Jim,
There is a bit of truth in everything you're thinking:
1.) It is actually thicker than 1/8" and AMEC doesnt know their own product. Most of the TL-30 rated non-gun safes seem to be 1" steel body and 1.5" steel doors.
AMSEC is a big company, and they have customer service folks that field the phone calls. Sometimes the information they have in front of them is accurate, and sometimes they need to check with engineering to field a question. I get bad information from numerous safe companies on a regular basis. It's not intentional.
In this case, they should be correct
2.) It is using some sort of hi security composite filler contruction that is very burglary resistant and makes up for the 1/8" steel.
This is exactly the situation with this particular safe. There are two types of safes commonly seen. The steel plate version (you've mentioned seeing 1.5" doors and 1" bodies), and composite versions (the AMSEC you're asking about).
Composite safes use more modern materials that are lighter, and less expensive than raw steel. This results in a safe that cost the consumer less, is easier to move up and down elevators in commercial buildings, and is often more secure than their steel counterparts.
Steel plate TL rated safes are still available through AMSEC, but are only quoted on request. They are shown in their catalogs.
3.) The door of the safe is TL-30 rated but the body is wimpy 1/8" steel and easy to get into. After reading the TL-30 rating info here:
The UL rating does include a minimal wall structure, even though it's not tested to the same standard as the door. These standards state specific strengths, and with modern materials, allow thinner plates. I just worked on a TL-30 safe the other day that had a 3/4" maganese steel alloy door. The safe below it was a C rate, with the old fashioned 1" A36 steel door.
It appears to me that they dont even test the body on a TL-30 rated safe, they only test the door. The TL-30X6 lists as the safe and the body as being tested. If this turn out to be the answer I think this is a very sleazy misleading safe indeed....even if it is technically correct by the rating. I say this because the other TL-30 rated safes I've seen have a 1" thick steel body makking the security level of the body at least similar to that of the door.
On normal TL units, the body and door both must meet minimum requirements, with the door being the portion of the safe tested for time. On these safes, the door is stronger than the body.
On TL X6 units, the body and door both must meet the same minimum requirements, with the door and body being tested for time. On these safes, the door and body are equal in strenth.
As with everything else, not all rated safes are built equally. Some are built better than others. I have also heard of Chinese imports with fake UL tags. The AMSEC AMVAULT is a very popular unit, and in wide use commercially.
If it helps anyone answer the question, AMSEC also told me that the the RF6528 TL-30 gun safe is essential the AMVAULT with a gun safe interior. That product is here:
That is correct. The RF6528 is the CF6528 dressed up with fancy paint and a gun safe interior.
We have been converting commercial and antique safes into gun safes for years. AMSEC is currently the only safe manufacturer that I'm aware of building a UL TL-30 gun safe. Graffunder builds a "E and F Rate" safes, while although not UL listed, are built similar to TL-15 and TL-30 steel plate units.