Delay Function of Safe Locks

From modern day safes, owners would never really think about how a safe operates, but there are some built in features that really do make a difference when it comes to protecting valuables. Most people think about a safe's thick, steel door being impenetrable, its top-of-the-line, snap-as-you-lock, bolt features, and other valuable being safe, but much simpler features really do an extraordinary job at keeping valuables safe. One such feature is a delay function. What prevents a thief from simply holding a store employee hostage to crack open a safe is a delay function. A delay function simply delays the opening of a safe. That extra time is the difference between a robbery and a successful burglary. Delay functions are some of the most unexciting, but most effective home and business robbery deterrents.

How the Delay Actually Works

The mechanics of delay functions are deceptively simple. When a user inputs a valid code on a safe lock box keypad, the lock doesn't retract the bolts immediately. It starts a countdown. Depending on the lock model and the user's security needs, this delay can be set anywhere between one to ninety-nine minutes. During this time, the safe remains locked, and nothing can be done to speed up the process. The keypad usually provides some sort of delay indicator. A red LED may flash a every ten second, or a display screen may show minutes counting down. When the delay period concludes, the lock enters an open or confirmation window. This time-limited window is between one and nine minutes, and it is during this time that the user must input the code again to open the safe. If the user fails to do this before the window closes, the entire process resets and the delay starts from the beginning. This may seem cumbersome, especially if the user needs to frequently access the safe, but this is exactly the point. It adds friction, and friction is the enemy of a criminal on a time crunch.

Delay Function Customization

Most electronic locks that have a delay function allow administrator users to set the delay period, and the procedure to set the delay period is fairly simple. For example, a restaurant manager with fast-paced operations may prefer a delay period of 5 minutes, while a bank manager may prefer to set the delay to 30 minutes. Users also have the ability to set delay period. Users should not have to feel rushed to enter a code, so the delay period is also customizable. During the delay period, users are alerted with audible and visual indications. Users will see a slow flashing light which indicates the delay period is active, and a rapid beep and a green light which indicates an opening period. An opening period means that the lock is ready to accept a final code. Users will also see a display that counts up and counts down to indicate the end of the delay period. It is also worth noting that, while the delay function may be a disruptive for business, a temporary override is built into many locks for situations such as armored car pickups. By using a designated courier code, an administrator would be able to record who accessed the lock and bypass the delay period. Overall, the delay function is an obstacle to business only when an unauthorized person is attempting to gain access.

Why Waiting Works as a Security Strategy

The real ingenuity of these functions is not mechanical; it is psychological. Criminals, be it a smash and grab burglar, for example, or someone holding up a store at closing time, always seem to be racing against the clock. With each passing second, the chances of them being seen, heard or law enforcement arriving to the scene increases. A lock that enforces a wait of 10, 15, or even 30 minutes completely eliminates that sense of urgency. This approach may seem simple, but it is a powerful psychological barrier. A robber, for instance, who insists that a safe be opened immediately is encountering an immutable fact. The safe will not open, and the employee is powerless to change that. This often causes the criminal to abandon the attempt entirely. The risk of remaining for that long simply does not justify the potential reward. For burglaries that occur when no one is around, the delay is just as effective. A thief who discovers a safe lock box that is bolted to the floor may try to enter a few codes, but when the lock states it is not even going to consider releasing for the next 20 minutes, the urge to grab something and leave becomes a powerful motivator. The delay function essentially buys time for alarms to sound, cameras to capture, and for help to be summoned.

Diverse Choices Point to Diverse Requirements

The delay function is designed for flexible usage for different scenarios. A five to ten minute delay will maximise employee retention for accessing the safe without making it frustrating for staff. This will make the safe as a less attractive target. For banks, jewelry stores and big businesses, a longer delay will be required, often in combination with other security features. Dual custody, where it is required to have two different codes from two different people, usually works in conjunction with a delay function. This means someone not only has to wait to open the safe, but also has to have a second person there to complete the process, which creates a strong barrier for internal theft and collusion. Then there are home safes. A homeowner may not think a delay function is storing rolls of tape and other office supplies, but for those storing cash, jewelry, and especially firearms at home, the feature provides a valuable level of security. A home safe with a delay function can turn what is usually a successful burglary to a failed one. The reason for that is because the burglar doesn’t have the time.

Security Built on Industry Standards

When a product features a delay function, it gives consumers peace of mind that the product is designed to meet industry guidelines and not merely to meet a marketing slogan. Regulations such as UL 887 cover delay action timelocks designed to be attached to the doors of bur gnaw and robbery protection devices such as safes, chests, and vaults. These locks prevent the user from locking the door for a user defined period of time. When locks meet these standards, it means they have been proven to work under real life situations. Timers aren’t just added to a keypad. They are added to a certified security feature designed to prevent the function from being manipulated, and to ensure that it operates correctly, even under extreme conditions. Whether you are a business owner or a homeowner, it is comforting to know the delay function on a security vault cash box is designed to meet industry safety standards. It means the feature has been evaluated, and the manufacturer has all the testing to prove that the product does what it is supposed to do.

The Delay Feature: A Mindset of Patience

Enough talk about timers, open windows, and software programs and their applied industry standards. Delay functions are some of the most basic but effective pieces of technology. It doesn't need Wifi, no need for monthly subscriptions and it, quite literally, just sits there, providing us the opportunity to turn a moment of frustration into a moment of pause. In the world of safety and security, a moment of pause can mean the difference between losing everything to a robbery and losing nothing. A delay feature is not designed to be a frustration to the owner of the safe. It is, in fact, designed to be a frustration to the person who is not supposed to be accessing the safe. It is one of those features that will go unnoticed and underappreciated until it is the last line of defense between a burglar and the contents of the safe. In that moment, those few minutes will be worth much more than a hundred different design features.