Fireproof Safes FAQs

What’s there to know, right? It’s an iron box, tough to get into, and it should withstand kiln-like temperatures. Naturally, there’s a bit more to it - we’ll outline some of the foggy areas here.

What fireproof safe should I buy?
The fireproof safe that you will need is dependent on what it will be used for and where it will be used. Along with the amount of storage space required, a safe will also need to be rated for its eventual contents. UL125 is the recommended rating for any computer media, photographs, jewelry, film, or any other sensitive items, while UL350 is required for proper protection of paper documents.

What do the fireproof rating UL125 and UL350 actually mean? UL125 and UL350 refer to the temperature the interior of the product will be allowed to reach in the event of a fire. Paper products burn when they reach over 400 degrees Fahrenheit, so they need a safe that has a UL rating of UL350 or lower. Computer media is typically destroyed in temperatures over 125 degrees Fahrenheit so they need a UL-rated product of UL125 for adequate protection. Many fireproof safes also seem to be rated for waterproofing. Why is this? Typically, where there is fire there is also water. Fire hoses can release up to 250 gallons of water per minute while overhead sprinklers distribute about 30 gallons per minute. Water is often the cause for document loss and, in the event that your home or business is involved in a fire, the items in your safe will need just as much protection from the fire surrounding them as from the water trying to put the fire out. This is irrelevant if, say, you’re protecting a prized collection of bathing suits or well-laminated children’s art projects, but most often you'll want waterproofing as well.

Are fireproof safes also impact tested?
Not all fireproof safes are impact tested, as the UL rating for impact testing is only for fireproof safes with a UL rating of 72. Impact testing is done by heating the safe to about 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit and then dropping it from 30 feet onto broken brick and concrete. Impact testing is meant to simulate the conditions of a floor collapsing in a structural fire. Because safes can get very heavy, they might jar themselves open if not properly rated for impact resistance, so this kind of safe is rather necessary if you're worried about fire and keep your safe on upper floors.

What are my options for protecting electronic data?
Naturally, keeping a safe below the required 125 degrees Fahrenheit is a much more difficult task than the 350 degrees Fahrenheit required for paper. The cost of this problem is definitely reflected in the price of data storage safes. Some companies offer hard drives that are, essentially, a safe themselves. These often store a modest amount of information by today’s standards, but are impact, water, and temperature resistant. Enterprise-level data storage such as this is also available but is considerably more expensive.

What happens if I lose the combination of my home safe?
Before you have to answer this question for real, establish a procedure for what might happen if you lose the combination or key. Namely, put the combination or key in a safety deposit box at the bank or perhaps with a close friend or family member. In the event that there is no means to get into the safe, the safe manufacturer should have means to get into it. A locksmith is also a good option, but this might be a very expensive option, as opening a quality home safe without the combination or key is quite an operation.

What happens if a person dies after locking their safe with a biometric lock?
All biometric safe locks should have alternative means to getting into it. Invariably, the owner should have a key or combination somewhere, as this is a requisite when setting up a biometric lock. This is fortunate because you won’t have any luck fooling the fingerprint reader. Hopefully, the owner of the safe also had at least one trusted person who was allowed biometric access to the safe’s contents. If not, you’re stuck looking around for the combination or key. After that, the only recourse is to call the manufacturer or a locksmith.