A wall safe is ideal for companies that need to hold money or valuable information inside their place of business while no one is there. The different wall safe types and styles allow you to choose the color and size, as well as the way the safe is accessed. Most wall safes are fire resistant, which make them a great place to store your company's backup disks and critical papers.

Wall safes come with four different types of locks: combination, electronic, key and biometric. The combination lock is the most basic, or classic, safe system. These locks are pre-set and the combination is sent to you. Electronic locks use a keypad for code entry and the code is set by the owner once the safe in installed. Key locks are predetermined and a set of keys comes with the safe purchase. Biometric locks use a fingerprint scanner to open the safe. These locks are programmed after installation.

1. Locate different styles of combination wall safes.

2. Discover your options with different electronic and key lock wall safe styles.

3. Explore your possibilities with a biometric wall safe.

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Find a combination wall safe style for your business

Combination wall safes are available with or without an access key lock. The access key allows you to override the combination lock if you have forgotten the combination.

I recommend: Compare different brands of combination wall safes at Safesetc.com. Locate a variety of wall safe types and styles at A1-Locksmith. Use the "compare" feature at SafeandVaultStore.com for side-by-side comparisons of combination lock wall safes.

View styles of an electronic and key lock wall safe

Electronic wall safes are designed with a keypad that you use by entering the code to unlock the safe. Some of these models are also available with a manual key override in case of emergency. Key lock safes are equipped with a manual key system to lock and open the safe.

I recommend: United Safes sells a wide variety of wall safes that you can view and compare on its website. Factory Express supplies information and specifications about electronic and key safes. View a variety of wall safe styles at Vault and Safe.

Read information about the biometric wall safe

Biometric locks used in wall safes are opened and locked with the fingerprints the owner programs into the safe. These scanners allow only a set amount of people to access the safe. This eliminates any concerns about losing the code or combination to open the safe.

I recommend: Find biometric wall safe information at Wall Safe Store. BUYaSafe.com sells a variety of brands of biometric wall safes that are available online. Read information about biometric wall safes at Nationwide Safes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The hardware needed to install a wall safe is generally included with the purchase of the safe. Make sure to double check the safe information or contact the safe's dealer to find out if any additional hardware is required.

A wall safe protects a company's important documents, files, money and other valuable assets from thieves, fires and natural disasters. When installed, wall safes are flush with the wall so you can hang a frame over them, making them more difficult for burglars to find. Wall safe providers typically list the distance between wall studs necessary for mounting the safe. Other important wall safe information includes the weight of the safe, construction material, fire- and theft-resistance ratings and locking mechanism.

The type of safe you require depends on what you store in it and the desired level of protection. Write a wall safe list of requirements before shopping for a safe. Are you most concerned about fire or burglary? Will you store documents or media files? You can find safes categorized into three types: fire-resistant, theft-resistant and data media. When purchasing a wall safe, consider the following:

1. Install a fire-resistant wall safe for protection up to 1,700 degrees.

2. Purchase a theft-resistant wall safe to prevent thieves from stealing the safe.

3. Use data media inserts inside your wall safe to protect media files from fire.

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Purchase a fire-resistant wall safe

Fire-resistant wall safes keep documents safe even when flames engulf the safe. Fire-resistant safes have ratings based on how long they maintain an internal temperature of 350 degrees while being exposed to 1,700-degrees heat. Paper burns at about 451 degrees.

I recommend: Order a fire-resistant wall safe, which fits between standard 16-inch wall studs and offers fire protection for one hour at 1,700 degrees, from Lock It Up Safe. Nationwide Safes offers a fire-resistant wall safe, also rated for one hour, with an electronic lock. Find a 30-minute rated wall safe at Adesco. This safe fits between 14-inch wall studs.

Use theft-resistant wall safes

Although safes slow down burglars, the theft could steal the safe itself and open it when he or she has more time to break into it. With a theft-resistant wall safe, the thief can't pry it out of the wall. Manufacturers make this type of wall safe with heavy-gauge materials that hold up against tools such as hammers, crowbars and blow torches.

I recommend: Purchase a theft-resistant wall safe from A1-Locksmith. This wall safe provider offers models with electronic locking systems. Order a theft-resistant wall safe online at Safesect.com. It offers a safe that features an additional spring-loaded, re-locking device that activates when something strikes the safe. Every Safe offers wall safes constructed of heavy-gauge steel.

Buy data media inserts for your wall safe

Data media inserts, which have ratings similar to fire-resistant safes, are necessary if you store data files in your wall safe. You can lose information on compact discs, external hard drives and floppy discs, if the temperature inside the safe exceeds 125 degrees. Although data media safes are available, they are typically too heavy to mount in a wall.

I recommend: Order fire-resistant data media inserts at Ace Office Furniture. These inserts, rated for one-hour of fire protection, keep humidity below 80 percent. K.L. Security Enterprises offers a fire-resistant container, rated for one hour, which fits in a safe.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Purchase a wall safe that is at least 50 percent larger than the materials you'll be storing to provide enough storage for additional items.
• •  Many companies list a wall safe directory on their websites so you can easily compare sizes, which companies list in cubic feet and inches.

A wall safe is a great way to keep important documents and valuables, such as jewelry, money and collectibles, safe from theft or fire. A wall safe has an advantage over large floor safes because you can hide it very easily behind a picture and no one will know it is there. You install a wall safe between wall studs. This usually limits its width to about 16 inches, but the depth of a wall safe can be anywhere from four to 20 inches, depending on your needs.

There are a number of different options available for your wall safe. In addition to wall safe pricing and costs, you need to consider how each different type of wall safe provides the features and options you need. Wall safe options include:

1. A wall safe that is fire resistant is a good investment.

2. Manage access to your wall safe more effectively with an electronic unit.

3. Keep everyone out of your wall safe with a biometric keypad option.

Action Steps
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Obtain a wall safe that has all the basics covered

Two important factors you need to consider when looking at wall safe pricing and costs are fire and theft resistance. A fire resistant wall safe has obvious benefits. You never know when your office may succumb to that disaster and a fire resistant wall safe will protect your important documents and valuables from damage. You may wonder why one would recommend theft resistance because, after all, aren't all safes supposed to keep thieves out? However, you need to also make sure the wall safe itself is resistant to theft -- that a burglar cannot get into the safe and simly take it out of the wall.

I recommend: BuyaSafe has burglary resistant wall safes for $100 to $650. Purchase a fire rated wall safe from Safesetc. for $500 to $2,600.

Use an electronic wall safe with a keypad

Basic wall safes have a dial combination lock or a key for entry. A wall safe that is more effective against burglary has an electronic keypad for entry. With dial combination locks, someone might be able to hear the lock click with the right combination in order to break in to the safe. If your safe has a key for entry, all someone has to do is get that key from you or find a way to pick the lock. An electronic keypad gives you the added safety of much more difficult accessibility. However, it's a good idea to purchase a unit that allows you to use a seven-to-nine-digit entry code, or a combination of several entry codes, for added security.

I recommend: Keyless Access Locks has electronic wall safes starting at less than $300. The Keyless Lock Store offers an electronic wall safe with a keypad and card reader, for added security, at less than $500.

Secure your valuables with a biometric wall safe

If you're looking for top of the line security, then a biometric wall safe is the obvious choice. Not only do you have to enter some sort of combination to gain access to what's inside, but you also must have a fingerprint match. This makes it practically impossible for anyone but you and people you approve to open the wall safe.

I recommend: The biometric wall safe available through Best Choice allows you to program up to 255 fingerprints and it costs less than $300. Consider this high tech biometric wall safe vault for about $500 from Earthtech Products.

Having a wall safe in your business can be imperative to protecting your money or sensitive paperwork. However, when shopping for a wall safe there may be terms you are not familiar with that can make your experience overwhelming. Learning the wall safe key terms is a start to making the best decision for your company. Knowing the various types of wall safes and terminology can have you sounding like a professional in no time and most importantly, you will know which type of wall safe to choose for your company's needs.

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Combination

A combination safe is one that uses a dial or similar mechanism where a string of numbers is used to open the safe. These are sometimes thought of as less secure since there codes can be cracked to open combination safes. But they are usually the least expensive and can supplement your business if you feel secure with a more simple safe.

I recommend: Home Security Guru has information on manual combination safes.

Electronic

Electronic safes usually have a keypad where an individual can program a certain code into them for access. These are often used in hotels since each individual guest can have a different access code and it can be changed when someone else stays in the room.

I recommend: In Room Safe offers information and function ability of a variety of electronic safes.

Key lock

A key lock safe is simply a safe that uses a key instead of electronic means of access. Quite often key lock safes are fire proof or have other useful functions such as money drop access.

I recommend: Business Supply has an example and information on a key lock safe and its functions.

Biometric

A biometric safe is one that uses a fingerprint scanner, facial recognition or even voice recognition as a means of allowing a person to access it. These are considered high tech and more secure due to each person's biological traits being unique.

I recommend: Wise Geek has an informative article on biometrics and exactly how they are utilized.

Access key

An access key cabinet can protect keys so that no one else has access. These can be hotel keys or even keys to offices with sensitive data or chemicals. These are like a wall safe for keys and have protective entry.

I recommend: Safes Etc shows an access key cabinet and focuses on the benefits and functions.

Fingerprint scanner

A fingerprint scanner is a biometric system of allowing access to certain things by using a scanner to read an individual's fingerprint. These are used in wall safes, computers and more; anything that needs protecting for others having access.

I recommend: Norco Security Store has an example of a fingerprint scanner safe and how it can protect your sensitive material or valuables in business.