Vault Door Reviews by Brand:
Vault Doors have been around for centuries and are not prone to new manufacturers or importers due to their difficulty of construction, but are still susceptible to misinformation from internet marketers writing Vault Door reviews to make a quick buck at your expense. So what should you look for when buying a vault door you ask? I’m here to help break down the most important features and point you in the right direction because ultimately the vault door you choose depends on your specific needs and budget.
Lock – Vault Door Reviews
The lock is the absolute most important component of any Vault Door and this is where most Vault Door reviews you read get it all wrong. They recommend the cheap safes with unrated mechanical locks and key locks that are far too easy to break into. Think of the lock as the engine to the car. It doesn’t matter if you have the nicest seats, radio, wheels or body if the engine doesn’t work.
In the safe industry, Underwriters Laboratories also known as UL, tests and certifies the security and quality of locks. There are two main types: UL Type 1 High Security Electronic Locks which are the most secure and UL Type 2 High Security Mechanical Locks.
UL Type 2 High Security Mechanical Locks
Mechanical Locks are the traditional “old school” style that don’t have any electronics or require any batteries. They use a three number combination and use a dial to spin a spindle into the lock body which is located on the inside of the safe. Some customers prefer these locks because they believe an EMP attack can wipe out their electronics. Most electronic locks are now EMP tested and they all operate on replaceable batteries, so at this point it’s really not a relevant concern. The highest quality and most reliable mechanical locks are made by S&G and Big Red.
UL Type 1 High Security Electronic Locks
In my 30 years of experience in the safe industry, locks made by NL, S&G and Securam are the highest quality and most reliable electronic locks. Ideally, look for one level up from the cheapest option such as the NL UR-2020, SecuRam Basic or S&G Spartan Direct Drive lock. You should stay away from anything that is unbranded, unrated, operates on a Solenoid or has a key override.
The reason Electronic Locks are a higher security rating is because they have significantly more possible combinations and can not be manipulated by feel the same way mechanical locks can. In all my home safe reviews you will see I repeat how important it is to have a UL Rated high security lock over and over again.
Key Locks
Key Locks are really not used in Vault Doors due to their high level of security and difficulty in manufacturing. Only the real safe companies are able to produce this type of product. There is one caveat to this rule which is SnapSafe. They use a high security double-bitted key override behind the UL Rated type 1 High security SecuRam electronic lock. This key lock is high quality and secure and not for concern such as key locks used on low end products.
Security – Vault Door Reviews
Vault Doors are not tested by an independent laboratory like UL for a security rating. This is because they are only the door and do not have the 5 other sides. It can not be confirmed what application you will use the vault door for, thus there is no testing standard able to be produced. Instead, it’s important to look at the steel thickness used. Low end vault doors will use 12 gauge steel which is the same as an entry level UL RSC burglary rated gun safe. High end vault doors are built up to 1″ thick with 2 step doors such as the Vault Pro Titan. The thicker the steel, the more the security. It is that simple.
Fire Rating – Vault Door Reviews
Vault Doors are typically not fire rated because like the burglary rating, they are only the door and a standard test can not be created. Instead, manufacturers add fire resistant material like drylight concrete composite, gypsum fire board or ceramic fire wool. If you need an independently verified fire rated safe, I would strongly recommend not purchasing a vault door and looking at a burglary and fire rated home safe or gun safe.
Manufacturers estimate the fire rating on their vault doors based on what the equivalent would provide in a gun safe. For example the American Security BFQ Vault Doors use the same amount of concrete composite as the BFX Gun Safe and therefore would be equivalent to a 2 hour fire rating if the vault door is properly installed in a full concrete room.
Style and Function
In general, vault doors are built very similar to gun safes but without the other 5 sides and interior. They have a variety of textured and high gloss finishes as well as the antique styles in the Rhino Ironworks and Browning 1878 series. Hardware includes drop down lever handles, 3-spoke handles, 5-spoke handles and cast iron wheel handles. Typically the backs are simple carpeting or steel with an internal release mechanism so that you never get locked inside.
I highly recommend hiring a licensed contractor to assist you in measuring your space, purchasing the correct size vault door and completing the installation.
Next, vault doors have a variety of opening mechanisms including in-swing, out-swing, right-hand opening and left-hand opening. Please see the diagram below to make sure you order the correct version for you specific application.
Warranty
Warranties on vault doors usually include a minimum 1 year parts and labor warranty and up to lifetime warranties on all components except the lock. Some companies like Edison, require you to ship the physical safe to their manufacturers warehouse for repair which is not possible on installed vault doors. In my experience, American Security, Browning, Liberty, Rhino and Vault Pro provide the best service and warranty. They will pay for the safe technician to come out to your home and fix the safe on-site. As I always say with warranties, read the fine print.
The Bottom Line on Vault Door Reviews
To summarize, here are the most important factors to think about when you ask the question: What should I look for when reading Vault Door reviews:
- UL Rated High Security Type 1 Electronic or Type 2 Mechanical Lock from NL, S&G, SecuRam or Big Red
- Thick Steel Construction
- Minimum 1/4″ Steel Plate Door
- Hard plate Protecting the Lock
- Re-locker Protecting the Lock
- Minimum 1″ Thick Locking Bolts
- Fire Rating
- Minimum 30 Minute Fire Rating at 1200 Degrees
- Genuine Palusol Fire Seal
- Reliable Warranty
- Minimum 1 Year Parts and Labor Warranty
- Company Pays Locksmith or Safe Tech to Fix it in Your Home and Not at Their Factory
- Additional Features
- Style of Handle – 3-Spoke, 5-Spoke, Cast Iron Wheel
- Paint Color – Textured or High Gloss
- Mounting Hardware Included
- Style of Back Panel – Carpeting, Metal or Peg-Board
