SAFES
Is your safe still safe?
Safe lock bolt types and their relevance to safe security.
Safelock Systems Ltd is a trade distributor of locks for safes and vaults, stocking a range of products from leading manufacturers, such as LA GARD, dormakaba, Tecnosicurezza and Insys. Director Jasmine Hunt- Brown gives us some information about upgrading or retrofitting safe locks, and the importance of using the correct bolt type, to ensure the safe retains its certification, and therefore insurance cover.
Safe grading & cash rating
In the UK, safes are often sold with a cash rating, which is based upon the grading of the safe. Where a safe has been graded according to EN 14450, EN 1143-1 / 2 or LPS 1183, the safe must be fitted with a safe lock that has been certified to one of the high security lock standards:
• EN 1300 – High security locks
• EN 17646 – High security locks – distributed systems
Retrofit a safe lock
The safe manufacturer must specify precisely which safe locks can be used on their safes, so in the first instance, an engineer should refer to the manufacturer for permitted locks.
In some circumstances however, this is not possible, either because the safe is old and there is no reference, a safe lock model may have been discontinued, or because it is not economically viable for a safe manufacturers to retest with every new lock that is released.
In this case, an engineer can refer to BS 7582:2021 – Reconditioning of used safes and secure safe cabinets. Code of practice. A copy of this can be purchased from the British
Standards Institute online https:// knowledge. bsigroup. com / The most important point about retrofitting a safe lock, is that it:“ Should be of the same or more secure performance. The bolt size, type and throw of the lock bolt and minimum engagement with the boltwork should not be less than the original.”
The purpose of a safe lock
In most cases, the purpose of a safe lock is to stop the boltworks of a safe moving. The boltworks are an array of metal parts which move when the safe handle is turned, and lock the door at several points with dog bolts.
36
JUNE 2026
locksmithjournal. co. uk Safes Sponsor
Issue Takeover