The burglary rating system established by UL (Underwriters Laboratories) is the primary piece of protection for North American consumers interested in purchasing a security safe. This burglary safe rating system used to have three primary tiers: RSC (Residential Security Container), TL-15 and TL-30. Most residential buyers were interested in the RSC rating, as the high security TL-15 and TL-30 ratings were largely the domain of commercial enterprises, like banks, pawn shops and jewelry stores.
UL defines an RSC safe as one that can successfully resist entry for a minimum of 5 minutes with small, common hand tools. Although it is a basic security rating, don’t let the relatively short entry time fool you; the RSC testing procedure is brutal.
The time limit only includes “tools on the safe” time (measured with a stopwatch). The actual test might take longer than an hour to run and can be repeated as many times as the UL staff feels is necessary to ensure that all prospective avenues of attack have been thoroughly explored.
The RSC test is conducted by a single, seasoned UL technician who is effectively a professional safecracker. In addition, he is allowed to freely consult with his experienced associates at all times both before and during the test. The safe manufacturer must also submit a copy of the safe’s blueprints beforehand so that the UL testers can pinpoint any potentially weak areas for their attacks.
The only “easy” part about a UL RSC burglary safe test is that the tool complement is rather limited. The test only allows hand tools that are no greater than 18 inches in length, preventing the use of long breaker or pry bars. The sledge hammer used can only have a 3 pound head, limiting the concussive forces involved. And the only power tool allowed is a drill equipped with a 1/4 inch bit.
Despite these limitations, the UL RSC burglary rating is fairly robust for a residential setting.
However, the RSC rating has a major problem; it encompasses a massive range of protection levels. A low end RSC safe might easily stop a drug-addled, smash-and-grab thief, but would quickly succumb to a well-equipped, highly-motivated burglar.
Likewise, a high quality RSC safe provides good protection in most residential settings, but also costs a lot more than a low end RSC safe. Worse yet, there is no clear way for a safe buyer to differentiate between the two.
I actually address this problem in an article I wrote titled: Choosing the Right RSC Burglary Safe.
Because of the limitations of the old RSC safe rating system, UL split the RSC designation into 3 separate tiers at the beginning of 2018: RSC Level I, RSC Level II and RSC Level III.
The old RSC test will now be equivalent to the new RSC Level I rating.
I will not spend any time discussing the RSC Level III rating because 1) it doesn’t make much sense and 2) it is beyond the scope of this article.
The RSC Level II security rating, though, is where things get interesting.
In the new RSC Level II test, a safe must successfully resist entry for 10 minutes against a two-man team using more powerful tools than in the old RSC test, including picks, high-speed carbide drills and pressure applying devices. The RSC Level II tool complement is actually the same suite of tools used for the grueling UL TL-15 test, which is generally considered the first rung on the commercial security ladder.
In effect, the RSC Level II security designation is a TL-10×6 rating. X6 refers to the fact that the UL safecrackers can work on any six sides of a safe in their attempt to open it. This is a notable departure from the (theoretically) higher TL-15 rating, where the two-man safecracking team can only work on the door of the safe. The sides of a TL-15 safe are subjected to a reduced-length, 5-minute attack time.
Perhaps the best way to visualize just how much more punishing the RSC Level II security test is versus the old RSC Level I test is to take a moment to look at the photo at the top of this article. The small group of tools on the left is those used in the old RSC (now the RSC Level I) test, while the much more menacing tool set on the right is those used in the new RSC Level II test. And remember, the RSC Level II test also employs a two-man team versus the single safecracker on the RSC Level I test.
For security-minded individuals looking for the best home burglary safe available, the new UL RSC Level II rating is a godsend. The old RSC burglary designation was a confusing mess that covered a range of widely divergent security levels. The new RSC rating system largely remedies this. Unfortunately, it will take a little while to get out to the public.
UL works on a 7 year retest cycle for safes, the last of which occurred in 2012. At each retest cycle, UL updates their safe testing methodology to include more effective tools and techniques. And every participating safe manufacturer must then resubmit their safes for retesting. This retest cycle is currently scheduled for 2019, meaning that most residential burglary safes will only begin to carry the new RSC Level I or RSC Level II certifications in 2020.
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Unfortunately, this means that there is only a single model of RSC Level II safe currently on the market: the AMSEC BFII Series Gun Safe.
There will undoubtedly be other RSC Level II security safes coming over the next few years. I have heard a rumor that Fort Knox is working on modifying their Guardian series of gun safes to meet the new standard.
I also suspect that a handful of the older RSC burglary safes might be able to meet the new RSC Level II rating as well. Although this is pure speculation, I think that the AMSEC BF security series (which is more robust than their standard BF gun safes) has a shot at the new certification with just a few modifications. I also believe that most of Graffunder’s safe line-up could probably meet the new designation (although they have traditionally chosen not to submit their safes to UL for certification). Other than that, we’ll just have to wait and see who makes the cut.
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