Institutional Investors (VC, PE, fund managers, REITs and more) - Compliance matters. The S.A.F.E. certification provides a clear, easy-to-understand status of a site or a planned site for you to assess if is, or will be, compliant with government regulations.

Banking and insurance - Compliance departments for commercial lending and approving insurance arrangements can expedite approvals by understanding the status of a site in question.

Landlords - Knowing the regulatory status of the plans for a new self storage tenant makes approval easier for landlords aiming to stay on the right side of the Buildings Department. Accept nothing less than a Bronze certification for those applying to rent your real estate.

To check if the facility has applied for S.A.F.E. and approved by an AP, you can look for a certificate bearing the date of certification and the expiration date at their facilities.

Also all of the approved facilities will be listed here.

Gold: The Authorised Persons have certified that the existing site meets all Fire Services Department (FSD) and Buildings Department (BD) requirements and should pass inspection with those authorities.

Silver: The site is not 100% compliant but the operator has presented a credible plan and is moving forward to renovate in such a manner that their site should be compliant once renovations are completed.

Bronze: Bronze is only for plans to build a self-storage site. The plans have been reviewed by AP that certifies that if the site is built out according to the certified plans, it should expect to pass inspections by the FSD and BD.

Knight Frank is a global real estate solutions firm and its relevant staff hold an Authorised Person status in Hong Kong.

Knight Frank will review all AP provided documents and, where applicable, conduct inspections before making a determination as to whether or not an award is merited.

No. The accreditation will require renewal depending on its level.

Gold - is renewable every three years.

Silver - must be renewed annually

Bronze - is a one-time certification that applies to the relevant documentation submitted. Once built, facilities would logically apply for Gold.