The science of safes has two distinct tendencies with clearly divided viewpoints: countering violent attacks by reinforcing structures or by strategically allowing attacks to trigger secondary locking mechanisms. This article introduces these two groups of solutions with examples of inventions from around the world. The hard solutions involve proactive countermeasures, while the soft solutions involve passive responses.
Hard Approaches to Safe Security
Reinforcing Against Drilling Attacks
To counter drilling attacks that aim to break the lock behind the door, a U.S. invention uses ceramic alloy discs, a material with extreme hardness typically used for cutting tools. When a drill bit reaches the ceramic disc, the friction between two equally hard metals results in wasted time rather than penetration. Another invention uses an outward-facing wedge structure. A drill bit, which moves straight when symmetrical forces act on it, gets deflected or broken when it encounters the conical wedge’s unsymmetrical surface.
Ceramic Alloy Discs and Wedge Structures for Drill Resistance
Multi-Layer Protective Materials
Some high-end safes employ multiple layers of different materials, each presenting unique challenges to a drill bit. For example, an outer layer of low-carbon steel, followed by fire-resistant concrete mixed with abrasive particles, then layers of copper, molybdenum, and cobalt, and finally rubber to prevent insertion of inspection tools.
The pinnacle of hard solutions includes a copper layer that dissipates heat rapidly when drilled, igniting an aluminum powder layer behind it to create a thermite reaction. This reaction generates enough heat to weld railway tracks, forcing the heat and pressure back through the drill hole, potentially injuring the attacker.
Countering Various Tools
To counter cutting wheels, an aluminum plate can be added, causing the aluminum particles to clog the abrasive wheel. Each layer forces the attacker to carry various tools, and switching between them takes time and effort, increasing the attack’s difficulty and duration.
Multi-Layered Safe Construction with Drill-Resistant Features
Soft Approaches to Safe Security
Passive Defense Mechanisms
Soft solutions do not directly counter violent attacks but instead anticipate them and utilize the attack’s energy and signals to trigger secondary locking mechanisms. For example, real and fake locks can be mixed to prolong the attack and increase psychological pressure on the intruder. Removing elastic components from the lock prevents it from being cracked by listening to its internal movements.
Activation of Secondary Locks
A common method is placing tempered glass directly in front of the lock. When the drill bit shatters the glass, it releases secondary locking latches. Even the manufacturer can’t reopen the safe without cutting it in half once these secondary locks engage.
Secondary Lock Activation by Tempered Glass Shattering
Avoidance and Non-Response Tactics
The pinnacle of soft solutions is avoidance. The lock does not respond to any probing signals, leaving the intruder without any guidance on the correct or incorrect actions. This lack of direction quickly ends the attack.
Conclusion
Integrating Hard and Soft Approaches
The Chinese have a saying, “displaying the sword,” which implies deterrence without the use of force. In the context of safes, this means keeping critical security features undisclosed while revealing just enough in patents to deter intruders. The philosophy of “what you see is not all there is” applies here.
Ultimately, whether hard or soft approaches dominate in security is a question without a definitive answer. The best strategy is to combine both methods for comprehensive protection.
By understanding and implementing both hard and soft approaches, safe manufacturers and users can ensure a higher level of security, making it significantly more challenging for intruders to succeed.
