Europe Takes Action

EN14450 is the European Standard for a light secure storage unit referred to as a “Secure Cabinet”. Previous versions of the EN14450 European standard referred to this unit as a “Secure Safe Cabinet”, however, marketing of EN14450 Cabinets as “Safes” particularly “Home Safes” became so widespread that the title of the EN14450 “Secure Safe Cabinet” standard was formally changed by a Europe wide vote in 2020. The vote, proposed by and Ireland's National Standards Authority of Ireland expert Alan Donohoe Redd, via CEN263, succeeded in having the word “Safe” in the English language version of the standard removed to better inform and protect both consumers and insurers. Acceptance of the amendment was almost unanimous with 96.94% support including Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, and Spain.

 A "Secure Cabinet" Is Cheaper, Lighter And A Lot Less Secure

Being more lightly constructed than a safe, Secure Cabinets are cheaper to produce and more easily transported and installed, as well as ideal for low-cost delivery by couriers. The problem for insurers and consumers alike, who may accept an EN14450 cabinet as a safe or home safe is that a "Secure Cabinet" is not even close to the burglary resistance one can expect from the lightest grade of certified safe. In European laboratories EN14450 Secure Cabinets are only tested against a range of light “hand tools”. Despite these facts the marketing of EN14450 Secure Safe Cabinets (Security level S1 and S2) as safes is still an everyday occurrence not only in Ireland and the UK but in the rest of Europe. S1 and S2 Secure Cabinets have no insurance rating in Ireland and many other countries in Europe, yet if you were to Google “Safes” today, a vast number of search results described as “Safes” will be S1 & S2 “Secure Cabinets”, many claiming ratings for cash and a jewellery as high as €50,000 overnight.

 What A "Secure Cabinet" Certification Plate Looks Like

 For Advice Call: +353 1 7076011

Certified Safes Ireland™ director Alan Donohoe Redd is a member of the European CEN263 Working Group responsible for writing European Standards for safes, strongrooms (vaults), secure cabinets and physical data protection for the European Union. A registered NATO supplier and a longstanding member of the European Security Systems Association, Alan has a vast range of experience spanning almost 40 years and encompassing installation of safes, strongrooms, physical data protection, CCTV, alarms, access control, secure storage control systems and Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) specification, design, and installation.

Alan is an expert on standards and fraud issues related to secure storage in Europe and the UK, has had articles related to these subjects published by The Law Society Gazette and Irish Broker Magazine, has forced retractions of multiple false claims related to secure storage offerings to the public, including some published by the Irish Times, and has been pivotal in having misleading standards and practises recognised and withdrawn in Ireland, the UK and at a European level.

Alan's expertise has been relied on by:

N.A.T.O. Europe, The U.S. Air Force (Europe), PayPal (Worldwide), Grant Thornton, The Department Of Communications (NCSC Cyber Security) (Ireland), The Revenue Commissioners, Electricity Supply Board (Cyber Security) (Ireland), The Danish Defence Forces (Afghanistan), The Insurance Institute of Ireland, The Royal College Of Surgeons, BFC Bank, Interxion Data Centres, The Private Security Authority, Isle of Man Gold Bullion, Brown Thomas, Bvlgari, Boodles, Druids Glen, The Shelbourne Hotel, and many others ....

Alan's seminars on safes, strongrooms and HNW secure storage have been part of Continuing Professional Development for underwriters and insurers having been awarded CPD points by the Insurance Institute of Ireland and the Chartered Insurance Institute (UK).