Find the Right Fire Safe for Your Needs
When looking for a safe, many people opt for one that includes a fire rating as well as burglary rating. After all, the risk of fire is just as potential as theft or any other mishap. If you are going to invest in something to protect the contents of a safe, a fire safe may be just as important to you as the locking mechanism.
There are several things you should know about safes and fire protection. Not all safes protect against all fires indefinitely. So when looking at a safe, look at how long it is rated for and at what temperature. For instance, First Alert Model 2087F (a basic home safe) is rated for one hour of fire protection at up to 1700 degrees Fahrenheit. This means that the safe can protect its contents in a 1700 degree fire for up to one hour.
You will find that some safes are rated for longer time periods. For example, First Alert makes commercial safes that are rated to withstand this kind of heat from a fire for up to two full hours. If you are investing in a commercial safe you may want to consider a two hour fire safe, depending on the location that it will be used in.
This is because a residential safe is likely to be in a home where a fire would be noticed quickly by neighbors and (hopefully) be put out quickly as well. However, a large office building, warehouse or other commercial property that catches fire off business hours might not be noticed as quickly. This could subject a safe to a hotter, longer burning fire.
Another feature you may want to consider is a fire and waterproof safe. First Alert Model 2092DF is a good example of an all-purpose home fire safe with a 1 hour fire rating plus a waterproof seal. This prevents damage from flood that can happen from various sources and may be another layer of protection you are interested in.
Companies like First Alert make safes in all different sizes and shapes to suit your needs. If a fire rating is at the top of your priority list, start there and start narrowing it down. The next thing you’ll want to look at is size. How much do you want or need to have stored in your safe? Make sure it’s large enough for important documents, back-up files, financial information etc; anything that you don’t want other people to have access to or couldn’t risk losing in a fire.