What You Should Know about 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.

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.

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. For each increase of gauge number, the thickness of the steel drops by 10 percent.

Liberty uses 5 different steel thicknesses throughout our 8 safe security levels:

• 14-gauge for Level 1
• 12-gauge for Level 2
• 11-gauge for Levels 3 - 6
• 10-gauge for Level 7
• 7-gauge for Level 8

With a Liberty gun safe, you are buying a truly secure safe. But don’t take our word for it: We take the extra step of having our safes certified by Underwriter’s Laboratories. Before we offer a new model, it is shipped to UL and put through its paces by professional safe crackers. This has earned us the honor of displaying the UL symbol of security; our Levels 2-8 safes are certified as a UL 8M10 Residential Security Container (RSC).

Liberty Level 1 safes are not UL-Listed because they are made with 14-gauge steel. However, all safe security levels are approved by the California Department of Justice (DOJ) as secure firearm storage devices.

The door of your safe is what stands between a burglar and your firearms and valuables. Regardless of the type of door used in a safe, it needs to be built with strong steel, too. Liberty uses 6 different types of doors throughout its 8 levels of safe security:

• 3/8-inch steel composite doors for Level 1
• 1-inch Tough Doors for Levels 2,3,4 & 5
• 12-gauge steel plate doors for Level 6
• 2-Step with 3/8-inch steel plate doors for Level 7
• 1-5/16-inch including 1/4" Inner door plate for Level 8

Behind every great steel door in a Liberty safe is a durable and reliable locking mechanism. As our safe security levels increase, you will also see the quality of the locking mechanisms we use increase. Don’t forget: With all our locking mechanisms, you also get the benefit of Liberty’s innovative “Slip Clutch Technology.” This added feature disengages your safe’s handle from the locking mechanism if a burglar attempts to torque it with a pipe or use other means of force.

Liberty now uses 5 types of locking mechanisms throughout our 8 safe security levels:

• Single Actuator for Level 1
• Direct-Cam for Level 2
• X-Cam for Level 3
• DX-90 Monster for Levels 4 – 7
• GX-480/GX-540 Monster for Level 8

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.

Depending on the safe’s security level, there are 4 steel thicknesses available throughout Liberty’s 8 safe security levels:

• 3/16-inch bar for Level 1
• 1/4-inch bar for Levels 2 – 4
• 3/8-inch bar for Levels 5 – 7
• 1/2-inch bar for Level 8

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.

Liberty uses 3 types of hardplate lock guards throughout our 8 safe security levels:

• Single hardplate for Level 1
• Triple hardplate for Levels 2 – 4
• Ball-bearing hardplate for Levels 5 – 8