AMSEC BF1716 Full Review

Are you concerned about losing valuables in a home fire or burglary? Fire season continues to ravage the West Coast (and beyond). Thieves have continued targeting homeowners, especially in suburbs like Bellevue and Kirkland. That’s likely why you’re looking at an AMSEC BF1716. This premium medium-size home safe is one of the best-built American-made safes for sale. 

For more than 75 years, AMSEC (American Security) has produced the best American-made high-end safes. 

As an AMSEC dealer, we’re fond of their product, but we know these safes aren’t for everyone. To help you find the best safe for your needs, we’ll give our honest review of the AMSEC BF1716, including:

• AMSEC BF1716 Cost
• 5 Important American Security BF1716 Security Features
• What this American Security Home Safe Name Stands For
• 8 American Security BF1716 FAQ

The American Security BF1716 is a high-end home safe. It comes with a high-end price tag. The price ranges from $2,583-$4,376. The price difference comes down to the safe’s finish: textured vs. gloss. American Security is known for having one of the best gloss finishes in the industry, providing a more polished and elegant appearance for safes that may be prominently displayed in your home.

Regardless of the finish, why does this safe cost so much for 4,488 cubic inches of storage space? Because buying a safe is no different than purchasing insurance — you get the level of protection you pay for. The AMSEC BF1716 is built for protection. 

The AMSEC BF1716 is available with American Security’s ESL10 (Electronic Safe Lock) that features a basic keypad or a Big Red dial lock. Both options are UL Certified.

Our Master Safe Technician can also retrofit the safe with a Securam Scanlogic, a top-tier biometric lock . The Scanlogic combines a biometric fingerprint reader with a keypad, providing added flexibility and convenience. This lock is also UL Certified.

Why is it important to use a UL Certified lock? Because it meets our minimum security requirements. Additionally, all UL Certified locks have a universal footprint, ensuring it is easy and affordable to service your lock or replace it if needed.

NOTE: You always want to hire a certified safe tech to retrofit your lock and maintain the warranty on your safe. If you retrofit the lock on your safe yourself, you will void the manufacturer’s warranty.

The American Security home safes are built with fire clay, a proprietary mix of concrete with fire resistance additives that offers exceptional fire and security protection. This is a far superior fire insulation compared to the sheetrock used to insulate more safes.

Additionally, the poured concrete and double layers of steel create a barrier that’s harder to cut through than a single layer of steel. In this design, a burglar has to cut through one layer of steel, dig or chip through the fire clay and then cut through another layer of steel.

Despite being a medium home safe, the door of the American Security BF1716 is an impressive 3-½” thick. It includes a ½” steel plate along with fire clay insulation, just like the safe’s body. Furthermore, it’s engineered with an impressively tight door fit, improving its pry-resistance and fire protection. How tight of a door fit? It is guaranteed to be less than 0.125", but often less than 0.083"!

A two-stage fire seal further exemplifies the safe’s fire rating:

• A Silicone Foam Seal on the Door Jamb

• An Expandable Palusol™ Seal on the Door

The silicone seal around the door jamb is the first layer of defense. It forms a continuous barrier against dust, moisture, and other particles — protecting your safe even when there’s no fire.

In a fire, the second line of protection is the Palusol™ seal on the door. Composed of sodium silicate within a thermoplastic shell, this heat-activated seal expands up to five times its original thickness when exposed to extreme temperatures. As it expands, the non-combustible material fills gaps between the door and the safe’s body, creating a highly effective barrier against smoke, heat, and water damage.

SIMPLY PUT: This safe can burn for up to 60 minutes in an average house fire without the paper contents being destroyed.

The door of the safe is also equipped with three 1” solid steel, chrome-plated locking bolts. When the safe of the door is closed and locked, these bolts extend deep into the safe to prevent the door from being removed with forced entry.

American Security offers a lifetime warranty that guarantees a free replacement if your safe is destroyed or rendered inoperable by fire. To utilize your warranty, your safe must be registered. We always recommend registering your safe as soon as it’s delivered.

To those unfamiliar with the safe industry, the naming patterns of home safes may seem random. In reality, there’s no universal naming standard. However, as experts in the field, we can assure you there’s a method behind the BF1716. Let’s break it down.

B stands for Burglary rated (B-Rate). This is an industry construction and performance rating that indicates the degree of protection the safe will provide during an attack. However, this is a very misunderstood term that can easily confuse consumers.

Within B-Rate safes there’s a wide range of protection levels. The American Security BF1716 is among the most secure B-Rated safes.

The safe’s body is 2-⅝” thick, consisting of ⅛” inner and outer steel plates and AMSEC’s proprietary fire resistant material. The door is 3-½” thick, consisting of ½” plate steel and AMSEC’s proprietary fire resistant material.

F stands for fire-rated. Fire ratings are arguably one of the most challenging things to compare when looking at different safes. Why? Because safe fire ratings aren’t regulated. Any manufacturer can slap any fire rating they want on any safe.

In short, fire ratings are hard to trust.

Why can you trust the fire rating on the BF1716? Because it was awarded by Underwriters Laboratory (UL), an independent third-party testing agency, has tested and certified its fire rating. With over 130 years of experience, UL’s rigorous and unbiased testing ensures the safety and quality of products.

The BF1716 was awarded a UL Class 350°F Fire Rating for 60 minutes of fire protection . UL’s testing is exceptionally rigorous and far surpasses the manufacturers' tests. The process begins by placing thermocouples and a piece of paper inside the safe, followed by these key testing protocols:

• Rapidly raising the furnace temperature to 1,700°F. Unlike some manufacturers, which take up to 20 minutes or more to reach this temperature, UL heats the furnace quickly.

• Cooling without opening the furnace. While most manufacturers open the furnace and the safe immediately after the testing period (typically 1 hour), UL keeps the furnace sealed until a clear drop in temperature is detected.

To achieve a 60-minute UL Class 350°F Fire Rating, the safe’s internal temperature must remain below 350°F throughout the test, ensuring the paper remains undamaged.

The 1716 within the BF1716 name indicates the height and width of the safe — it’s 17” high and 16.5” wide. Not all numbers within the names of a safe do relate to the size, but they’re often a good indicator. 

Have you ever picked the lock on a door handle? A safe is NOTHING like that. Breaking into a safe is no small feat. Unless you give your kids the combination or leave the door open, they aren’t going to get into your safe.

The American Security BF1716 weighs 412 pounds. That’s the average weight of a motorcycle. Without the necessary tools and equipment, safely installing it is difficult.

Most retailers offer curbside delivery. Some retailers may provide first-floor delivery as long as no stairs are involved. Why the limitations? Moving a safe of this size and weight into a home without causing damage or risking injury requires specialized equipment and expertise (as noted above).

While we try not to brag, we have the region’s best safe delivery crews . Equipped with the right tools and hands-on experience, they ensure your safe is installed without any damage to your home. These tools include:

• Door jamb protectors

• Slide sticks (also known as slick slides)

• Electric stair-climbing dollies

Delivery and Install Includes:

• Safely moving your safe into place while protecting your walls, floor, and thresholds. (If your safe doesn’t fit where you want it, we can help you find the next best solution!)

• Leveling your safe to ensure proper door swing.

• Bolting your safe to the floor (if desired)

• Teaching you how to use your safe (including helping you program your electronic lock).

A medium home safe, the American Security BF1716 can be installed in most rooms within your home. The safe’s exterior is 22.25" High x 21.75" Wide x 21.25" Deep.

Popular installation locations include:

• Home Offices

• Master Bedroom

• Master Bedroom Close

• Beneath an Office Desk

• Butler’s Pantry

If you’re locked out of your safe, check the battery first. At least once a week, we get a call from a panicked customer who can’t get into their safe. In most cases, simply replacing the battery resolves the issue and saves you the trouble of a service call. If the problem continues, our in-house Master Safe Technician is fully equipped to open any safe and restore your access expertly.

Whichever safe you choose, we highly recommend registering it with the manufacturer when possible. This ensures that if you ever forget your combination, the manufacturer can assist in recovering it. Additionally, registration guarantees your eligibility for any warranty services.

Important Tip: Don’t overlook adding all necessary individuals to your safe. If you’re married, including both partners on the warranty is wise. This can help you avoid potential legal complications and costs in the future, should proof of ownership become necessary.

Some online articles promote a key bypass (or key backup) as an emergency safeguard. However, in reality, a key bypass poses a security risk. Safes with key bypass locks are not UL-listed and are generally easier to break into.

Different retailers offer different financing options for new home safes and gun safes. Here at NW Safe, we have affordable financing powered by two different options: 

• Buy now, pay later with Shop Pay

• 12 Month Same As Cash

Both of these options are contingent on approved credit and may require a down payment.

No one likes regretting a purchase. But we have found a common regret among customers: they bought a safe that was too small.

It’s easy to underestimate how much stuff you currently want to store in your safe. It’s also really difficult to predict future purchases. If you buy a safe that is too small, the only way to expand is to upgrade or purchase a new safe. The good news is, we’re available to help with either of these solutions.

The American Security BF1716 is a lasting investment in your peace of mind. It is an excellent choice if you need a medium home safe that provides exceptional protection against both theft and fire.