Fireproof Wall Safe Fire Ratings


October 27, 2010
Processing your request, Please wait....

A fireproof wall safe can be a great investment over more traditional security safes. You can protect valuables from all types of trouble instead of just theft. While some models of safes may claim to be fire proof, there are a few things you should know before just taking a company’s word for it that your valuables will be protected from fire.

There are many safes on the market that claim to be able to withstand fire however you should try and find a genuine rating that gives more detailed information on how hot of a fire and for how long the safe can withstand it. There are safes manufactured that withstand thousands of degrees of heat for hours and there are models that may only be able to withstand a couple hundred degrees for 30 minutes. Depending on your particular application for the safe you may want to know this before you buy. The average house fire today can burn at 900 to 1200 degrees F. While all of this heat may not be directed at a safe, it can still be exposed to these temperatures.

The rating a user should look for is a Underwriters Laboratory rating or UL. This is an impartial third party that does testing on fire resistant safes and cabinets. A common rating is UL 350 for one hour meaning a safe with this rating can withstand temperatures of 1700 degrees for one hour. This is more than adequate for consumer use. Many consumers may be mislead by terms like fire proof and fire resistant. In reality, all safes that are labeled as fire proof are actually only fire resistant. The rating from UL measures this resistance and nothing can really be fire proof. Everything on earth, if heated enough, will burn and most consumer products have the lowest melting points.

Consider adding a sliding door lock to your home for additional protection and safety. Coupled with your wall safe, you can make your home more secure and give yourself peace of mind.

 
 
About    Contact