The Best Fireproof Safe for Your Valuables

1. The Best Fireproof Safe for Your Valuables There are many good reasons to invest in a fireproof safe. Passports, IDs, permits, contracts, financial documentation, jewelry, heirlooms — anything you can think of storing in a safe is a good reason in its own right. With such a large array of choices and options of fireproof safes available on the market, you may find yourself hesitating about the one best for you, wondering how to recognize which products have the features you need and which you should avoid. But with so many fireproof safes to compare, the last question that remains is often “Which features should I look for?” Find the answers here so you can choose the best fireproof safe for your valuables.

2. Materials and Construction The core of any safe’s protective capabilities lies in the materials used in its construction. Safe wall materials fall into two categories: steel and non-steel. Steel Most safes on the market employ metal in their construction, typically in the form of steel sheets. However, the vast majority of fireproof safes do not use heavy-duty sheets, as they are intended mainly to protect the contents against exposure to fire and heat and the resulting damage. Steel wall thickness is measured using the standard gauge unit for plate iron and steel, as defined in the U.S. Code. The lower the steel gauge number, the higher the thickness, and, in turn, the heavier the safe. A 12-gauge steel sheet has a thickness equal to 7⁄64 of an inch. In decimal form, this value corresponds to approximately 0.106 of an inch or about 2.78 mm. Typical fireproof safes intended for home use employ 16- to 18-gauge steel sheets as walls. More rarely, they may employ thicker sheets, such as 14-gauge. However, you seldom see models with thicker walls on regular fireproof safes. 12-gauge, 11-gauge, and higher thickness ratings are the realm of larger, heavier safe types, such as gun safes. While there’s nothing wrong with using a gun safe or another heavy-duty safe for storing documents and other small valuables, you will lose many of the benefits of smaller, purpose-built models. Smaller fireproof safes are not only easier to transport, but, if you know how to hide a safe in plain sight, they are also much easier to conceal in your house, granting you a definite advantage over potential burglars.

3. Non-Steel Materials Although steel is the traditional material for safes of any kind, today’s technology grants manufacturers access to many newer, more advanced materials, allowing them to experiment and create new products. You may find safes advertised as fireproof employing lighter metals, such as aluminum alloys. Others don’t even use metals at all, using ABS plastic or polymers instead. Unfortunately, while these materials are undoubtedly lightweight, they are also much easier to defeat. Aluminum does not have the strength and impact resistance of steel, and any plastic or polymer material is vulnerable to splitting or shattering. Steel is the traditional choice for safes because there simply isn’t any other material available offering a similar combination of strength, impact resistance, and affordability. While better metals exist (tungsten is stronger and titanium has a better strength-to-weight ratio), they are vastly more expensive than steel and are never used in personal and home safes. Get a Fireproof Safe to Protect Your Valuables Fire Protection Rating It isn’t enough to invest in a safe with a “fire-safe” material; even if the outer shell might resist burning or intense heat, the safe may still fail to protect its contents adequately. Although many safes on the market are marketed as fireproof safes, they must receive certification from an accredited, independent organization with stringent testing processes to verify their resistance to fire. One such organization is Underwriters Laboratories, a global safety certification company established in 1894 responsible for developing numerous safety standards, including the world’s most widely recognized fire safety testing and certification protocol: the UL 72 Fire Test. A quality fireproof safe should meet or exceed the UL 72 testing standards and receive a UL label. This label is not a legal requirement, but many companies will refuse to buy products that have not been UL-certified. There are multiple UL certification levels, ranging from ½-Hour Rated to 4-Hour Rated. You should look for a safe with at least a 1-Hour Rated certification (preferably 2-Hour). Even though most house fires last no more than a few minutes, some may, under the right circumstances, last up to two hours. Depending on what you intend to store in your fireproof safe, you may want to ensure the safe has received an appropriate certification for maximum internal temperature. For example, a UL Class 350 safe has been certified not to exceed 350°F when exposed to fire for a duration equal to its certification level.

4. Temperatures around 350°F are safe for paper documents but may destroy electronics and digital media (CDs, DVDs, etc.). If you wish to protect electronics, look for a UL Class 125 safe, certifying it will not exceed 125°F when exposed to a house fire. Read more at: The Best Fireproof Safe for Your Valuables Related Article: What to Do in Different Lockout Situations Visit www.missouricitylocksmith.net if you want to learn more about home safes and other ways to improve security in your home, business or automotive.