The Selection of Safes and Security Precautions is Cash-Crucial

By Barry White

   In the nightclub and bar industry, where the operating environment typically involves late nights with large amounts of cash on hand, the possession of a proper safe provides a last line of security for potential profits. With so many safes on the market, there are important decisions to be made to assure a adequate level of security.


Size & Standards
   “There are a variety of features designed for specific industries,” says Chris McGoey of San Francisco-based McGoey Security Consulting. “An owner wants to buy a safe based on the need and the size of a business.”
   In a nightclub, there are numerous factors to consider, and the first relates to the size of the safe needed. If many registers are on a bar’s floor, a large enough safe should be purchased to accommodate all of the drawers as well any other valuable information. Once the capacity needed in a safe is determined, the security features that are appropriate may be decided upon.
   “It is important that the safe has a minimum of a thick solid steel door and a thick solid steel body. Many manufactures cut costs by making their safes with thin sheet metal,” notes the Web site of Brown Safe Manufacturing of San Marcos, Calif. When it comes to locks, “always check that the safe has a U.L. Group 2 or better. Be aware of manufacturers using inexpensive locks on commercial depository safes. Commercial safes are high usage and must have a commercial grade lock to prevent malfunctions and lockouts.”


Lock & Relock
   Deciding on the locking mechanism of a safe can be the most difficult decision. “Depending on the frequency of usage, you want a safe that is quickly accessible,” McGoey says. “The best setup has locking mechanisms that are partially mechanical and partially electronic.” However, if power outages are a frequent problem, one must factor that in as well when choosing. “Electronic locks add convenience and save money when there is a high employee turnover by allowing employers to easily change the lock’s combination,” notes Brown Safe’s Web site.


Risks & Rewards
   In the event of a burglary, safes should be equipped with relockers. “Relockers are hardened pins that are triggered in a variety of ways during an attack and cannot be retracted without hours of drilling. The number of relockers on a safe will range from two to 10-plus, depending on the size and burglary grade of the safe,” notes Brown Safe Manufacturing’s Web site.
   The risk of fire, of course, is something to consider, too. McGoey recommends a safe with a fire rating of at least an hour, to provide that if fire was to break out, the contents of a safe will be protected for the time specified.
   It also is a good idea to have the room that contains the safe alarmed and fortified with either motion detectors or shock sensors. This measure will stop an intruder from infiltrating the safe before the authorities arrive.