About Fireproof Safes

Fireproof safes have an insulated body and doors designed to protect the safe contents from high temperatures or actual fire. In addition fireproof safes may be rated for impact resistance should the safe fall during a fire. Fireproof safes are rated according to how they perform at a constant outside temperature and the maximum internal temperature they can maintain. These class ratings are used in conjunction with the time the internal temperature can be maintained. Typically a Class 350 UL rated fireproof safe will sustain an internal temperature of 350^o F at 80% humidity and dependant on the construction can maintain the temperature for periods ranging from half an hour to four hours.

Fireproof safes for home are typically smaller than those used in business. Depending on individual requirements fireproof safes for business may be suitable for home use. Floor safes installed in concrete provide excellent fire resistance. Fireproof safes can be separated into two main categories, data safes designed to protect computer media and document safes designed to store paper products. Fireproof Data safes maintain an internal temperature no greater than 131^o at constant external temperature of 1830^o F while fireproof safes for documents maintain an internal temperature no greater than 351^o F at a constant external temperature of 1,830^o F. These conditions are maintained for the duration of the test and usually last 30 minutes but as stated earlier can last longer dependant on the safes construction. In the United States, Underwriter Laboratories (UL) do both the writing of standards and the actual testing of fireproof safes.

To protect valuable guns fireproof safes for guns ideally should be rated for one hour at 1250 degrees F and in the event of fire have a heat actived door seal to seal out smoke and water. Fireproof safes are also available for pistols with fingerprint burglary safes offering 30 minutes of fire protection.