Anchoring Your Safe

Disclaimer: Below we describe some best practices that we have learned over the years on anchoring safes to the floor. This is not a definitive how to for every scenario but a guide to help you.

Which type of anchor is supplied with your safe?

Alway check to see what was supplied with your safe. Typically this is what is provided with your safe purchase.

M Series Safes come with Lag Screws for wood flooring. (3/8" diameter by 2-3/4" length)

TS Series & HS Series Safes come with Concrete Sleeve Anchors for concrete. (1/2" diameter by 3" length)

Things to consider before anchoring your safe:

When anchoring your safe, it is important to identify the type of flooring that the safe will be sitting on. If you are in a garage then you will most likely be on concrete. If you are going inside of the house then you will most likely be anchoring into a wood subfloor like plywood. However, that is not always the case so please check. Carpet, linoleum, laminate, or vinyl flooring are just top layers covering the actual floor. They are not the structural flooring. Once again, check to make sure.

Once you have identified the type of flooring then you will need to check to see if you have the proper mounting hardware for that type of flooring.

CAUTION: While checking for flooring type, check for electrical wiring, water lines, sewer lines, gas pipes, radiant heat flooring and other obstacles below or on top of the structural flooring. If you are uncertain then please check with a professional.

WARNING: Always wear eye and ear protection when using a drill and/or other power tools. Always wear a dust mask to prevent inhalation of harmful dust.

Flooring types and recommended hardware:

Wood Floors and Wood Subfloors:

Lag Screws

Concrete Floors:

Sleeve Anchors

Wedge Anchors

Tile on concrete floors:

CAUTION! There is a high chance of cracking the tile(s) when drilling, hammering the anchors into place, and/or tightening the anchors. The tiles can also crack with just the weight of the safe alone.

If you are okay with the risk of cracked tiles then this can be done using concrete anchors. Follow the concrete anchor installation section.

Tile on wood subfloor:

CAUTION! There is a high chance of cracking the tile(s) when drilling and/or tightening the anchors. The tiles can also crack with just the weight of the safe alone.

We don’t recommend placing a safe in this location but the best option that we know of is using a toggle bolt (Toggler brand, Snaptoggler is the product). Using a tile drill bit, drill the toggle manufacturer’s recommended size of the hole and follow the toggle manufacturer’s instructions.

WARNING: Always wear eye and ear protection when using a drill and/or other power tools. Always wear a dust mask to prevent inhalation of harmful dust.

Check your anchors and your equipment:

Make sure that you have the correct diameter and length of anchors for your flooring type.

Make sure you have the correct type, diameter, and length of drill bits for your flooring and anchors.

Make sure you have all the other tools required to finish the installation of the anchors depending on your flooring type.

Recommended tools:

Wood Floors and Subfloors:

-Eye & Ear Protection

-Drill

-1/4" Wood Drill Bit

-Vacuum

-Socket Wrench/Ratchet

-Socket Extension

-Socket (17mm or 11/16")

Concrete Floors:

-Eye & Ear Protection

-Hammer Drill

-Concrete Drill Bit (make sure it will fit your Hammer Drill)

-Vacuum

-Hammer

-Punch

-Socket Wrench/Ratchet

-Socket Extension

-Socket (17mm or 11/16")

Process of installing lag screws in wood subfloors:

WARNING: Always wear eye and ear protection when using a drill and/or other power tools. Always wear a dust mask to prevent inhalation of harmful dust.

Place the safe where you desire and then use shims to level the safe.
Open the safe. Locate and remove the black plastic caps that are covering the pre-drilled holes on the floor of the safe (leave the carpeted floor in place).
CAUTION! If your safe is located on CARPET, then you need to be aware that drilling a pilot hole may snag and pull your carpet. We recommend not drilling a pilot hole in this scenario. However, you still run the risk of carpet snags even when not drilling a pilot hole but there is less chance.
Drilling Pilot Hole:

4.1. Note: If you have an impact wrench, you can use it to drive the lag screw directly into the floor with no pilot hole. We recommend this method if you are on carpet.

4.2. Drill a ¼” pilot hole in the center of each mounting hole location with a wood drill bit. (Approximately 2-1/2" to 3" deep)

4.3. Clean each hole. Using a vacuum, vacuum up all the debris in each hole.

5. Assemble each lag screw with a washer before installation.

6. Do not over tighten! Using a socket and ratchet, tighten each lag screw until they are snug to the bottom of the safe then tighten an additional ½ turn to full turn depending on the floor material. Do not over tighten!

NOTE: Carpet or other soft flooring may require re-tightening after time because the materials under the safe will compress with the weight of the safe and the contents added to the safe.

7. Place the black plastic hole covers back in place. Now you are all done.

Process of installing concrete anchors:

WARNING: Always wear eye and ear protection when using a drill and/or other power tools. Always wear a dust mask to prevent inhalation of harmful dust.

Place the safe where you desire and then use shims to level the safe.
Open the safe. Locate and remove the black plastic caps that are covering the pre-drilled holes on the floor of the safe (leave the carpeted floor in place).
CAUTION! If your safe is located on CARPET with concrete underneath, then you need to be aware that drilling a hole may snag and pull your carpet. Proceed with caution.
Using a concrete drill bit and a hammer drill, drill the holes in the concrete (approximately 3.5" or 1/4" deeper than the overall length of the bolt). You can drill all the way through the concrete slab as well. This will make for easier removal of the safe later because the anchors can be hammered flush with the floor.
Clean each hole. Using a vacuum, vacuum up all the debris in each hole.
Assemble the concrete anchors with a washer and nut on each. Leave the top of the bolt exposed. You don’t want to hammer directly on the threaded nut.
Drive each anchor bolt into each hole with a hammer. A punch is helpful in getting the anchor all the way seated to the metal floor. You will hear the sound change when the bolt is seated to the metal floor.
Do not over tighten! Tighten each nut on each anchor using a socket and ratchet. Tighten until snug then an additional ½ turn or 25 ft/lbs of torque (or see anchor manufacturer instructions). Do not over tighten!
Place the black plastic hole covers back in place. Now you are all done.

Anchoring Your Safe

Disclaimer: Below we describe some best practices that we have learned over the years on anchoring safes to the floor. This is not a definitive how to for every scenario but a guide to help you.

Which type of anchor is supplied with your safe?

Alway check to see what was supplied with your safe. Typically this is what is provided with your safe purchase.

M Series Safes come with Lag Screws for wood flooring. (3/8" diameter by 2-3/4" length)

TS Series & HS Series Safes come with Concrete Sleeve Anchors for concrete. (1/2" diameter by 3" length)

Things to consider before anchoring your safe:

Once you have identified the type of flooring then you will need to check to see if you have the proper mounting hardware for that type of flooring.

CAUTION: While checking for flooring type, check for electrical wiring, water lines, sewer lines, gas pipes, radiant heat flooring and other obstacles below or on top of the structural flooring. If you are uncertain then please check with a professional.

WARNING: Always wear eye and ear protection when using a drill and/or other power tools. Always wear a dust mask to prevent inhalation of harmful dust.

Flooring types and recommended hardware:

Wood Floors and Wood Subfloors:

Lag Screws

Concrete Floors:

Sleeve Anchors

Wedge Anchors

Tile on concrete floors:

CAUTION! There is a high chance of cracking the tile(s) when drilling, hammering the anchors into place, and/or tightening the anchors. The tiles can also crack with just the weight of the safe alone.

If you are okay with the risk of cracked tiles then this can be done using concrete anchors. Follow the concrete anchor installation section.

Tile on wood subfloor:

CAUTION! There is a high chance of cracking the tile(s) when drilling and/or tightening the anchors. The tiles can also crack with just the weight of the safe alone.

We don’t recommend placing a safe in this location but the best option that we know of is using a toggle bolt (Toggler brand, Snaptoggler is the product). Using a tile drill bit, drill the toggle manufacturer’s recommended size of the hole and follow the toggle manufacturer’s instructions.

WARNING: Always wear eye and ear protection when using a drill and/or other power tools. Always wear a dust mask to prevent inhalation of harmful dust.

Check your anchors and your equipment:

Make sure that you have the correct diameter and length of anchors for your flooring type.

Make sure you have the correct type, diameter, and length of drill bits for your flooring and anchors.

Make sure you have all the other tools required to finish the installation of the anchors depending on your flooring type.

Recommended tools:

Wood Floors and Subfloors:

-Eye & Ear Protection

-Drill

-1/4" Wood Drill Bit

-Vacuum

-Socket Wrench/Ratchet

-Socket Extension

-Socket (17mm or 11/16")

Concrete Floors:

-Eye & Ear Protection

-Hammer Drill

-Concrete Drill Bit (make sure it will fit your Hammer Drill)

-Vacuum

-Hammer

-Punch

-Socket Wrench/Ratchet

-Socket Extension

-Socket (17mm or 11/16")

Process of installing lag screws in wood subfloors:

WARNING: Always wear eye and ear protection when using a drill and/or other power tools. Always wear a dust mask to prevent inhalation of harmful dust.

Place the safe where you desire and then use shims to level the safe.

Open the safe. Locate and remove the black plastic caps that are covering the pre-drilled holes on the floor of the safe (leave the carpeted floor in place).

CAUTION! If your safe is located on CARPET, then you need to be aware that drilling a pilot hole may snag and pull your carpet. We recommend not drilling a pilot hole in this scenario. However, you still run the risk of carpet snags even when not drilling a pilot hole but there is less chance.

Drilling Pilot Hole:

4.1. Note: If you have an impact wrench, you can use it to drive the lag screw directly into the floor with no pilot hole. We recommend this method if you are on carpet.

4.2. Drill a ¼” pilot hole in the center of each mounting hole location with a wood drill bit. (Approximately 2-1/2" to 3" deep)

4.3. Clean each hole. Using a vacuum, vacuum up all the debris in each hole.

5. Assemble each lag screw with a washer before installation.

6. Do not over tighten! Using a socket and ratchet, tighten each lag screw until they are snug to the bottom of the safe then tighten an additional ½ turn to full turn depending on the floor material. Do not over tighten!

NOTE: Carpet or other soft flooring may require re-tightening after time because the materials under the safe will compress with the weight of the safe and the contents added to the safe.

7. Place the black plastic hole covers back in place. Now you are all done.

Process of installing concrete anchors:

WARNING: Always wear eye and ear protection when using a drill and/or other power tools. Always wear a dust mask to prevent inhalation of harmful dust.

Place the safe where you desire and then use shims to level the safe.

Open the safe. Locate and remove the black plastic caps that are covering the pre-drilled holes on the floor of the safe (leave the carpeted floor in place).

CAUTION! If your safe is located on CARPET with concrete underneath, then you need to be aware that drilling a hole may snag and pull your carpet. Proceed with caution.

Clean each hole. Using a vacuum, vacuum up all the debris in each hole.

Assemble the concrete anchors with a washer and nut on each. Leave the top of the bolt exposed. You don’t want to hammer directly on the threaded nut.

Drive each anchor bolt into each hole with a hammer. A punch is helpful in getting the anchor all the way seated to the metal floor. You will hear the sound change when the bolt is seated to the metal floor.

Do not over tighten! Tighten each nut on each anchor using a socket and ratchet. Tighten until snug then an additional ½ turn or 25 ft/lbs of torque (or see anchor manufacturer instructions). Do not over tighten!

Place the black plastic hole covers back in place. Now you are all done.

CAUTION! If your safe is located on *CARPET with concrete underneath**, then you need to be aware that drilling a hole may snag and pull your carpet. Proceed with caution.*