Picking the safe is the easy part. Getting several hundred pounds of steel into your building, up the steps, through the door and anchored in the right spot is where most people get stuck.
Whether you run a restaurant that needs a drop safe, a retail store handling daily cash, a medical office protecting records, or you simply need a fire-rated safe for the back office, here is what a proper safe delivery and installation looks like, from the team at B&B Locksmith & Security in Walnut Creek.
Step 1: Choosing the right safe for the job
Businesses usually need one of three kinds:
- Burglary and fire safes for documents, cash and valuables. The American Security (AMSEC) CSC1413 we delivered recently is one example, built to resist both break-ins and fire.
- Drop or depository safes for restaurants and retail. Staff can drop cash or deposits through a slot without being able to open the safe.
- Cash-management safes for higher-volume retail. B&B is Tidel certified, so we can service and support Tidel cash-handling safes.
B&B sells Hollon, AMSEC, Gardall and other brands, so we can match the safe to what you're storing and where it will sit, rather than pushing one model.
Step 2: Measuring the route, not just the spot
Before delivery day, we look at the full path: doorway widths, steps, turns, thresholds, flooring and the final location. A safe that fits the closet but not the hallway is a common, expensive surprise.
This is also when we check what the floor is made of, because that decides how the safe gets anchored.
Step 3: Delivery with the right equipment
Heavy safes should not be "walked" up stairs by a couple of helpers. B&B uses its own safe-moving equipment, including a stair-climbing dolly, so the safe goes up steps under control. That protects the safe, your stairs and floors, and the people moving it.
We also move existing safes: within a building, to a new office, or out when you upgrade.
Step 4: Leveling and bolting it down
This is the step that gets skipped most often, and it matters most.
- Leveling keeps the door swinging and closing properly, so the bolts line up and the lock isn't strained over time.
- Bolting down anchors the safe to the floor so it can't simply be tipped, pried or carried off. A free-standing safe is much easier to steal than most people think.
Many safes come with factory anchor holes for exactly this reason. We anchor into the floor type you have and make sure the safe sits square.
Step 5: Setup and a quick walkthrough
Once it's in place, we make sure the lock works smoothly and walk you through using it. If you need the combination changed when staff turns over, that's a service we provide too.
What about opening a safe you're locked out of?
B&B also handles safe lock service and safe opening for businesses. Because a safe protects someone's property, we require proof of ownership before we open any safe. That rule protects you as much as anyone.
Why use a locksmith instead of a furniture mover?
A mover can get a box from A to B. A safe technician also understands the lock, the bolt work, anchoring, and what to do if something isn't working right. B&B has been a licensed, bonded and insured locksmith (C-28) in the Bay Area since 2011, and safes are part of what we do every week.
Book a free on-site assessment
If your business is in Walnut Creek, Concord, Pleasant Hill, Lafayette, Martinez, Danville, San Ramon, Dublin or Benicia, we'll come out, look at the spot and the route, and recommend the right safe and install.
Call 415-423-0182 or text 925-266-3393 to book your free on-site assessment, or see our safe installation page.
FAQ
Do you deliver and install safes you sell? Yes. B&B delivers with its own safe-moving equipment, then levels and bolts the safe down.
Can you install a safe I bought somewhere else? Ask us. We look at the safe, the route and the floor during the free assessment and tell you what's involved.
Why should a business safe be bolted down? An anchored safe is far harder to tip, pry or carry away. Bolting is one of the simplest ways to make any safe more secure.
Do you work on drop safes and Tidel safes? Yes. We install drop and depository safes, and B&B is Tidel certified.
Will you open a safe if I've lost the combination? Yes, with proof of ownership. We require it before opening any safe.