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How Long Do Fireproof Safes Last?

We all know that fireproof safes are an excellent option to make sure your valuables are secure and safe in the event of a fire, but everyone has a question in their mind when buying fire-resistant safes: how long do fireproof safes last? Are you also one who is finding the answer to this question? Find every answer here.

How Long Does A Fire-Resistant Safe Last?

Fireproof safes are more durable if they have a high fire rating. This means that the safe doesn’t exceed a certain time limit, which allows them to persist fire. Fireproof safes are known for their fire rating and require maintenance as they are more susceptible to moisture, which can cause rust and inadequate functions. 

One thing you need to understand is that fire-resistant safes will minimize fire damage. Even though a safe may be labeled fireproof, it will eventually cave to heat from a fire. Usually, fire safes last longer than 30-60 minutes. Fireproof safes with higher-end features can last up to four hours. Also, it would be best if you chose the trusted suppliers of safes. Along with this, there are also several ratings and texts on which the longevity of fireproof safes depends:

UL Ratings

It is important to check the UL rating to choose high-security safes. The UL rating shows the safe’s fire-resistant capabilities. You can find three categories in UL ratings.

  • Class 125 rating
  • Class 150 rating
  • Class 350 rating

Each rating illustrates the safe’s temperature that can be maintained for a specified time in the face of outside temperatures up to 2,000°F. The rating class determines the time frame. Most home fires reach temperatures between 1,000 and 2,000 degrees F. For homes, It is advised that you choose a safe with a minimum rating of 1 hour.

As an example, a UL Class 125 2-hours safe will last a minimum of 2 hours if the temperature outside is below 1700F (927C). The moderate home fire reaches 1000 degrees F. The fireproof safe will last longer. This type of safe will keep the interior temperature below 125°F (51°C). You can therefore store electronic devices inside as well as other media.

UL Class 125 1-hour exemplar should last no less than one hour in the same situations. However, if the fire has more elevated heat levels than acceptable, the interior of the safe container will also get higher temperatures and cause damage to the inner storable things. Therefore, we can say it is difficult to predict the durability of fireproof safes.

Class 350 safes work well for paper, as the paper will ignite at temperatures of approximately 450°F. Classes 150 and 125 are ideal for keeping more delicate things that are more sensitive to high temperatures, like photographic films, magnetic tapes, or compact disks.

The KSG 4500 Rating

The KSG 4500 rating is a Korean standard rating issued by K.I.S. (Korea Industrial Standards) to indicate the trustworthiness of fireproof safes. The KSG 4500 rating means that the safe will protect any papers, documents, or other valuables placed within the safe from fire for a specified period.

The KSG 4500 rating, like the UL rating, has a subheading that indicates how long the assets inside are protected from fire. The following is a list of KSG 4500 ratings:

KSG 4500 – 60

Safes with the KSG 4500 – 60 rating are placed in a furnace for 1 hour, reaching 924° C.

KSG 4500 – 120

Safes with the KSG 4500 – 120 rating are placed in a furnace for two hours at 1010° C.

KSG 4500 – 180

Safes with the KSG 4500 – 180 rating are placed in a furnace for 3 hours at 1122° C.

The CE Certification

The CE certification is yet another significant rating to look for in fireproof safes. CE stands for Conformité Européenne, which is a quality standard that must be sh

own on products to guarantee that they comply with European Union safety guidelines.

A CE mark is a certification that many products must have before they can be sold in Europe. The mark identifies a product as:

  • Meets the standards of applicable European product directives.
  • Meets all of the relevant European harmonized performance and safety criteria.
  • Is suitable for its intended use and will not possess any risk to people or property.

Since the objective of fireproof safes is to protect valuables placed inside, CE is a significant rating that determines their quality.

Private Fire Label Testing

Previously, we looked at ratings that were required to ensure the safety and quality of safes, but today this rating is optional. The manufacturer does it to ensure that the safe is actually safe and of top-tier quality.

Private Label Fire Testing is when a safe producer hires an Independent Testing Laboratory to test its safety for a specific fire rating time frame. The ratings they issue are dependent on the type of laboratory to which the products are sent, but they are very similar to UL and KSG 4500.

Other Factors That Can Affect The Lasting Time

If it is well maintained, a fireproof sale can last for many decades. It will last a long time if it is kept at a temperature within the model’s limits. The following factors can impact the life expectancy of a fireproof safe:

  • Materials: A fire-resistant safe made of sturdy materials is more likely to withstand fire than low-quality ones. It can’t guarantee its longevity, but it is durable enough to protect the contents.
  • Maintenance: The longevity of a fire protection safe is also affected by its maintenance. Moisture is another threat to fireproof safes rather than the fire. This can lead to problems like lock failure and rust, which can make safes ineffective.
  • Fire rating: It specifies the endurance power of high-security safes, which means how much time it will withstand fire, the total amount of time. Fire ratings are usually able to withstand a fire for several hours.

Many possibilities exist that could make fire cases safe. Let’s get started.

Make Sure Valuables Safe Inside

Priority should be given to what you keep inside the safe. While the safe’s outer surface can be damaged by fire, it doesn’t necessarily get burnt. A fireproof safe protects what’s inside; It is designed to protect valuables like birth certificates, USB drives, or paper documents.

Use UL Class 125 2-hours certified fireproof safes.

To protect your valuables, UL Class 125 2-hours certified safety could usually survive for two hours, provided that the outside temperature is below 17000F and the home fire temperature is less than 10000F. This means the safe will last longer, and electronic devices can be placed inside if the temperature does not rise above 1250F.

Use UL class 1-hour fire ratings exemplar safe.

The UL-class 1-hour exemplar safety will only last one hour under the same temperature. In case if fire temperature exceeds expected, then it may damage the valuables stored inside safes. It’s not possible for the safe to survive long.

What Valuables Can You Store In A Fireproof Safe?

By keeping important documents safe from destruction or theft, fireproof safes can prevent a fire or break-in from becoming genuinely tragic.

These are fire resistant for at least 30 minutes and durable enough to keep burglars out. As part of your home security system, they’re also a smart method to organize and keep track of critical information.

Biometric locks and backup locks, as well as alarms and water resistance, are all useful features. Most home fireproof safes provide protection for at least 30 minutes. That may not seem like a long time, yet most flames burn out in less than 20 minutes. Some safes, however, provide up to 120 minutes of fire protection for added peace of mind.

Fireproof safes are designed to protect valuables from extreme heat and damage for 30 to 60 minutes. Your needs will determine which type of fireproof safe is best for you. These are the points to keep in mind when deciding on which fireproof safe you want:

  • A safe that can withstand 350°F or more is required for paper, passports, certificates, documents, and other papers.
  • A safe that can withstand temperatures of 238°F or higher is required for digital media, such as USB, memory sticks, CDs, and DVDs.
  • Data, such as tapes, backups, and internal hard drives, are most at risk; they require a safe that can withstand temperatures up to 150 degrees F.

You can store a mixture of items from each of these categories in a fireproof safe. 

These are the top items you should store in a fireproof safe.

• Insurance Policy Information

First, make sure you have insurance in place to cover you in the event of a fire at your home. Important documents can be stored in a safe that is fireproof so you can access them quickly in case of an emergency.

• Bank and Financial Account Information

You should keep any financial documents or information about bank accounts at home in your fireproof safe. You might need funds to quickly access in the event of a fire at your home. Additional paperwork may be included in financial documents, such as information about your investments and retirement plans. It is a smart idea to keep a backup of all this information digitally.

• Identification and Passports

It can be difficult for passports and other identification to be replaced if lost or damaged. It is good to keep passports at your home in a fireproof safe so that they are available in an instant, whenever you need them. However, it is also advantageous to keep original birth certificates somewhere else and store a xerox copy in fireproof safes.

• Important Information

Your fireproof safe should contain reports and prescriptions of your family doctors and any other people you might need to call in an emergency.

• Data and Hard Drives

It’s easy to keep your memories safe in digital form. It’s a smart idea to store hard drives and other data in a fireproof safe to prevent those cherished moments from being lost. Businesses that need to keep company data must follow the same rules. You can increase your chances of having the right information at all times by making extra copies.

Things To Consider When Buying Fire Resistant safes.

Fire Resistant safes
Source: istock

These are some tips to help you choose the right fireproof safe.

  • Make a list of what you want to store. Once you have a list of what you want to store, you can find the right safe; you can look through the various kinds of fireproof safes such as fireproof gun safes and data safes.
  • Check for the fire ratings as per your requirements.
  • It must have passed the UL test. It should be marked as “UL Listed.”
  • It is important to consider the weight of the safe. Is your floor able to sustain it? If you are not able to inspect, then you can take help from an engineer. 
  • It would be best if you determined how many hours of fire protection you will require. Although a 60 min fireproof safe should provide sufficient protection, it is best to verify before if your area is susceptible to fires. Talk to a specialist regarding this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Cash Burn in a Fireproof Safe?

The answer is contingent on the type of safe in question. There are several varieties that offer varying levels of protection. In order to secure hard currency and other paper documents, you need to utilize at least a UL Class 350 strongbox. 

Use UL Class 125 safes to boost the level of security. They are obviously more expensive. However, if you plan to keep a significant quantity of money inside, it may be worthwhile. However, your safe should have at least the UL Class 350 rating. 

The UL Class 350 model is available in two sizes: 1-hour and 2-hour. They’re both made to keep paper assets safe in the event of an external fire. The UL Class 350 2-hour, on the other hand, provides a higher level of protection. 

It can withstand temperatures of over 1700°F (927°C) outside, as long as the temperature inside the box does not exceed 350°F (175°C) for at least 2 hours.

During a home fire, the average temperature in hotter locations, such as the roof and ceiling, is roughly 1150°F (600°C). It’s also usually cooler at ground level, around 220°F (100°C). But keep in mind that each situation is unique, and circumstances may differ. 

Cash, on the other hand, will be damaged or burned if the fire lasts longer or the heat surpasses those thresholds.

Is a Fireproof Easy to Break Into?

For basic fireproof safes, the primary locking mechanism is commonly a latch secured by a simple (and small) key lock. However, a simple paperclip may frequently open these safes. So they’re not really safe.

People ranting about how they can pry into their safes can be found in online reviews. Regrettably, the answer is yes! It will be rather easy for someone to open a $50 safe. Sorry for the bad news.

These less expensive safes may be able to keep nosy children at bay or stop petty theft. However, they will not assist you in keeping your $1 million safe.

So, if you want a safe that is secure, here’s what we check for.

A good key is the first thing we look for. Some keys are simply little metal bits with few teeth. Look for one that looks like a door lock and is difficult to pick.

We could also acquire a safe with a combination code or a digital lock (but to be fair, all safes usually have a backup set of keys anyway).

The next step is to search for a deadbolt lock. A deadbolt, unfortunately, does not have a spring. As a result, it can normally only be opened by turning a key or entering a code.

Finally, we seek a pry-resistant hinge. These hinges prohibit people from using a crowbar, making them far more secure against theft.

Finally, we’d recommend having a safe that can be bolted to the floor. Keep in mind that these safes need to be accompanied by a base. After that, you fix it to the floor alongside the safe. This protects the fireproof or waterproof rating from being ruined by a bolt.

Our web study has revealed that fireproof gun safes are among the safest fireproof safes available. You can see some examples of what’s available in our round-up review of gun safes.

Is Fireproof Safe Also Waterproof?

Some are, while others aren’t. A fireproof and waterproof safe is something we definitely recommend. If water is applied directly to the safe to fire, it may cause damage.

We would choose a safe with an ETL-rated waterproof seal to guarantee it is waterproof or watertight. To withstand underwater, this ETL grade usually comes in 24, 72, or 100-hour periods.

It’s also worth noting that even fireproof and watertight safes might have moisture problems. So we like the notion of purchasing a safe dehumidifier to deal with this.

A good fireproof safe will keep your belongings safe from both fire and robbery. Many pieces of safes are fireproof for one hour, but the most durable safes are fireproof for two hours. Some fireproof safes are also watertight or have undergone drop testing.

Where to Place a Fireproof Safe?

There is no one-size-fits-all location that is ideal for every residential property. Every place is unique. Where to install your fireproof safe is completely your choice. You can place it wherever you find it safe in your house. 

However, we believe that the best place to store a safe, so that it is most protected from a fire, is in the basement. The smaller the number, the better. However, if the safe is fireproof, it should be fine in any room. 

The most pressing worry is securing it in a location where robbers cannot see it. So we’d hide it somewhere inconspicuous yet easily accessible.

Another very secure location for a safe would be at the intersection of two exterior walls. For a heavy safe, this gives the maximum protection and support. It’s advisable to store the safe on the ground floor in a house with numerous stories.

If your home or apartment has an emergency system, it’s also a good idea to put it within the sprinkler range.

Reliable Fireproof Safe Manufacturer Recommendation

Safewell logo

Safewell has grown from its small roots in 1998 to become a fully consolidated business and trade enterprise that spans several industries.

Our dependable supply chain, many high-quality factories with cutting-edge equipment, and supportive marketing resources all work together to provide the global market with unique safety goods.

Safewell aspires to be the global leader in security products, providing a sense of security to both home and commercial customers. To achieve this goal, we use innovation and dedication to provide our clients with world-class products and services.

We also invest in future leaders, grooming them to be dependable torchbearers for Safewell’s next generation.

Safewell specializes in producing high-quality personalized safety items that can be trusted by your business. We know what makes a lucrative and trustworthy safe for your market based on years of production expertise and many delighted clients.

Trusting Safewell’s ability, expertise, and quality control in the manufacture of your safes allows you to focus on what you do best: selling products and satisfying customers.

We can turn your creative ideas into practical designs and marketable safety products for your business thanks to our extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of the industry.

We can provide you samples of our work within 2-4 weeks to ensure your happiness with our security products. 

Conclusion

You need to remember that although fireproof safes have been proven effective against fire, they can also be damaged by fire. You should consider Safewell safes that have special security features if you are concerned about theft. It comes with both lock mechanisms with or without a double-lock System. It is best to be aware of the type of fireproof safe you have most beneficial to ensure home safety, security, and protection. You can also contact us for durable and long-lasting fireproof safes.

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