When it comes to protecting what matters most - documents, cash or personal belongings - the first solution that comes to mind is a safe. Yet not all safes offer the same level of protection.
There are different grades of safes whose security ratings provide a useful guide to their resistance against forced entry.
Does this mean you should always choose the highest rating? Not necessarily. In the hotel and tourism sector, selecting a safe goes beyond official certification. Other factors come into play too, such as convenience, technology, ease of use for guests and, of course, a level of security to ensure peace of mind.
In this article, we'll explain what safe security ratings are, how they're classified and - most importantly - what you should keep in mind if you manage a hotel, hostel, tourist apartment or any other hospitality business.
What is a safe's security rating?
Security ratings are standardised levels that indicate a safe's ability to withstand physical attacks of all kinds: from crowbars, drills, explosives and more.
These ratings are assigned after rigorous testing by independent laboratories and are regulated by European standards, such as EN 1143-1.
Simply put: the higher the rating, the more time and effort a thief would need to break into the safe.
Classification of safe security levels
Although the regulations may seem overly technical, here's a clear summary. The levels are usually classified from 1 to 9, with 1 being the lowest and 9 the highest:
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Grades 1-2: Basic resistance, suitable for home use or small businesses.
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Grades 3-5: Medium-high resistance, recommended for companies that handle a lot of cash.
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Grades 6-9: For high-security establishments, such as banks, jewellery stores and other places where large amounts of cash or highly valuable items are stored.
What is the optimal security level for safes in the hospitality sector?
As you might imagine, protecting gold bars or works of art is not usually a priority! For hotels, hostels and tourist accommodation, what matters most is providing guests with a secure, practical and reliable space to store a laptop, valuables, cash or personal documents.
Most hotel safes do not have such stringent certified security ratings - not because they aren't secure, but simply because such measures are unnecessary for this type of use.
For example, if guests want to leave a work laptop in their room while going out to dinner, they're not expecting a bank-grade safe. A simple, convenient solution that inspires confidence is more than enough.
What should you consider when choosing a safe for your hotel?
If you're not relying solely on safe security ratings, what factors should guide your choice? Here are some key features to consider:
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Ease of use: Safes should be intuitive for any guest, regardless of age or language.
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Advanced technology: Look for features such as digital codes, random master keys and even usage logs for hotel management.
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Design and capacity: Safes should be able to fit a range of different items: laptops, tablets, travel documents and more. In general, the larger the size, the more versatile it is.
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Security level: It's essential they are able to withstand opportunistic attempts at opening and effectively deter potential thieves.
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Integration within the property: Choose safes that blend in seamlessly with your hotel's furnishings while conveying professionalism and trust.
Omnitec safes: practical security for your property
Did you know Omnitec has been developing security solutions for the hospitality sector for over 15 years? That experience means we know exactly what you're looking for in a safe: peace of mind for your guests - and for you.
Our range of hotel safes delivers just that: the perfect balance of security, practicality and user experience. We want your guests to feel protected at all times and for you to manage your property with complete confidence.
While safe security ratings are a useful benchmark in sectors such as banking, in hotels and tourist apartments it's more important to choose technology that's both practical and affordable.
Do you want to enhance your accommodation's security with top-notch technology? Discover Omnitec today and see why our solutions are trusted by hundreds of hotels worldwide.