Resistance Grade and Security Level – Quality Characteristics for Protection against Burglary.

ESSA is active in the field of secure cabinets, safes, ATM safes, ATM bases, strongrooms (doors and walls) and deposit systems using the European Standards EN 1143-1, EN 1143-2 and EN 14450 as a basis.

Safes and ATM safes

Type tests on safes and ATM safes comprise e.g.

  • attacks for partial (hand hole) and complete access (door is open or large hole is created)
  • tool attacks with hand, electric and thermal tools
  • enlarging opening attack (for ATM safes)
  • anchoring tests (50 kN up to grade III and 100 kN for grade IV and higher)
  • pull out tool attack (for wall safes and ATM safes)
  • additional optional tests with core drills (CD, only for safes), explosives (EX), gas (GAS, only for ATM safes) and extended tool catalogue (T2)
On safes as well as ATM safes according to EN 1143-1, attacks for partial and complete access are carried out. For complete access (Ø350 mm hole or door open), the required minimum resistance value is approx. 50 per cent higher since, in this case, the criminal gains access to the total contents of the safe. With partial access (Ø 125 mm hole), he has only access to the valuables which he can reach with his hands through the walls. An exception to this rule are safes of resistance grade 0. 

Safes with a weight of  <1,000 kg and all ATM safes need to be anchored at the place of installation. They are subjected to an anchoring test. 

Safes are typically available from resistande grade 0, I to VI, ATM safes from resistance grade L, I to VI.


Secure Cabinets  

The requirements for S1 and S2 secure cabinets to EN 14450 are lower than for resistance grade  0 to EN 1143-1. 

Type tests on secure cabinets comprise e.g.

  • wall penetration attacks
  • door opening attacks
  • tool attack with mainly hand tools
  • anchoring tests on free standing cabinets (20 kN for security level S1 and 30 kN for S2)
  • pull out tests for wall cabinets
Strongrooms (doors and walls)

Type tests on strongrooms (doors and walls) comprise e.g.
  • attacks for complete access (door is open or large hole is created)
  • tool attacks with hand, electric and thermal tools as well as bigger strongroom attack tools
  • additional optional tests with core drills (CD), explosives (EX) and extended tool catalogue (T2)
On strongrooms (doors and walls) according to EN 1143-1, attacks for complete access are carried out. For complete access (Ø350 mm hole or door open), the requred minimum resistance is identical to those for safes.

Strongrooms are available from resistance grade 0 to XIII.