Which class of storage vault is used for storing secret and confidential material?

Classified information or material must be stored under conditions that prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to it. The security requirements must allow work to be accomplished while providing adequate security. In the Navy, the commanding officer is directly responsible for safeguarding all classified information within his command. He is also responsible to ensure that classified material is stored properly when not actually in use.

Storage

Whenever classified material is not under the personal control and observation of an authorized person, it must be guarded or stored in a locked security container.

Top Secret material is stored in a safe or safe type of steel file container having a three-position combination lock as approved by the General Services Administration (GSA) or a class A vault that meets the standards established by the Director of Naval Intelligence. An alarm-protected area may be used to protect Top Secret material when the responsible local official decides that an alarm system provides protection equal to, or better than, the safe, steel file, or vault. The alarm-protected area provides a physical barrier that prevents removal of the material and prevents the material from being viewed by unauthorized personnel and compromised.

Secret and Confidential material may be stored in the same manner authorized for Top Secret or, in a class B vault, a vault type of room, or a secure storage room that has been approved according to the standards prescribed by the Director of Naval Intelligence.

Valuables, such as money, jewels, precious metals, narcotics, and so forth, should not be held in safes used to store classified materials because they increase the risk of theft. Only classified materials are to be placed in containers designated for storage of classified material.

Container Designations and Combinations

Containers used for the storage of classified material are assigned a number or symbol for identification purposes. The identifying numbers or symbols are located in an obvious location on the outside of the container. Each container must also meet the security requirements for the highest classification of material stored in the container. However, this designation is not marked externally on the container.

Records of combinations are sealed in envelopes (OPNAV 5511/2) and kept by the security manager, duty officer, communications officer, or other person(s) designated by the commanding officer. Combinations for containers with noncryptographic material will be changed under any of the following conditions:

When a safe is first placed into use

Annually

When the combination or record of combinations has been compromised or a security container is discovered unlocked and unattended

Whenever an individual knowing the combination is transferred or discharged, or when the security clearance of an individual knowing the combination is reduced, suspended, or revoked

When you are selecting new combination numbers, multiples of 5, simple ascending or descending numerical series, and personal data (such as birthdays and serial numbers) must not be used. The same combination cannot be used for more than one container.

Combinations to security containers are changed only by persons that are cleared for the highest level of classified material stored in the container.

When a security container is taken out of service, built-in combination locks must be reset to the standard combination 50-25-50. Combination padlocks must be reset to 10-20-30.