How to Choose a Fireproof Safe
There are basically three things to consider when looking for a fireproof safe. The first is the size and type of material you need to protect. The second thing to consider is the Underwriter's rating for the safe--the lower the rating the more temperature the safe can withstand before the interior becomes too hot to protect the contents. And the third consideration is your budget. Unfortunately, the larger the safe and the lower its fire rating, the more it will cost.
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Instructions
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Decide how large of a safe you need. This will be based on the size and quantity of materials that you need to protect. If you can't afford one large safe or you do not have room for one large safe consider getting two smaller safes.
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2
Decide on the fire rating you need, which will be largely determined by the type of materials you need to protect. If you are protecting computer media then you will need a safe rated at UL125. These safes maintain an interior temperature of 125 degrees F or less which is required to protect computer media. If a safe will only be protecting paper documents then it can have a rating of UL350, which will maintain an interior temperature of 350 degrees F or less. Do not purchase a safe with a UL rating higher than 125 if you need to protect computer media.
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Make certain that your safe is also rated as waterproof. This is important because fire hoses put out a tremendous amount of water when fighting a fire and a safe that is not waterproof can protect your documents from heat only to have them destroyed by water.
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Buy an impact tested safe if your safe will not be on the ground floor. Impact tested safes are heated to 1,500 degrees F and then dropped 30 feet onto broken rubble, simulating a safe that has fallen through a burned floor. Impact-tested safes are not necessary if your safe will be on a ground floor.
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Buy a safe that comes with a replacement warranty in case of fire. The reason for this is because once a safe has been exposed to a fire it's fireproofing is compromised and you will need to get a replacement safe.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not skimp on the rating. If you are protecting computer media, then buying a safe with a rating higher than UL125 is a waste of time and money as the safe will not protect your media from a major fire.
