page_title: Bank vault
section_title: European Resistance Standards
hierarchical_section_title: Bank vault / European Resistance Standards
caption_attribution_description: English: Diaquip Core Drill and Core drill motor
context_page_description: A bank vault is a secure space where money, valuables, records, and documents are stored. It is intended to protect their contents from theft, unauthorized use, fire, natural disasters, and other threats, much like a safe. Unlike safes, vaults are an integral part of the building within which they are built, using armored walls and a tightly fashioned door closed with a complex lock.
  Historically, strongrooms were built in the basement of a bank where the ceilings were vaulted, hence the name. Modern bank vaults typically contain many safe deposit boxes, as well as places for teller cash drawers, and other valuable assets of the bank or its customers. They are also common in other buildings where valuables are kept such as post offices, grand hotels, rare book libraries and certain government ministries.
  Vault technology developed in a type of arms race with bank robbers. As burglars came up with new ways to break into vaults, vault makers found new ways to foil them. Modern vaults may be armed with a wide array of alarms and anti-theft devices. Some 19th and early 20th century vaults were built so well that today they are difficult to destroy.
context_section_description: As with the US, Europe has agreed a series of test standards to assure a common view of penetrative resistance to forcible attack. The testing regime is covered under the auspices of Euronorm 1143-1:2012 (also known as BS EN 1143-1: 2012), which can be purchased from approved European standards agencies. 
  Key points include:
  Standard covers burglary resistance tests against free-standing safes and ATMs, as well as strongrooms and doors
  Tests are undertaken to arrive at a grade (0 to XIII) with two extra resistance qualifiers (one for the use of explosives the other for core drills)
  Test attack tools fall into five categories with increasing penetrative capability, i.e. Categories A-D and S
  Penetration success is measured as partial (125mm diameter hole) or full (350mm diameter hole)
  Considers only the time actually spent working (excludes setup, rests, etc.)
  EN 1143-1 makes no claims as to the fire resistance of the vault
  EN 1300 covers high security locks, i.e. four lock classes (A, B, C and D)
  Applies to the door and all vault sides.
caption: A modern highly portable core drill
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