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Security Safe, ATM and Strongroom Standards

Testing

Safes are tested with a wide range of tools and timed to gain access. Depending on the tools used and the time taken, a score is given to each safe which equates to a security grade.

The experience and skill of the tester is very important to the results achieved. For this reason, Eurosafe strongly recommends only certain laboratories and certification marks. Those that have proven their experience and quality over many years, that collaborate and share experience with others and who are certified to ISO/IEC 17025. This ensures that standards are maintained and the latest attack methods are used.

Example testing carried out by Instituto Giordano in Italy. 

Certification

Certification from a recognised institution that is certified to EN17065 is also very important. The certification body ensures that the testing was carried out in the proper way. Also that the models put into production and sold are of the same level and quality as the models that were tested. Regular audits of production and quality control are made to ensure this.

Eurosafe only supports Certification Bodies and Testing Houses that cooperate with the European Certification Body for Security products (ECBS) and/or European Fire & Security Group (EFSG).

Tooling List

The European standards are reviewed on at least every 5 years. Tool lists and attack methods are updated according to current trends. The current tool list includes modern power tools available on the market. As well as older more traditional tools.

Special Tools

Some of the security levels have optional, additional tests with special tools. Examples of this are the Core Drill (CD), Explosive testing (EX) and tests using a small selection of very new  specialised tools (T2).   

An explanation of Resistance Units

Each safe undergoing testing to EN14450 & EN1143-1 is given a score in “Resistance Units” or “RU”. This score is calculated based on a formula of the tools used and time taken to gain entry. Bigger and more powerful tools have higher tool points.  

For safes a score is given for “Partial Access”. Which is a hole meant to represent the size of a hand. While “Full Access” means that either the door was able to be opened. Or a much larger hole was cut into the body to remove the full contents of the safe.

For strongrooms a score is only given for “Full Access”. Which means that either the door was able to be opened. Or a hole meant to be large enough to crawl through was made in the strongroom wall. Strongrooms must have a minimum internal width and depth of 1m.

The resistance units are a very good way to compare the difference in the Grades of safes. For example a Grade III safe has a full access score of 120RU and a Grade IV has a full access score of 180RU. This means that a Grade IV safe offers 33% more resistance than a Grade III.

Cash Ratings for each member state

Cash and valuables ratings are sometimes also known as insurance ratings. Typically, they are what an insurance company will cover the contents of the safe for overnight. They are an indication of the total value of contents that could be stored in the safe. They are not an indication of the physical size of the safe.

Cash and valuables values vary from country to country. But they  also vary by insurance company, by region and by local circumstances. If specific cover is required it is always important to check with your own insurance company. Each will have their own set of requirements.   

KEY - IAS - Intruder Alarm System  /  EX - Explosion Hampering Resistance  /  CD - Core Drill Resistance
Country Security Standards
EN14450 EN1143-1
Level / Grade S1 S2 O I II III IV V VI VII
Austria 210517/15 AB of VSÖ
Business Without IAS 1000€ - - 10 20 50 100 150 250 375 -
With IAS - - 20 40 100 200 300 500 750 -
Private Without IAS 1000€ 5 20 20 65 100 200 400 - - -
With IAS 5 20 40 130 200 400 800 - - -
Belgium BELGOSAFE
Cash 1000€ 2.5 5 7 10 25 45 75 125 250 -
Valuables 5 9 14 20 50 90 150 250 500 -
Denmark Sikrings Guiden
Without IAS 1000€ - - 15 40 60 200 500 900 - -
With IAS -  -  30 80 120 600 1500 - - -
With IAS+ - -  60 160 240 1200 3000 - - -
Finland Finanssiala
Without IAS 1000€ - - - 10  - - - - - -
With IAS - - - 10  30 60 120 200 - -
France Original Source Unknown
General 1000€ 1.5 3 8 25 35 55 110 200 300 -
Germany LVM in combination with VdS 3134-1
Business Without IAS 1000€ - - 10 20 50 100 150 250 375 500
With IAS - - 20 40 100 200 300 500 750 1000
With IAS and CD - - - - - - 500 750 1000 1000
Private Without IAS 1000€ 5 20 40 65 100 200 400 - - -
With IAS 5 20 80 130 200 400 800 - - -
Hungary Association of Hungarian Insurance Companies (MABISZ)
Without IAS 1000€ 1.5 2.5  5 8 20 70 120 300 500 800
With IAS 3 5 10 16 40 - - - - -
Ireland Irish Safes Rating Group
Cash Without IAS 1000€ - - 3.75 6.25 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 -
With IAS - - 7.5 12.5 25 50 90 150 300 -
Valuables Without IAS 1000€ -  -  18.75 31.25 62.5 62.5 62.5 62.5  62.5  -
With IAS -  - 37.5 62.5 125 250 450 750  1000  -
Netherlands Informatiekaart kluizen of VGW
Cash 1000€ 2.5  5  7 10 25 45 75 125 250 -
Valuables 5 9 14 20 50 90 150 250  500  -
Norway FG-530-1, FG Skadeteknikk
Without EX Without IAS 1000 NOK - - 50 100 150 200 500 750 1500 2250 
With IAS - - 100 200 300 400 1000 1500 3000 4500 
With EX Without IAS 1000 NOK -  - - - - - 625 1125  1875  3125 
With IAS - - - - - - 1250 2250  3750  6250 
Slovenia Slovenian Insurance Association - no update since 2007
Without IAS 1000€ 5  8  10 20 50 100 150 250 375 500 
With IAS -  -  20 40  100 200 300 500  750  1000 
Sweden FTR 1028 of Svensk Försäkring
General 1000 SEK - - 50 80 140 210 350 550 830 1650
United Kingdom Association of Insurance Surveyors
Cash 1000 £ 2 4 6 10 17.5  35 60 100 150 250
Valuables 20 40 60 100 175  350  600  1000  1500  2500 

Other Standards

Fire Standards

Lock Standards