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"Safe deposit box" and "safe deposit box" differ by only one word in their names. Their appearance and color are also identical. The locks used are also similar to those of a safe deposit box, including mechanical and electronic combination locks. It is not only difficult for ordinary consumers to distinguish between them, but even some professionals are very likely to be confused about the difference between the two.
Because safe deposit boxes are much cheaper than security boxes, some manufacturers play tricks with their product manuals or promotional materials, deliberately using ambiguous terms to confuse consumers and induce them to make a purchase. However, "security boxes" and "safe deposit boxes" differ greatly in terms of materials used and basic anti-theft functions.
So, how do you distinguish between a "safe deposit box" and a "deposit box"? You can do so by looking at the following key points.
1. Does the safe have a CCC mark? Safes: Yes; Storage safes: No. Safes were included in the National Mandatory Product Catalog in 2004. From October 10, 2005, safes without a mandatory certification certificate and without the CCC mark were prohibited from being manufactured, sold, exported, or used in other business activities. Therefore, safes sold on the market must have a CCC mark. If not, they are considered storage safes or collectible safes. Storage safes do not meet the national mandatory certification standards and cannot obtain a mandatory certification certificate; therefore, they cannot have the CCC mark on them.
II. Differences in Materials Used in Safes: Superior Safes: While there are no national standards, superior safes must use high-quality steel. The door panel thickness must be 8-10mm or more, and the body thickness must be 6mm or more. Superior safes have door panels thicker than 10mm and body thicknesses thicker than 6mm, using only high-quality low-carbon alloy steel. The body is manufactured using a one-piece forming technology, and the door frame and panel are processed using state-of-the-art laser cutting technology. In contrast, storage boxes lack corresponding standards, only having enterprise standards. The materials used vary greatly. The thickness of the steel used for the door panels is not standardized, ranging from 1mm to 10mm, and the body steel is even thinner. Some unscrupulous manufacturers even use steel plates less than 2mm thick, with 8-10mm steel plates around the edges to imitate 10-12mm thick steel door panels. The body is made of relatively thin steel plates wrapped to form the shape of the box, filled with a mixture of cement, sand, and gravel. The protective function provided is questionable.
III. Differences in Anti-theft Performance of Safes: Strong Safes vs. Weak Safes: National standards stipulate that key components of safes (boxes) such as door locks, combination locks, and handles must be effectively protected with drill-resistant plates boasting a hardness of HRC550. Door gaps must be tight, not exceeding 2mm. Mandatory standards for resistance to damage (including resistance to opening holes and resistance to door opening) require that even the lowest security level, A1, safes must be able to prevent the opening of the door or the creation of a hole larger than 38 square centimeters using ordinary hand tools, portable power tools, and grinding heads, as well as the combined use of these tools, within a 15-minute net working time. For the highest security level, Class C, the resistance to damage must be at least 60 minutes.
IV. Price Differences: Safes: Generally priced above 1000 yuan. Deposit Boxes: Priced in the hundreds of yuan. Safes require higher standards in steel materials and manufacturing processes, resulting in higher costs. Therefore, the retail price of safes is generally above 1000 yuan. To achieve better protection, safe manufacturers invest more in research and development compared to other manufacturers, have more stringent requirements for materials, and use more patented technologies in addition to national standards for the same specifications. It's understandable that their price is slightly higher than other brands. Deposit Boxes, because they don't have the same material and technical requirements, have lower production costs. To capture market share, their prices are also lower, generally below 1000 yuan, and some even only cost one or two hundred yuan. However, the protective effect of such products is predictable.
5. Weight Differences: Safes: Heavy Safes: Lighter because they use high-quality, thick steel and are designed to be easy to move. Safes are generally heavy or have attachments that make them difficult to move. Deposit Boxes: Because they use thinner steel plates of varying quality, some even have steel plates less than 1mm thick, essentially just "sheet metal." Therefore, deposit boxes are lighter than safes.
However, some "clever" safe deposit box manufacturers will pour cement into the bottom of the box, making it very heavy. How to choose a safe: A safe is a special container, and the state has strict requirements for its production. Consumers should have a basic understanding of these requirements before purchasing.
Anti-theft safes with dimensions of less than 450mm in width, 320mm in height, and 300mm in depth are characterized by their small size, light weight, and certain anti-theft performance. They are relatively easy to transport and install, being fixed to the ground or wall using expansion bolts or other securing devices, making them difficult for thieves to move. Built-in anti-theft safes are embedded in walls, offering a degree of concealment. Anti-theft safes are suitable for use in hotels and homes. Anti-theft cabinets, with dimensions larger than the above specifications, offer higher anti-theft performance and are more suitable for use in government agencies and enterprises.
Anti-theft safes can be categorized into Class A safes based on their protective performance. Class C offers the highest level of security, while Class A offers the lowest. Most safes seen in shopping malls today are Class A. Based on different password working principles, anti-theft safes can also be divided into mechanical and electronic safes. Mechanical safes are generally cheaper and more reliable. Early safes were mostly mechanical. Electronic safes utilize electronic locks with intelligent control methods such as electronic passwords and IC cards. They are convenient to use, especially in hotels where passwords need to be changed frequently. The most important aspect of an anti-theft safe is its vandalism prevention function, along with alarm functions. The state and the Ministry of Public Security attach great importance to the quality of anti-theft safes (boxes). The Ministry of Public Security has established the Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Center for Security and Alarm Systems and the Quality Inspection Center for Security and Police Electronic Products in Shanghai and Beijing, respectively, to be responsible for the quality supervision of anti-theft safes and anti-theft boxes nationwide. When purchasing safes and anti-theft boxes, it is essential to purchase products that have passed inspection to ensure that the safes (boxes) truly play their role in providing security.