Burglary Ratings Explained

What Are Burglary Ratings?

The first step in purchasing the right safe for you is understanding what levels of protection are available.

Buying a new safe may seem confusing, but knowing the purpose of having one will l help prioritize which features are most important, and what burglary rating you should invest in.

A Burglary Safe is a safe that has met the safety standard tested by the Underwriters Laboratories (UL), The U.L. is a not-for-profit independent performance rating agency. The U.L. ratings apply to the Burglary and Fire Ratings for our safes. It is important to note that although people tend to divide Burglary Safes, and Fire Safes into two different categories — a safe can have both Burglary and Fire protection.

The rating defines the degree of protection in case of burglary attempt. Safe are classified according to Test Performance Ratings and Construction Ratings. The safe material specs are what define the Construction Ratings. However, the Test Performance Ratings must meet the Construction Ratings and attempted break-in tests carried out by the U.L.

The most common Construction Ratings are B and C-Rated Safes. Since B and C-Rated safes do not have to pass Test Performance Ratings, they are not explained in depth. We would like to note that B and C-Rated safes are not necessarily less secure than other Burglary Safes that have Test Performance Ratings. We know this as professional safecrackers.

Now, without further ado, let’s get dive right into the different types of Burglary Ratings!

Classifications of Burglary Resistant Safes

Tested on Six Sides

1. Residential Safe
2. Tool Resistant Safe: TL-15×6
3. Tool Resistant Safe: TL-30×6
4. Torch and Tool Resistant Safe: TRTL-15×6
5. Torch and Tool Resistant Safe: TRTL-30×6
6. Torch and Tool Resistant Safe: TRTL-60×6

Tested on the Side including its Door

1. Tool Resistant Safe: Class TL-15
2. Tool Resistant Safe: Class TL-30
3. Torch and Tool Resistant Safe: Class TRTL-15
4. Torch and Tool Resistant Safe: Class TRTL-30

Classifications and Their Meaning

Residential Safe

A locked safe designed to provide a very limited degree of protection against experienced burglary using common mechanical and electrical tools.

Burglary Classification TL-15

A locked safe designed to deliver a very limited level of protection against experienced burglary using standard mechanical and electrical tools.

Burglary Classification TL-30

Indicates a combination-locked safe designed to provide a moderate degree of protection against experienced burglary using common mechanical and electronical equipment exclusively on the side with the door.

Burglary Classification TL-15×6

Represents a combination-locked safe designed to provide a limited degree of protection from experienced burglary using common mechanical and electrical equipment.

Burglary Classification TL-30×6

Represents a combination-locked safe designed to provide moderate security against experienced burglary using common mechanical and electrical tools.

Burglary Classification TRTL-15

A combination-locked safe designed to provide a limited degree of protection against experienced burglary using common mechanical and electrical tools and cutting torches only on the side with the door.

Burglary Classification TRTL-30

A combination-locked safe designed to provide a moderate level of protection against experienced burglary using common mechanical and electrical tools, as well as cutting torches, solely on the side with the door.

Construction

For classified safes, a combination lock that complies with the Standard for Burglary Resistant Combination Locks or the Standard for Burglary Resistant Electronic Combination Locks must be utilized. A time lock can also be installed on the door. At the manufacturer’s discretion, a lock with a greater security rating than that required for the safe class may be substituted. Equivalent locks may be used if their suitability is determined by the test.

The locking mechanism must be developed and built in such a way that it is the sole way to open or close the safe. The various parts of the locking mechanism must be built and assembled in such a way that any unit or part may be fixed or replaced. The moving parts of the locking mechanism, as well as the wearing surfaces of parts such as hinges or bolt work, must be built to withstand the wear and tear along with intended use without causing damage. The product and its locking mechanism must be built in such a way that they can withstand the corrosive influences to which they may be subjected while in use without deterioration.

Frames and door hinges must be built to provide perfect door alignment and the smooth operation of locking bolts. One hole with a diameter of no more than 12.70 mm may be placed in the top, side, bottom, or back of the safe’s body for the insertion of electrical conductors. It must be positioned such that there is no direct view of the door or locking mechanism.

The safe must weigh at least 340 KG or be equipped with anchoring holes and instructions for anchoring the safe in a larger safe, concrete block, or the premises where the safe is to be located.

The metal in the body for classes TL-15, TL-30, TRTL-15, and TRTL-30 shall be equivalent to solid open-hearth steel at least 25.4 mm thick with an ultimate tensile strength of 345 MPa, and shall be fastened in a manner equivalent to a 6.4mm continuous penetration weld of open-heart steel with an ultimate tensile strength of 345 MPa. Besides from solid metal, materials other than solid metal may be used for body construction if attack tests using the equipment indicated show that the material has attack resistance at least equal to 25.4mm thick open-hearth steel with a tensile strength of 345MPa.

TRTL-15 and TRTL-30 safes must be encased in at least 76 mm (3 inches) of reinforced concrete or in a larger safe or other container. The safe, in its encasement, must weigh at least 340 kg (750 pounds). If the concrete encasement is done away from the factory, it must be supervised by a manufacturer’s authorized representative.

Performance

A study of precisely prepared dimensioned drawings of the construction and schedule of sizes can best indicate the product’s selection. The product’s door clearances must represent the maximum to which the manufacturer would like to work in the creation of subsequent products.

A single safe design that has been demonstrated to be entirely representative of a series of safes of comparable design, size, and construction would typically be assessed as representative of that series of safes. Complete construction designs, as well as specifications for the materials utilized, must be provided.

Attack Tests

Because the goal of the testing is to establish the product’s resistance to expert attack, the individual assisting the test must choose a number of attacks within the limits of the test process and try each attack for the full given time. If the product resists the best method, or combination of methods, applied to a specific point of area for the net-working time or the time during an attack is actively in progress specified, the result will be deemed acceptable. Also, net working time excludes the time required for test preparation, safety precautions and delays.

Common hand tools are mostly used for these tests and they are usually chisels, punches, wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, hammers, sledges not exceeding the 3.50 kg size, and pry bars and ripping tools not exceeding 1,500 mm in length. All attacks must be carried out by one or two experienced personnel chosen by the testing authority and may include, but are not limited to, any or all of the attacks specified below.

Ways to Test a Safe

Test of Deposit Functions

In addition to the test, the following requirements must be met in order to receive a D Rating in any class:

1. For a period of 30 working minutes, a customer access panel; which is a portion of a safe that is made available to a user for the performance of the transaction, must resist attempts to remove indicators by fishing, trapping, or force.
2. The tests are considered relatively quiet attacks, using tools consisting of lines, wires, hooks, pry bars, wrenches, screwdrivers, hacksaw blades, and the like that can be disguised on the clothing of two operators. No tool shall exceed 600mm in length, except for devices that can be coiled or folded, such as lines, wires, and hooks.
3. A number of attacks may be attempted, each taking up the entire net working time.
4. Each attack method may only be used once. Damage from one attack can be used in another if the time spent causing the damage in the first attack is subtracted from the net working time of the second strike. This also applies to any damage induced by tests.
5. The product’s manufacturer will decide on fishing and trapping attempts.
6. A successful trapping or fishing attack must remove three deposits without being discovered or interfering with the product’s operation. Between procedures, the trap can be modified.For a period of 30 working minutes, a customer access panel; which is a portion of a safe that is made available to a user for the performance of the transaction, must resist attempts to remove indicators by fishing, trapping, or force.
7. The tests are considered relatively quiet attacks, using tools consisting of lines, wires, hooks, pry bars, wrenches, screwdrivers, hacksaw blades, and the like that can be disguised on the clothing of two operators. No tool shall exceed 600mm in length, except for devices that can be coiled or folded, such as lines, wires, and hooks.
8. A number of attacks may be attempted, each taking up the entire net working time.
9. Each attack method may only be used once. Damage from one attack can be used in another if the time spent causing the damage in the first attack is subtracted from the net working time of the second strike. This also applies to any damage induced by tests.
10. The product’s manufacturer will decide on fishing and trapping attempts.
11. A successful trapping or fishing attack must remove three deposits without being discovered or interfering with the product’s operation. Between procedures, the trap can be modified.

Test of Explosive Resistence

In addition to the tests conducted, the following requirements must be met in order to receive an E Rating for any class:

1. Prior to the explosive tests, any preparation work on the safes using any of the listed tools must be included in the net working time.
2. Explosives shall be used in the tests. The total amount of explosives used must not exceed 226 grams of nitroglycerine. In a single charge, no more than 113 grams of nitroglycerine or the amount of explosive delivering the equal explosive energy shall be utilized.
3. Even though the total amount of explosive utilized in succession of charges on one test sample has been set at 227 grams, preliminary explosive tests may be performed on a sample of material showing the door or body construction, or a second sample may be needed, depending on the number of points of attack requiring actual testing for complete determination of resistance to entry.

Burglary Safe Rating Test Equipment

• The safe must resist entry when assaulted with the tools for the duration of the net’s working time.
• Any tools for each classification may be included in the test equipment.
• For the appropriate categories, the amount of gas consumed in any one test must be controlled.

Marking

All markings must be permanent. Markings applied to a product must be sufficiently durable to withstand the adverse effects of handling, cleaning agents, and the like that are expected in the intended environment. When a warning notice is required to be marked on a product, the letter height shall be not less than 3 mm for a signal word such as “DANGER“, “WARNING“, “CAUTION“, and such, and not less than 2 mm for the notice reminder.

The safe shall be legibly and permanently marked at a location that is visible after installation with the following information (The marking in No. 4 may be on a separate installation diagram referenced in the marking on the product):

1. Name of the manufacturer.
2. Model number or the like.
3. If applicable, the electrical rating in volts, the input in amperes or watts, and the frequency. The ratings must include any accessory inputs that may be given by the unit.
4. If a product is supposed to be installed in a specific position, the mounting position must be correct.
5. If applicable, the fuse rating in each fuse holder must meet the criteria of this Standard. The marking must be placed near the fuse holder.
6. If applicable, an installation wiring diagram by drawing number and issue date, if not related to the product.
7. Classification, Net Working Time, Six Side Tested or One Side tested, Tool Resistant or Torch and Tool Resistant.

*The marking specified in NO. 7 shall be located where it cannot be seen by the general public.

Testing Equipment

Notes:

A. Abrasive cutting wheels and saws (circular electric, hole, reciprocating).
B. Abrasive cutting wheels, saws (circular electric, hole, reciprocating) impact tools, hydraulic tools, and a cutting torch or an oxy-fuel gas wielding torch.
C. Abrasive cutting wheels, saws (circular electric o circular gasoline powered, hole, reciprocating) impact tools, hydraulic tools, and a cutting torch or an oxy-fuel gas wielding torch, and diamond core bits.

Have you learned more about how Burglary Ratings work?

If you have read until here, we are definitely sure that you are off to choose the perfect safe for you that will take care of the things you treasure or keep you and your family protected at all cost. Do you think you are now ready to explore safes with Burglary Rating? If yes, then hop on and get that safe into your cart.

Alpine Safes will provide you with the protection and security you are looking for!

Here, you will learn about the safe’s burglary and how do they work. Let’s get into it and dig information that you can definitely take with you.