Vault info

For reliable protection in a fire, it is important to check the safe's certification for heat resistance. A fire-resistant safe protects valuables and important personal or business documents not only from theft, but also from fires and fire-related damage.

A standard safe protects against theft but not against fire and its effects on data storage media, documents such as certificates and files, works of art, precious metals or cash. Depending on the type of safe, protection for its contents typically lasts 30, 60 or 120 minutes. Before choosing fire protection, decide which documents or valuables you want to protect. Please contact our team for expert advice on fire protection for your safe or security cabinet.

The location of your safe should be carefully considered and selected.
Where possible, the room in which it is anchored should be used only by you and should not be visible from outside to potential burglars.

For professional installation and anchoring, it is essential to discuss your premises and the condition of the floor and walls with our Balzwerk team in advance.

The building's load-bearing capacity and the transport route must also be considered. If in doubt, discuss the conditions with your architect before installation.

The transport route must be suitable for the product's weight and dimensions and kept clear of all objects to ensure smooth delivery to the intended location.

Please note that all safes must be secured using heavy-duty through-bolt anchors. The wall must provide a pull-out resistance of at least 50 kN (kilonewtons), although this value may vary and is specified by the certification body for the particular safe. If the wall does not meet this requirement, professional anchoring cannot be carried out. Our experience shows that when an entire safe is stolen and removed, weaknesses in the concrete around the anchoring points are examined first. We wish to point out that unsuitable anchoring conditions can have liability implications.

Another important point is that there must be no gas, water, electrical or aerial lines at the installation location. To check this, you are welcome to arrange an on-site appointment with our team.

Documents and items worth protecting include personal papers, identification documents, wills, certificates, building plans, insurance documents, securities, vehicle documents, savings books, cash, credit cards, jewellery, coins, keepsakes, heirlooms, gold, silver, pictures, videos, personal belongings, firearms and ammunition.
Insurance companies often have different requirements for insuring a safe's contents, so we recommend discussing these with your insurer in advance.

Your insurer will recommend a level of protection based on the items or documents to be stored. These recommendations can guide your choice of safe or security cabinet.

Commercial use often involves even higher requirements for the safe and its fire resistance.
A safe can protect business-critical documents such as personnel records, customer data, tax statements, records of outstanding payments, insurance documents and accounting records, as well as cash. Losing these could have a serious impact on business operations.

Please see the individual product descriptions for guidance on insurance values for our certified safes. For personal advice on this subject, you are welcome to contact us at any time. We look forward to hearing from you.

Choosing the right safe, security grade and fire resistance is not easy. That is why our Balzwerk team offers expert, individual advice tailored to your needs. The starting point is always which documents or items need protecting. The higher the value of the contents, the higher the safe's security or resistance grade should be. There is no general official obligation to certify safes. Please check for certification when buying, as otherwise insurance cover may not apply.

The organisations that test and certify safes include VdS, one of the world's largest corporate security institutions, and ECB, an independent accredited certification body with over 40 years of experience in certifying security technology. VdS also assigns security and resistance grades to safes. Testing organisations establish these grades across Europe through simulated break-in attempts. The main categories are EN 1143-1 security safes, EN 14450 secure cabinets and EN 1143-2 deposit safes.

All our EN 1143-1 safes are tested and certified by VdS. You will find the certification label inside your safe.

Our standard safes are available in resistance grades 1–4. We can also design and supply a grade 5 safe on request.

Our standard safes in resistance grades 1–4 can be equipped with different locking mechanisms according to your preferences. Depending on the safe, grades 1–3 offer a key lock, a mechanical combination lock or an electronic combination lock. Other lock options can be ordered at any time.

Resistance grades 1–3

Key lock

This is a high-security mechanical double-bit key lock. Every component of the lock is precisely matched to the key, preventing improper attempts to open it. Two keys are included.

Mechanical combination lock

The optional mechanical combination lock (MZK) replaces the standard key lock. To open it, enter an individual four-digit combination using the dial. The lock requires no batteries.

Electronic
combination lock

The electronic combination lock (EZK) replaces the standard key lock. This high-quality electronic lock opens using freely programmable user codes. It is battery-operated and can be supplied with emergency power from outside if the batteries are depleted.

We are happy to assist with situations involving the opening of your safe or security cabinet, whether it is a BALZWERK product or from another manufacturer.

If you own one of our safes with an electronic locking mechanism, we recommend replacing the batteries first.

Instructions were included with delivery. If you no longer have them, please contact our customer service team.

If the safe remains locked after replacing the batteries, an emergency opening will be required. This must be carried out by a specialist, as an incorrect approach can cause further damage to the contents and the safe itself.

Our Balzwerk experts are available to help with this and other issues, including lost or broken keys, forgotten combinations, replacement parts, and upgrading or retrofitting different locking mechanisms.

Our BALZWERK service and installation team offers professional anchoring of your safe in your home.

We have the latest technology, the necessary experience and the personnel for the job. The structural load-bearing capacity of the transport route and installation location must be suitable for the safe's weight.

We plan every installation and anchoring appointment individually with our customers and provide an introduction on request.
Before anchoring a safe, we discuss the conditions with you. The location and supporting surface must be suitable.

Every wall is different, so we cannot guarantee that the supplied anchors and screws will provide a completely secure fixing in every situation. Suitable anchors and screws for your particular wall can be obtained from specialist retailers. The wall's condition and load-bearing capacity must be suitable for installation. It must be ensured that no cables or pipes of any kind are present at the anchoring points.

All safes must be secured with heavy-duty through-bolt anchors. The wall must provide a pull-out resistance of at least 50 kN (kilonewtons), although this value may vary and is specified by the certification body for the particular safe.
If the wall does not meet this requirement, professional anchoring cannot be carried out. Our experience shows that when an entire safe is stolen and removed, weaknesses in the concrete around the anchoring points are examined first. We wish to point out that unsuitable anchoring conditions can have liability implications.
You can also anchor your safe yourself. We provide an anchoring kit and instructions for this purpose.

Our Balzwerk team is always happy to answer any questions about safe anchoring.

Your safe protects your most valuable possessions and documents, so it needs occasional maintenance to prevent long-term damage and reduced security. Inside the safe are precision mechanical components that need cleaning, greasing, oiling and, if necessary, adjustment.

If you notice changes such as difficulties with the locking mechanism, worn or cracked door seals, or noises when opening or closing the safe, please contact us immediately. This can help prevent expensive consequential damage.

It is particularly important that maintenance is carried out by an expert so that your safe's security standard is maintained.

The BALZWERK team will gladly advise you on maintenance intervals, safe upgrades, replacement or servicing of individual components, and finding a safe maintenance technician near you.

Most safe repairs involve preventive replacement of wearing parts or the repair of individual components.
Lost keys, keys broken in double-bit locks and loose parts such as handles or other mechanisms can be replaced easily by our experts.

Depending on the extent of the repair, a faulty safe can often be repaired without major visible changes or any reduction in its security standard.

In the worst case, your safe may have been damaged by fire or a break-in. Repair is then often no longer possible.

If this is the case, our BALZWERK team can arrange a replacement, including removal and recycling of the old safe.

Our experts are always available to share their knowledge and expertise. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

When purchasing your safe, you can choose kerbside freight delivery, delivery to an intended location, or a tailored delivery and installation service from our BALZWERK service team.
Depending on the size and model of your Balzsafe or Balzblock, between 90 kg and 600 kg will be on its way to you, accompanied by our highly motivated and skilled installation team.

Delivery should therefore be discussed, planned and scheduled with you individually. Our installation team has the right equipment, vehicles and technical expertise to install your safe.

Due to the typically heavy weight, we use specialist transport equipment such as stair climbers, lifting tools and other specialised equipment to ensure a safe and smooth process. With this equipment, most stairs and transport routes present no obstacle. In special cases, a crane or lifting platform can bring the safe to its installation location from outside, as is often necessary when creating vault rooms or panic rooms.

Our transport questionnaires allow us to clarify all relevant conditions in advance.
The load-bearing capacity of the transport route, the conditions at the anchoring location and the feasibility of professional anchoring must also be established beforehand. Once installation and anchoring are complete, our team will introduce you to your Balzwerk safe's functions.

Our highest priority is to deliver and install your safe with as little attention as possible. We place great importance on discretion, so our team uses unbranded clothing and vehicles. Standard delivery and installation prices can be found in our FAQ under Delivery and Installation.
If you have any further questions about our installation service, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.