5 Things To Keep In Mind While Buying A Fire-resistant Safe

Many people work very hard to build wealth over time. Losing these hard-earned valuables to theft or fire would be devastating. To protect your valuables, consider buying a fireproof safe. Its benefits make it a worthwhile investment. Fireproof safes provide double protection, keeping your valuables safe from both theft and fire.

As children, while preparing how to deal with adversities we were taught that we should take with us only what could fit in our hands when an emergency occurred. A favorite toy or a blanket, if we were lucky enough to get our hands on anything at all. We only knew that we had to get to safety as soon as possible.

Entering adulthood, the idea of taking things with us during an emergency suddenly shifted to a responsibility. It was not a question like “What 3 things would you grab in a fire?” No if and when. The question became, “What’s your contingency plan if a fire breaks out? Is all your important stuff safe?”

The ideal answer to that question is “Yes, they’re in the locker” or “Yes, they’re protected" or "Yes, they’re locked away.”  But are they locked away in a safe that ensures that they won’t get destroyed? A lot of the lockers available in the market protect the materials inside from damage and theft. Whereas, fireproof safes protect your precious items from fire for an hour or two at a high temperature of 1000 degrees Celsius.

Most fires are accidents, although the impact could be irreversible. Staying ahead of them is the best way you can counter them.

Traditional safes usually protect your important items from theft, not fire. So, when shopping for a fireproof safe, consider these factors:

Size of the safe

Buy a spacious fireproof safe to hold all your valuables. However, make sure it doesn’t take up too much space. To figure out the right size, put your valuables in a cardboard box and see if it fits. Try different box sizes until you find one that fits everything. Measure the dimensions of that box to know the interior space you need. Keep in mind that you will likely add more items and documents to the locker over time. We offer safes in several sizes including extra large safes, large safes, medium safes, small safes, and extra small safes.

Material used

Safes are usually made from metal (such as steel). While they are good at preventing theft, they can be vulnerable to fire. It's important to know what material your locker is made of. Fire-resistant safes, on the other hand, are made from steel and insulating materials like gypsum and concrete. These materials are poor conductors of heat and therefore cool down more quickly, offering better protection against fire.

UL rating

Check the safe’s UL rating to find the one that matches your preferences. This rating shows how long the locker can withstand fire and protect its contents. Underwriters Laboratories (UL) provides a rating that indicates the internal temperature of the locker over a specific period. The UL rating is measured in degrees Fahrenheit per hour.

What purpose does it serve? 

You need to be clear about the purpose of purchasing a fire-resistant safe. These are mainly divided into two categories:

1. For data- usually, data is stored on CDs, DVDs, USBs, etc. They are more likely to be damaged more quickly than paper. So, they require a higher level of protection.

1. For paper- these are designed to store and protect important paper-based documents. For example, contracts, share certificates, property deeds, etc.

Where will it get installed?

Generally, a locker gets installed in a discreet corner of the home. And these may be hidden in the form of drawer safes, floor safes, and so on.

Fireproof safes are designed to meet all your security needs. They have multiple access modes so in case you forget one, you have a backup for others. These include fingerprints, passwords, and an emergency key.

Rather than depending on an old locker that's just "built strong", go for the one that’s built tough, and up-to-date so that it can secure your valuables. The best approach is to do thorough research and make sure that whatever you buy fits all your protection needs.

Check out our durable safes that offer protection against theft and fire. Click here to explore more.