rating vs Valuables Rating
The cash rating refers to the amount of money an insurer will typically allow to be stored in the safe overnight.
The valuables rating is usually set at ten times the cash rating and applies to items such as jewellery, watches, or important documents.
For example:
A safe rated for £10,000 cash would usually be rated for up to £100,000 in valuables.
Secure Safe Cabinets (EN14450)
Not all security storage falls under the Eurograde safe system.
Lower-security units are typically tested to the EN 14450 standard. These are classified as secure cabinets, rather than full high-security safes, and are designed to provide protection against more basic or opportunistic attacks.
They are divided into two levels:
S1 – Entry-level protection, generally suitable for lower-risk environments. Typically associated with insurance cover of around £2,000 cash or £20,000 in valuables.
S2 – A higher level within this category, offering improved resistance. Typically associated with cover of around £4,000 cash or £40,000 in valuables.
How They Compare to Eurograde Safes
Secure cabinets (EN 14450) are not equivalent to Eurograde safes (EN1143-1). They are built to a different standard and offer a lower level of protection overall.
They are commonly used where:
- Lower values are being stored
- Full insurance-rated safes are not required
- Space or budget is limited
- The overall security of the building is higher, so a high grade safe is not required
Insurance Considerations
As with all safe ratings, the figures above are typical guidelines.
Insurance companies may vary in what they will accept, so it is always advisable to confirm requirements with your insurer or broker.