Liberty Safe Security Levels

Security is Liberty’s number one priority when it comes to designing and building our safes. But it’s not enough to claim our safes have the most reliable security features available on the market.

 

We take the added step of proving our safes’ reliability by not only putting them through our own, extensive “torture testing” ; we also ship them to Underwriter’s Laboratories (UL) for additional testing. This intensive analysis ensures our customers can have the peace of mind that comes with knowing they are purchasing one of the securest safes in the industry.

 

To make it easier for our customers to understand the security features that are included with our safes, Liberty has a Safe Security Level designation for each safe we manufacture. This 8-level system allows our customers to easily compare the different safes we sell according to the security features that come standard with each security level.

 

It can help you better understand the differences in pricing; you can expect to see higher prices for our safes that are classified with a higher safe security level.

Good Security

Security Levels: 1,2,3

 

  • I just need basic protection and to keep children away from firearms.
  • Items inside the safe are easily replaceable.
  • Someone is home most of the time.

Better Security

Security Levels: 4,5,6

 

  • I need increased security against crime and smash and grab burglars.
  • Items inside the safe are valuable and covered by home owner's insurance.
  • There are long hours during the day when nobody is home.

Best Security

Security Levels: 7,8

 

  • I need the highest security levels available.
  • Items inside the safe are of high value, irreplaceable and have significant sentimental value.
  • There are times when I am away from home for extended periods of time.

What Makes a Safe Secure

Liberty’s engineers have put a lot of time and effort into developing our safe designs. But we know there is always room for improvement. That is why we are known as one of the leading innovators in the industry. This is extremely important; few technologies have changed in the industry since the introduction steel in the 19th century.

Liberty has introduced such security technologies as our patented 4-inch, military-style locking bars. This is a superior upgrade to traditional locking bolts, and our patent-pending slip clutch technology that is featured with all our locking mechanisms.

Liberty selects only the right materials and components to ensure our high standard of safe security. We refuse to cut corners by using inferior steel or poorly made components. All our safes are made from high-quality American-made steel and feature UL-rated fireboard and UL-listed locks for added protection from burglary and fire.

But what stands out most in the materials and components that made a major difference in determining a safe’s security level is:

 

  • Door materials and construction
  • How the locking mechanism is protected
  • Locking mechanism used
  • Thickness of the steel used in construction
  • Don’t settle for a poorly made safe that is not secure.

Security Level Overview

Steel Thickness

Your safe’s door and walls are its first line of defense in keeping crooks out. The thicker the steel, the better security protection your safe will provide. Here is what you should know about the thickness of the steel used to make your Liberty safe and its military-style locking bars even more secure.

It is always a good idea to buy a safe with the thickest steel possible. But you also should remember that this will add to the price of your safe. The measurement system for steel can be a little confusing. A lower gauge of steel is thicker than a higher gauge; therefore, a higher safe security level safe will have a lower steel gauge number.

The concept of steel gauge can be a little confusing. Sheet metal uses what is called a retrogressive scale. The lower the gauge number, the thicker and stronger the steel. As the gauge number increases, there is a drop of 10 percent of thickness in the steel.

When it comes to being certified as a UL-Listed Residential Security Container (RSC), steel thickness definitely matters. A safe cannot receive an RSC certification unless it has a steel gauge measurement of 12-gauge or lower.

Door Construction

A lot goes into building a secure gun safe. The level of security provided by a safe depends on the type of components used in constructing it. There are also various types of components that offer different levels of security. Two components that have a major impact on a safe’s security level are its door and locking mechanism.

Liberty Safe uses 4 different types of doors for our eight safe security levels:

Security Level 1 safes are equipped with a 3/8-inch Steel Composite door

Security Level 2 thru 5 safes are equipped with a 1-inch Steel Composite Tough door

Security Level 6 safes are equipped with a 12-gauge Steel Plate door.

Security Level 7 safes are equipped with a 2-STEP door with 3/8" solid steel door plate.

Massive 5-inch thick 2-STEP door with 3/8" solid steel door plate is one of the toughest doors to pry in the industry.
UL listed tough!

Security Level 8 safes are equipped with a 1-5/16-inch Tough door.

Best Security Door Available.

The locking mechanism in your safe plays an important part in its level of security. It needs to keep the door locked if a burglar smashes or removes the safe’s lock, tries to torque the safe’s handle or attempts a side-bolt punch attack.

Depending on your safe’s security level, it will have one of the 5 different types of locking mechanisms that Liberty uses:

The Single Actuator, Direct-Cam, and X-Cam locking mechanism are basic locking mechanisms used for Liberty’s Security Levels 1-3 our entry/economy-level safes, including the Centurion, USA, and Colonial gun safes. They provide a smooth direct connection from the mechanism to your safe’s door bolts/bars.

Liberty’s Security Level 4-7

The DX-90 Monster Mech locking mechanism features an over-center, direct-drive cam mechanism. This locking mechanism is used on the Franklin, Lincoln, National Classic Select, and National Classic Plus models. The over-center cam removes pressure from the safe’s locking bolts/bars in the event of a side-bolt punch attempt.

Liberty’s Security Level 8

The GX-480/GX-540 Monster Mech locking mechanisms feature an over-center, gear-driven mechanism and is used on our #1 top-rated Presidential and National Magnum gun safes. This locking mechanism is the absolute best locking mechanism available and has been proven to withstand a five-hour burglary attack using various tools.

All Liberty locking mechanisms come standard with our patent-pending slip-clutch feature for added security protection. If a burglar attempts to torque your safe’s handle, its shaft will slip and release pressure on the lock to prevent it from breaking.

New Locking Bars

Liberty’s 4-inch military-style locking bars are a game-changer within the safe industry. Round steel locking pins have been the norm. Why are locking bars better? Because they are 4 inches wide and have a greater surface area; they really dig-in and stand-up to prying, drilling and punching attacks.

Most safes on the market are equipped with traditional steel round-pin locking bolts. This technology has been around almost as long as safes themselves. These bolts can keep a safe’s door shut and help prevent the door from warping during a fire. But they are not as effective as Liberty’s innovative patent-pending military style locking bars.

When it comes to innovation, Liberty Safe has always been ahead of the curve in the safe industry. Using the best engineering, technology and testing, Liberty has designed its flat bar technology to be far superior to traditional round-pin locking bolts when providing safe security.

Locking bars are six times stronger than round pins found in other safes. They provide a larger surface that resists prying and punching because they go deeper into the safe when locked in place. They are also made from one, solid piece of American-made steel.

Standard round locking bolts are individually and permanently riveted to security brackets before being installed into a safe door. While they have been the industry standard and are effective, they are not as efficient as Liberty’s military-style locking bars.

Security Level 1

Security Levels 2-5

Security Levels 6-7

Security Level 1

Lock Guards

While Liberty’s safe doors are strong, we also take the added step of protecting our locks and locking mechanisms with hardplate lock guards. These strong plates of hardened steel are great at thwarting drill attacks because they quickly chew up, snap or spin the drill bit; depending on the safe security level of the gun safe you purchase.

Tripled-layered hardplate is just what it sounds like…three strong layers of hardplate steel that protects your safe’s lock and locking mechanism. So why do we use three layers rather than one?

Multiple layers of hardplate will chew up a drill bit quickly as it continues to shake, trying to get through the steel’s hard surface. In fact, when going through Underwriters Laboratories’ testing, their professional safe crackers could not get through the second layer of hardplate.

Ball-bearing hardplate is even tougher on a burglar’s drill bit. Numerous ball-bearings are encased into a piece of hardplate. When the crook tries to drill into your lock, he will be met with a very unpleasant surprise: Either his drill bit is going to snap, or it will keep spinning on those tiny steel bearings forever. And with most home burglaries occurring in less than 10 minutes, a thief is going to give up very quickly.

Security Level 1

Security Level 2-4

Security Level 5-8

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