Expertise
Certified Safes Ireland™ advisor Alan Donohoe Redd is part of the CEN263 Working Group responsible for writing European Standards for safes and vaults for the European Union
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Why Certified Digital Safe Locks Are More Secure
There really is no comparison to the security offered by certified digital safe locks.
All Certified Safes Ireland™ safes come with multi-user, EMP resistant certified digital locks as standard. There are a wide range of locking and alarm integration options that can only be found with certified digital locks. Most options are both low cost and easy to use and may suit your particular requirements or lifestyle. All offer a far higher level of both security and flexibility than their mechanical counterparts.
Mechanical safe locks are history
It has long been possible to access a mechanical safe or vault key or combination lock by non-invasive manipulation and in doing so leave no trace of entry. Once a skill reserved to specialists in the locksmith profession, the internet has made both tools and comprehensive information on techniques for lock manipulation available to such an extent that lock manipulation has become an international sport, with lock picking competitions held annually in many European countries.
If a lock can be opened and in doing so leave no trace of entry, then how can it be considered secure? Quite simply, it can't. An additional concern is non-invasive lock manipulation is a method that will bypass seismic sensor monitoring detection in almost all cases.
This is a fact that has been recognised not only by lock manufactures but safe manufacturers Europe wide, with class D locks, the highest grade of commercial safe lock under the EN1300 European standard, having no mechanical equivalent.
EN1300 Certified safe lock requirements for secure storage
| European Standard | Resistance Class | Product Type | Requirement |
| EN14550 | S1 | Secure Cabinet | 1 x Class A |
| EN14550 | S2 | Secure Cabinet | 1 x Class A |
| EN1143-1 | Grade 0 | Safe / Strongroom | 1 x Class A |
| EN1143-1 | Grade I | Safe / Strongroom | 1 x Class A |
| EN1143-1 | Grade II | Safe / Strongroom | 1 x Class A |
| EN1143-1 | Grade III | Safe / Strongroom | 1 x Class B |
| EN1143-1 | Grade IV | Safe / Strongroom | 2 x Class B |
| EN1143-1 | Grade V | Safe / Strongroom | 2 x Class B |
| EN1143-1 | Grade VI | Safe / Strongroom | 2 x Class C |
| EN1143-1 | Grade VII | Safe / Strongroom | 2 x Class C |
| EN1143-1 | Grade VIII | Safe / Strongroom | 2 x Class C |
| EN1143-1 | Grade IX | Safe / Strongroom | 2 x Class C |
| EN1143-1 | Grade X | Safe / Strongroom | 2 x Class C |
| EN1143-1 | Grade XI | Safe / Strongroom | 3 x Class C or 2 x Class D |
| EN1143-1 | Grade XII | Safe / Strongroom | 3 x Class C or 2 x Class D |
| EN1143-1 | Grade XIII | Safe / Strongroom | 2 x Class D |
Mechanical key locks
A key is basically a shaped piece of metal that anyone can use to open your safe or vault. It doesn’t restrict access or know who uses it and can be copied even from a photograph now more easily than ever.
Mechanical combination locks
A mechanical combination lock works by rotating a series of wheels called "wheel packs" with a gap cut into them so that they line up and allow a lever attachment known as a "fence" to drop into it and operate the lock.
Both of these safe lock types have been with us for over a hundred years in their modern form so it is hardly surprising that by today's standards they can be quite easily bypassed and the methods of doing so are increasing and becoming more readily available. Just check YouTube.
Electronic Locks, Alarm Integration And Monitoring
A digital lock is the starting point for all electronic integration
The starting point for EN50131 compliant alarm integration of a certified safe is of course a certified digital lock. Most certified digital safe locks from class "B" upwards come with a range of basic features which will include alarm module compatibility. Listed below are a range of features, some found as standard in a digital lock and some optional extras that can be achieved with various lock and alarm integration combinations. All options listed are certified compliant with the EN1300 safe lock standard and the EN50131 alarm standard.
Penalty Lockout (Standard Feature) |
| The penalty lockout feature on a certified digital lock shuts the lock down for ten minutes if four or more incorrect codes are entered in a row making manipulation and random code entry attempts virtually impossible. This is a standard feature with all certified digital safe locks which has no equivalent with any mechanical lock type. |
Multi-user Codes (Standard Feature) |
| Most certified digital safe locks have multi-user codes which means no two people have to use the same code to access a safe. In a commercial setting this means an individual code can be removed at will by management. No need to worry that keys may have been copied etc.... |
Dual Codes (Standard Feature) |
| Most certified safe locks will allow or have a version that allows for dual code operation, which means two codes have to be entered to open the lock. Ideal in situations where dual person operation is preferred. |
Duress Silent Alarm (Extra Module Required) |
| Many certified digital locks can be added to your alarm system via an Alarm Module. With an Alarm module in place if a hold-up occurs addition of a digit to the normal access code will trigger a silent alarm. |
Time Delay Option (Standard Feature Class B,C,D) |
| A programmable time delay of 1 to 99 minutes is another standard option in all but the most basic electronic lock models with a time delay opening window that can be set from 1 to 15 minutes. This is a powerful anti hold-up measure. |
Time Lock (Keypad Type) |
| Time Lock gives you all the benefits of a bank level high security time lock system with built in audit. You can control when your safe can be accessed, by whom and download access logs from the lock telling you who opened the safe, when, and how long the safe door and lock was open. Up to 30 holidays can be programmed that override the normal schedule. Automatically adjusts for daylight saving time. We can even program a time lock schedule that restricts specific people’s access. |
Audit Trail (incorporated into most time locks) |
| A powerful feature of many digital locks is an audit trail which can be easily downloaded to a USB drive once you have the correct download code. This tells you who opened the lock, for how long, time, date and if there were any attempts to open the lock with an incorrect code. The standard audit trail is 1000 events. An audit trail can also be downloaded remotely directly from a compatible alarm system using an alarm module bolt position interface. |
Seismic Sensor (Extra Module Required) |
| As a properly anchored safe is secured to at least 5 tons, and a certified digital safe lock cannot be manipulated open, power tool attack or a prising attack is the only option left for a professional burglar. A Seismic Sensor will detect prising, cutting, drilling and heat attacks, but is not triggered by normal everyday use of the safe. What is particularly convenient about a seismic sensor is it is tamper proof and works 24/7 even when an alarm system is switched off. |
One Time Code (requires special lock type and set-up) |
| Easily retro fitted onto most existing safes or strongrooms, a One Time Code system (OTC) means that opening and closing is controlled by single use codes generated by a certified monitoring station after the identity of the person requiring access has been verified. The person accessing the safe or strongroom also requires their own personal code and a special key fob that records the opening and closing state of the lock. Time and date specific one-time codes can be issued in advance by the monitoring station for use within a 15-minute window, weeks, or months in advance. |
For Free, Confidential Expert Advice Call: +353 1 7076011
Certified Safes Ireland™ in-house advisor on keeping jewellery, watch collections, goods, cash, documents and data, safe, secure, yet readily accessible, is Alan Donohoe Redd.
Alan Donohoe Redd is an expert member of the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) Working Group responsible for writing European Standards for safes, strongrooms (vaults), secure cabinets and physical data protection for the European Union and an expert for U.S. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standards Technical Panel TC72 covering standards for fire resistance of record protection devices. Alan is also a registered NATO supplier and the longest standing member of the Frankfurt based European Security Systems Association (ESSA) in Ireland.
Alan has a vast range of experience spanning over 40 years encompassing installation of safes, strongrooms, physical data protection, firearms security, secure storage of pharmaceuticals, security doors and equipment used for Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs) in government, military and I.T. sectors. He has provided advice to the U.S. Air Force (Europe), An Garda Síochána (Irish Police Service), the Danish Police, and for government projects concerned with high level cyber, physical data and counter electronic eavesdropping security.
An expert on standards and fraud issues related to secure storage in Europe, the UK, and the historical use of asbestos in UK and European safe and cabinet manufacturing, Alan has advised top UK and US law firms and has had articles on standards, fraud and safety issues published by The Law Society Gazette and Irish Broker Magazine as well as being pivotal in having misleading standards and practices recognised and withdrawn in Ireland, the UK and at a European legislative level. Alan has forced retractions of dozens of false claims related to secure storage offerings to the public including some published by the Irish Times in relation to Merrion Vaults and Lloyds of London.
Alan's seminars on safes, strongrooms and high net worth 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).
Alan's expertise has been relied on by:
N.A.T.O. Europe, The U.S. Air Force (Europe), An Garda Síochána (Irish police service), The National Treasury Management Agency (Ireland), The Department of Communications (National Cyber Security Centre) (Ireland), The Department of Foreign Affairs (Ireland) The Revenue Commissioners (Ireland), Electricity Supply Board (Cyber Security) (Ireland), The Danish Defence Forces (Afghanistan), PayPal (Worldwide), Grant Thornton, The Insurance Institute of Ireland, The Chartered Insurance Institute (UK), The Royal College of Surgeons, BFC Bank, Interxion Data Centres, Isle of Man Gold Bullion, Brown Thomas, Bvlgari, Boodles, Druids Glen, The Shelbourne Hotel, and many others ....
Standards
All of our safes have accredited European certification of burglary resistance, essential legal proof of standard to maintain insurance cover long term
Documentation
Accredited burglary resistance certification documents are provided with all of our safes. A certificate of anchorage is available on request for all safes we install
Insurance Liaison
We are uniquely qualified to liaise with your insurer regarding certification, alarm integration, or general risk assessment related to your choice of secure storage
