Fireproof Safes and Fireproof File Cabinets

1. Not all safes are fireproof. All of our fireproof safes are clearly marked by the Underwriter’s Laboratory according to how much heat they can protect your property from, and for how long. This is an independent organization and in no way affiliated with the manufacturer.

2. In addition to the UL seal of approval, many fire safes undergo Semko testing. This agency specializes in verifying that the products sold do indeed match the manufacturer’s stated specifications for fire endurance and quality.

3. Specifically, the UL has three classes of fireproof: 30 minutes indicates the contents will be protected from heat up to 1550 degrees F for that period; 1 hour classification means the safe is effective up to 1700 degrees F for the period; and 2 hour protection safes can handle heat up to 1850 degrees F for 2 hours or more.

4. There are a number of ways you can access safes as well, each affording advantages and disadvantages. The main methods are: combination lock, key lock, electronic lock, and fingerprint scanning safes. The first three have the disadvantage of the possibility of losing the key or code, while a fingerprint scanner is not great if many people need access to the safe.

5. Impact testing for fireproof safes and cabinets means the safe has been heated and then dropped. This is a common occurrence, since offices are usually located upstairs. The test is to mimic the conditions where a fire has heated the safe and burned through the floor, causing the safe to drop 15 to 30 feet onto rubble.

6. For added protection, and depending what industry you work in, you might want to consider a fireproof safe or cabinet that has been explosion tested. UL also does this testing, which involves subjecting the safe and contents to a flash fire of 2000 degrees F for 20 minutes. The contents must be completely unharmed and the safe must be intact in order to pass.

7. It’s important to remember that no matter how your safe is rated, fireproof safes and cabinets are not exactly “fireproof”. They are rated for a specific duration of time and level of heat, after or above which the contents may in fact be damaged.

8. In the grand scheme of things, the risk of fire is relatively low. However, the consequences to a home or business are often so tragic that it is merely common sense to prepare for it. Nearly 30 percent of business close down for good after suffering a substantial fire, others are often permanently disadvantaged.