| Ever wonder how a home or gun safe gets its | | | | that. |
| fire rating? In your search for a safe, you | | | | Certain contents of safes are more susceptible to |
| probably have seen a variety of ratings and | | | | heat than others. Paper begins to discolor at just |
| wondered what they meant. Let's solve that | | | | above 350 degrees F, scorch at approximately |
| mystery right now. | | | | 410 degrees, and ignite at 451 degrees |
| Most home and guns safes on the market today | | | | (remember Ray Bradbury's book?). Guns will |
| are layered with a fireboard very similar to dry | | | | withstand this heat longer, but plastics and other |
| wall. This fireboard can be 1/4 to 5/8 inch thick. It | | | | pliable materials have different melting points |
| has a measure of moisture in it that, when | | | | depending on their thickness. Coin collectors who |
| heated in a fire, will release this moisture. This | | | | have their coins wrapped in plastic should be |
| process keeps the interior of the safe cooler for | | | | especially cautious with fire ratings. Obviously, the |
| a longer period of time. The more layers of | | | | higher the fire rating, the better. There are safes |
| fireboard, the longer it will stay cooler. | | | | on the market for extended periods of time as |
| Other safes have what is called a "composite" | | | | well as higher temperatures. |
| material sandwiched between two layers of steel. | | | | According to several firemen I have questioned |
| This composite material is likable to a type of | | | | over the years, a normal house fire ranges from |
| concrete, but is usually a bit lighter in weight (for | | | | 800 to 1,200 degrees F and will usually, but not |
| obvious reasons!). This material acts an an | | | | always, be extinguished within 20 minutes. This is |
| insulator, keeping heat from penetrating into the | | | | not the case of a fire storm, which can rage |
| interior of the safe in case of a fire. | | | | through an entire neighborhood leveling it within |
| There a few manufacturers using a product called | | | | minutes at temperatures higher than 2000 |
| K-wool in a blanket form as another type of | | | | degrees F. |
| insulator installed in safes. While there are | | | | Many factors enter into the equation of fire |
| manufacturers claiming a 2,300 degree for 1 hour | | | | temperatures. The amount of fuel in your home |
| fire rating, no manufacturer has achieved a | | | | affects both the temperature and the length of |
| third-party rating at any level. K-wool blankets are | | | | the fire. The more fuel, the longer and hotter the |
| used to insulate pipes because it can be easily | | | | fire. If your home is constructed of wood versus |
| formed around a curved surface. Pipes don't | | | | block, you are going to have a hotter fire. On the |
| normally need to be insulated up to the | | | | other hand, brick absorbs heat at an alarming rate |
| temperature of a home or gun safe, so buyer | | | | (think brick ovens!). |
| beware. | | | | When storing documents and cash, it is obviously |
| Some manufacturers have their safes tested and | | | | a wise idea to get the best fire rating you can |
| certified independently by a certified burn facility. | | | | afford. The expense of a good fire-rated safe is |
| In an optimal fire test, a safe is placed in a | | | | sometimes an obstacle to overcome. Ask |
| furnace with thermal couplings placed strategically | | | | yourself, "What is it worth to protect the value of |
| inside the safe and connected to an external | | | | what I want to put into the safe?" Sometimes |
| computer. The temperature of the furnace is | | | | the cost of one item you want to protect costs |
| ramped up to a minimum of 1,200 degrees F in | | | | much more than the safe itself. |
| nor more than 10 minutes, and then maintained | | | | When considering the purchase of a home or gun |
| for the duration of the test. During the test, the | | | | safe, there are important questions to ask |
| computer monitors the increase of temperature | | | | regarding the fire protection: |
| inside the safe. When the internal temperature of | | | | - What is being used as the fire protection? |
| the safe begins to go beyond 350 degrees F, the | | | | Fireboard or composite material? |
| test is considered to be over. | | | | - How many layers, or how thick is the firewall? |
| Other manufacturers label their safes "factory | | | | - Are all the susceptible spots protected with this |
| certified". A factory certified test is performed | | | | fire protection? Door jambs, internal hinges? Walls, |
| solely by the factory with no independent witness | | | | ceiling and floors? |
| present. The rating could be a "guesstimate" | | | | - How was this safe tested and rated? |
| based solely on the fire rating of the fireboard | | | | - What is the warranty, if there is one, on the |
| used without ever actually being exposed to a fire | | | | safe in case of fire? |
| test, or it could even be based on throwing a | | | | When storing especially fragile items inside a safe, |
| safe into a dumpster and setting the trash on fire. | | | | you may want to consider purchasing a smaller |
| There have been instances where the safe was | | | | "fire box" also. Items can be placed in the fire |
| tested in a furnace, but all the couplings were | | | | box, and then the fire box placed inside the safe. |
| stuck inside a phone book and placed on the floor | | | | This will protect the contents for an extended |
| of the safe. We know that heat rises, so you can | | | | length of time at a higher temperature. |
| imagine how inaccurate the test results are. | | | | Protecting your valuables from theft is only part |
| Sometimes the furnace ramp-up time may take | | | | of the equation. Fire is always an eminent threat |
| 40 minutes to reach 1,200 degrees, is then only | | | | as well. And one other thought - check with your |
| maintained for another 20 minutes, and the safe | | | | home owner's insurance company. Sometimes |
| comes out with a one hour fire rating. Very | | | | discounts are available on homeowner's insurance |
| deceptive. That's not to say that all "factory | | | | when you have a fire-rated safe. Keep your tax |
| certified" fire ratings are inaccurate, but again, be | | | | records or business papers in a fire-rated safe? |
| aware. Do your homework. Ask questions. It's | | | | Check with your CPA about a possible write-off. |
| that important! | | | | These are just two hidden benefits of owning a |
| Now what does all this mean? As an example, a | | | | good fire-rated home or gun safe. |
| safe rated for 60 minutes at 1,200 degrees | | | | At the risk of being redundant, do your |
| means that if you were to have a 1,200 degree | | | | homework! Call a safe consultant at a local safe |
| fire for 60 minutes, the inside of the safe stays | | | | store and ask all the questions you need to |
| below 350 degrees for at least a 60 minute | | | | become informed. If they don't know the answer, |
| period during a normal house fire. If the rating is | | | | call someone else. It's that important and it's well |
| 90 minutes at 1,680 degrees, then the interior of | | | | worth the time and effort you put into becoming |
| the safe should remain lower than 350 degrees | | | | an educated safe buyer. The peace of mind you |
| for at least 90 minutes during a 1,680 degree fire. | | | | will have knowing that your stuff is secure and |
| Thirty minutes at 1,200 degrees means exactly | | | | fire protected will reward you time and again. |
