| When shopping for a safe to protect your | | | | The second fire safe was not as hot and was |
| important documents and valuables from fire, it | | | | fully intact though the outside looked like concrete |
| can sometimes be overwhelming when you look | | | | and broke off in chunks. The safe itself had |
| at all the various UL Fire ratings. But even if you | | | | sealed itself closed and had to be pried open by |
| do not understand all of the ratings and what the | | | | the fire fighters on the scene. Once opened, they |
| various numbers mean, you can still choose a | | | | discovered that the inside was not hot at all, and |
| basic fire safe to protect your belongings. There is | | | | everything was intact - the items looked just like |
| just one little thing that you have to look for, and | | | | they did when they were placed inside the safe. |
| if you don't ,you may really regret it. But before I | | | | Now, I am not going to name brands, because as |
| tell you what that is, lets take a look at when | | | | you will see, both safes were not equal. So what |
| happens when you don't find these two small | | | | was the difference? The first was a security |
| words on the label. | | | | chest and the other was a fire safe. It is like |
| Since the economy started to go belly up, one | | | | comparing apples to lemons. If you are looking for |
| industry that has not suffered are the safe | | | | a sweet fruit to eat and try first a lemon and |
| manufacturers. As a matter of fact, some sales | | | | then an apple, don't get mad that the lemon was |
| were up as much as 50% last October. So, to | | | | sour. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE! Likewise, a security |
| help the consumers, news people find this | | | | chest is designed to keep items secure from |
| increase in sales newsworthy and like to help. One | | | | theft, not fire. It did say on the label that it was |
| such helpful test was performed in Arizona. | | | | made from "fire retardant material" to help slow |
| They randomly purchased two small portable | | | | down the effects of a fire, but it is not designed |
| safes, both under $40.00. They then locked up | | | | to be fire resistant. Often, what makes a safe |
| the same items in each safe: a thumb drive, a CD | | | | more secure from theft (high steel content) |
| and DVD, paper work and a little money. They | | | | makes it more vulnerable to heat. Whereas, a fire |
| said that on average, a home fire will burn for 10 | | | | safe, is made from thinner steel with fireboard |
| minutes at 1500Ës F before fire fighters are | | | | sandwiched between layers; protects from fire |
| able to respond and extinguish the flames. I am | | | | but easier to break into. If you want a safe that |
| not sure where they got this information, but this | | | | protects from both fire and theft, then it will cost |
| is what they used for their test. Both safes were | | | | you quite a bit more than $40.00. Both companies |
| placed among pallets (to simulate a house) and | | | | that were represented in this test manufacture |
| set it on fire for 10 minutes (the hottest | | | | both types of safes, but due to random sampling, |
| temperature reached was not noted). After 10 | | | | one company came out on top and the other |
| minutes, the fire was put out and the two safes | | | | didn't look so good. But the two different types |
| and contents examined. | | | | of safes selected could easily have been swapped. |
| The first security chest that was examined was | | | | So, if you are trying to protect your valuables |
| very hot, the lock was gone and it had holes | | | | from fire, what should the label say? Well, if you |
| where the lock had been. Everything inside was in | | | | haven't guessed yet, it should say: Fire Safe! |
| ashes - totally destroyed! | | | | |