Safes: What does EN-1143–1 actually mean?
If you read up on the subject of safes, you will stumble across one term again and again: EN 1143–1. As central as its meaning is, the term itself is meaningless. That’s why in this article we explain what DIN EN 1143–1 is and what it stands for.
Laws and standards
Basically two topics that can be quite annoying and which the end consumer often has no insight into — and, to be honest, is glad about it. Yet they are particularly important for the end customer: they guarantee a certain degree of certainty regarding the quality of products and protect them from inferior goods. To a certain extent, manufacturing in accordance with a standard is a seal of quality that characterises high-quality products. This is particularly important in the area of security — not only for you as the buyer, but also for your insurance company if you wish to insure the contents of the safe.
Resistance grade according to EN 1143–1
A test in accordance with the EN 1143–1 standard certifies safes according to their resistance grade (WG), also known as resistance class or security level. This describes the resistance of a product or, in other words, the burglary protection. The higher the resistance grade, the longer the safe can withstand a violent attack. Safes with resistance grades from 1 to 5 are common. WALDIS Tresore is also the only manufacturer to produce a safe with the world’s highest certified resistance grade, 7 KB.
Insurance companies use the resistance grade to define which safe is required for which valuables. Other factors are also taken into account, such as the structure of the building, the location or the floor on which the safe is placed. This categorisation is individual for each insurance company, as they are free to make their own risk assessment. Our experience and co-operation with various insurance companies have resulted in the following guideline values:
| Resistance Grade | Value content* in CHF | Safe model |
|---|---|---|
| 2 according to EN 1143–1 | 50‘000 / 100‘000 | WALDIS Eco |
| 3 according toEN 1143–1 | 150‘000 / 300‘000 | WALDIS Business |
| 4 according toEN 1143–1 | 500‘000 / 1‘000‘000 | WALDIS First |
| 5 according toEN 1143–1 | 1‘000‘000 / 2‘000‘000 | WALDIS Premium |
| 7 CD** according toEN 1143–1 | 2‘000‘000 / 4‘000‘000 | WALDIS Ultra |
*Good to know: Connecting the safe to an alarm system (burglar alarm system) doubles the maximum insured value of the safe contents.
**CD = Core Drill</small
The EN 1143–1 standard is also used for the certification of armoured doors and strongrooms. The test method and procedure are almost the same.
Testing procedure
Prior to testing by a testing institute, the manufacturer must specify the resistance class in which the safe is to be certified. The tested secure storage unit is then tested exactly for the provisions of the respective resistance class. If this test is negative, the safe is not simply certified in the next lower class, but must be optimised in the points criticised before it is tested again.
To ensure that this test can be carried out as efficiently and critically as possible, the construction plans of the safe must be disclosed to the testing institute in advance. This enables them to identify possible weak points in the secure storage unit and carry out the test attacks in a targeted manner using the appropriate tools. The testers are therefore in the best position to be successful in the simulated attack. This procedure ensures that a secure storage unit is not assessed as being more secure than it actually is during the test.
For the test attacks, different mechanical and thermal tools are used for a specified duration. The attack strength is described with the so-called RU value.
The RU value
RU stands for “Resistance Units”. This RU value specifically indicates how resistant a safe is. Each attack tool has an assigned RU value per minute, which differs depending on the intensity and hazard potential of the tool. A sledgehammer, for example, has a much lower RU value than a diamond crown drill. This RU value is multiplied by the number of minutes for which a safe is worked on with the corresponding tool. A different RU value must be achieved for each resistance class. If this value can be achieved during the test without partial or full access to the inside of the safe, the test is deemed to have been passed.
How can you recognise a certified safe?
Neither the level of resistance nor the quality of a safe can be judged from the outside. It is therefore all the more important to always look for the sticker on the inside of the door when buying a safe. This confirms certification by an accredited testing institute with a consecutive and traceable manufacturing number. The test sticker also documents the resistance grade and weight of the safe as well as its year of manufacture, the approval number and the test mark.
Testing institutes: VdS and ECB‑S
The two large and renowned testing institutes in Europe that test and internationally certify products according to the European standard EN 1143–1 are the VdS (Association of Non-Life Insurers) and the ECBS (the certification body of the European Security Systems Association ESSA).
We’re happy to provide personalised information and advice.