other UL standards. European resistance standards 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. Future Bank vault technology changed rapidly in the 1980s and 1990s with the development of improved concrete material. Bank burglaries are also no longer the substantial problem they were in the late 19th century up through the 1930s, but vault makers continue to alter their products to counter new break-in methods. An issue in the 21st century is the thermal lance. Burning iron rods in pure oxygen ignited by an oxyacetylene torch, it can produce temperatures of 6,600–8,000 °F (3,650–4,430 °C). The thermal lance user bores a series of small holes that can eventually be linked to form a gap. Vault manufacturers work closely with the banking industry and law enforcement in order to keep up with such advances in burglary. References Further reading Books Steele, Sean P., Heists: Swindles, Stickups, and Robberies that Shocked the World. New York: Metrobooks, 1995. . Tchudi, Stephen, Lock & Key: The Secrets of Locking Things Up, In, and Out. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1993. . Periodicals Chiles, James R., "Age-Old Battle to Keep Safes Safe from 'Creepers, Soup Men and Yeggs". Smithsonian (July 1984): 35–44. Merrick, Amy, "Immovable Objects, If They're Bank Vaults, Make Nice Restaurants". The Wall Street Journal (5 February 2001): Al. External links - A semi-technical guide to bank vaults built in the early 1900s; includes Remote Combination Viewer Vault