Gardall TL15-2218 High Security Safe Review

Gardall used to be a major player in the safe industry. While they are nowhere near as big as they once were, they still make quality burglary and fire safes at affordable prices. In this review, I will explain why the Gardall TL15-2218 High Security Safe is a great option but not the best in the category.

Lock – Gardall TL15-2218 High Security Safe

UL Approved High Security Mechanical Lock

First and always most important for any safe is its lock. The Gardall TL15-2218 High Security Safe comes standard with a UL Approved High Security Mechanical Lock. This is the S&G mechanical lock which is my top recommendation and the best in the industry. This high quality lock is designed to last forever and uses the traditional 3 number combination. It can have over 1 million possible combinations.

UL Approved High Security Electronic Lock

There is also a second lock option that is the SecuRam UL approved high security electronic lock. This is an excellent quality lock made by a longstanding and reputable company. SecuRam is the exclusive partner of Liberty Safe, has a premier reputation and makes very high quality locks. UL Approved type 1 is the highest security rating available and you would do great with either lock option.

Glass Re-Locker and Hard Plate

No matter the lock option you choose, it will be thoroughly protected by both a tempered glass re-locker and an internal hardened steel hard plate. If a burglar decides to drill through the front steel layer and concrete composite, they would then hit the hard plate which absolutely destroys drill bits. Then, if they get through that, they hit a glass re-locker that locks all of the bolts in place once it shatters. It’s placed in front of the lock so you can not miss it if attempting to drill in. Incredible security features protecting the lock on this safe.

Security – Gardall TL15-2218 High Security Safe

The Gardall TL15-2218 High Security Safe is UL approved as TL15. This means it can withstand adequate burglary attacks on the door for a period of up to 15 minutes with several different tools. The body is also very strong and has requirements but is not tested like the door.

Gardall builds this high security safe with a high density fiber reinforced material in-between two layers of steel. The door and body feature a steel plate followed by the concrete composite mixture and then an additional inner steel liner. Also included is a solid 1-1/2″ stainless steel locking bar that provides significant pry resistance. This design is much better compared to locking bolts because it is one uniform piece.

Fire Rating – Gardall TL15-2218 High Security Safe

The Gardall TL15-2218 High Security Safe is fire rated for 1 hour at 1850 degrees. This is significantly hotter than nearly every competitor. This fire rating is accomplished from the high density fiber material that also offers the high quality burglary protection.

An intumescent door seal is included that expands up to 7 times its size during a fire to seal out smoke and heat from entering the safe.

Style and Function

The Gardall TL15 series are finished in a two-tone semi-gloss gray paint. Hardware includes a chrome tri-spoke handle. Inside you’ll find one adjustable or removable shelf. This interior is all metal with no carpeting. Overall, I think the styling is pretty good, it’s significantly better than most textured finishes. Finally, a counter sunk bolt down hole is located on the bottom of the safe with all mounting hardware included.

Warranty

The Gardall TL15 series comes with a lifetime warranty on fires where they will replace the safe at no cost to you if it ever experiences a fire. Gardall also provides a 1 year warranty. Unfortunately, the warranty is very unclear on what is covered or who pays for installation and service. For me, that is a red flag and usually the company will only provide parts but then not pay for drilling, installation and other various labor.

The Bottom Line

Would I buy the Gardall TL15-2218 High Security Safe to store my valuables? It seems like a great safe and I definitely want to. With a solid steel construction, high density fiber material, UL TL15 burglary rating, 1 hour high temperature fire rating and UL approved high security lock, this is a good option for security and fire protection. However, with such an unclear parts and labor warranty. If something were to go wrong, I don’t know what would be covered.

There is a safe with a detailed product warranty that has even better features, a lower cost and is Made in USA. The American Security CE TL15 High Security Safes feature a stronger concrete composite material, thicker steel plates in the body, a much more attractive finish with multiple color options and is made by a reputable and long standing American company. I would recommend buying American Security over Gardall.