Understanding Insurance Ratings for Antique Safes
A common question we receive is about the cash and valuables ratings for our antique safes. To set clear expectations, it's vital to understand the key difference between an antique safe's physical deterrent rating (like B/C) and the certified insurance rating required by modern insurance companies.
The Challenge of Insurance Ratings
Modern security safes are assigned a Cash Rating (or "Eurograde") only after being rigorously tested for resistance to attack by independent, third-party certification bodies (like UL or ECB-S).
Our antique safes were built before these modern, standardized testing procedures existed. This means they do not carry an official, certified insurance rating.
This is the most critical fact: Insurance companies generally will not provide automatic coverage based on an antique safe's construction rating alone.
1. The Physical (Deterrent) Rating
The terms B-Rate and C-Rate are unofficial industry standards based on the safe's sheer physical construction. They measure the safe's deterrent capability and resistance to a brute-force attack.
-
B-Rate Construction: The safe door is typically less than 1 inch thick, and the body is less than 1/2 inch thick.
-
Deterrent Value: Provides a strong physical barrier and deterrent against opportunistic or amateur thieves.
-
-
C-Rate Construction: The safe door is at least 1 inch thick, and the body is at least 1/2 inch thick.
-
Deterrent Value: Offers superior physical resistance and is a formidable deterrent against heavy hand tools and forced entry attempts.
-
In short: These ratings confirm the safe is a substantial physical barrier, but they do not automatically translate into a guaranteed insured value.
2. The Insurance (Cash) Rating
For coverage, insurance companies rely on the Cash Rating. They typically apply a 10:1 rule for valuables (jewellery, watches, heirlooms, etc.), meaning the value of your non-cash items is covered up to ten times the cash rating.
| Safe Type | Example Cash Rating | Example Valuables Rating (10x) |
| Modern Certified Safe (e.g., Eurograde 0) | £6,000 | £60,000 |
| Antique Safe (Non-Certified) | £0 to £2,000 | £0 to £20,000 |
For an Antique Safe:
Since no official rating exists, you must operate on the assumption of a minimal, or zero, guaranteed cash rating.
-
Best-Case Scenario: Due to the safe's substantial construction and weight, some insurers may be willing to grant a minimal £1,000 – £2,000 cash rating. This is entirely at their discretion and often depends on other security factors in your home.
-
Worst-Case Scenario: Other insurers will insist on a modern, certified safe for any significant coverage and will grant your antique safe a rating of £0.
Our Recommendation for Your Safe
-
Condition: Our safes have been fully restored, with locks professionally serviced, ensuring it is fully ready for secure use.
-
Deterrence: Based on its physical construction, this safe provides a strong physical deterrent, capable of resisting entry attempts by amateur criminals for a significant time.
-
Action Required: If you plan to store high-value items, you MUST contact your home or contents insurer directly to confirm the maximum amount they will cover if stored in this antique safe.
We cannot guarantee any specific insurance cash rating. You should consult your insurer as they will have the final say.
Fire Retardancy in Antique Safes: Materials and Peace of Mind
For customers concerned about the fire-retardant materials in their safe, we can confirm that English antique safes were overwhelmingly filled with gypsum (Plaster of Paris), a practice consistent with the information regarding fireproof safes today. Gypsum contains a large amount of chemically bound water, when the safe is exposed to intense heat in a fire, this water is slowly released as steam—a process that requires and absorbs a great deal of energy. This chemical reaction keeps the internal temperature of the safe relatively low, protecting heat-sensitive contents like paper documents. Milner's were one of the pioneers in this ingenious way of making a safe fireproof and famously guaranteed their safes fire resistance to 212 degrees, which is often included as just '212' in their plaques.
The fire-retardancy of gypsum-filled antique safes works on the same simple principle as boiling water.
Think about when you aggressively boil a pot of water, if you place inside a thermometer, you will notice that the temperature of the water will stay at 100 degrees and will do so until all of the water is gone. The gypsum filling in your safe works on the same principal. This simple, proven physics is why these safes offered reliable protection for paper documents for decades.
Asbestos
While asbestos was used in certain insulation products of the era, it is highly unusual for the fire-retardant filler in English antique safes to be asbestos. We prioritise the safety of our customers and staff; therefore, we do not sell any antique safes where the presence of asbestos is suspected or confirmed. You can purchase your restored safe with confidence knowing its traditional fire-retardant filler is based on the proven, water-releasing properties of gypsum.
Antique safe fire insurance ratings
While an antique safe has no rated fire protection (as far as insurance companies may say), it does have inherent protection. The thick, gypsum-filled walls (as discussed previously) are designed to offer significant fire resistance.
• The Reality: The fire protection offered by a restored antique safe is theoretical and uncertified, but often substantial enough to protect paper documents in a house fire, due to the bulk and the water-releasing properties of the gypsum filler.
• The Rule: If you require a guaranteed, insured fire protection for high-value media (like digital hard drives, which are sensitive to heat below 125 degrees or documents, you will need a modern safe with a recognised rating (like UL Class 125 or 350).
Antiques safes fire rating should be treated as an uninsured bonus and not a guaranteed feature.
We cannot guarantee any specific fire rating for insurance purposes. You should consult with your insurer to see if they will asses the specific safe and offer cover.