Fire Safe Basics
In Case of Fire…You Better Have a Safe
Everyone knows what you use safes for; to protect various objects and materials from theft and harm. The question comes from choosing what type of safe to use while considering what you need to protect. Some of the most common things you’d put in a safe are documents; passports, insurance papers, legal documents, personal keepsakes, family photos, deeds, etc. What do all these different types of documents have in common? They’re flammable and you don’t need just a strong safe, you need a fireproof safe. K.L. Security has a wide selection of fireproof and fire-resistant safes and cabinets; because we know that to protect your valuables from nature’s most destructive force, you need a safe that was designed with that force in mind.
A fireproof safe is designed to protect its contents from high temperatures or actual fire. Many of them have additional materials used to provide extra protection, like K.L. Security’s patented insulation methods. Another thing you need to know about fireproof safes is the fire rating system and standards that they are constructed by. What is a fire rating? A fire rating is how long a safe will maintain an interior temperature that does not exceed a certain level for a certain amount of time. In the United States, the fire rating standards are measured by Underwriters Laboratories (the UL you’ll see on product labels and descriptions). For example, one of the most common UL fire safe ratings is UL 350, which means the safe has been tested and its internal temperature will not exceed 350 degrees F, for a certain amount of time when exposed to at least 1700 degrees of heat. Time is the next part of the rating system. Alongside the temperature will be the length of time that the interior of the safe will not exceed it. For example, a UL 350 1 Hour rated safe means that the temperature will not exceed 350 for one hour. Safes with ½, 1, 2, 3 and 4 hour ratings are common.
The temperature threshold isn’t always going to be the same; UL 350 is the way to go if you’re just storing paper documents and records but if you’re storing electronics; zip drives, open reel tapes, CDs, microfilm and cartridges then you need a rating of UL 125 which guarantees that the internal temperature won’t exceed 125 degrees for the listed time rating. This is vital for more sensitive materials and a fact you should remember when purchasing your safe. Paper won’t burn until the interior of the safe has reached 400 degrees but other forms of media are much more sensitive.
Getting a 1 or 2 hour fire rating depends on several factors; building codes and HIPAA regulations. Make sure you know the codes of your business and building before purchasing a safe. It also depends on what you’re planning on storing in the safe. That is the most important factor when deciding on a model.
What is the best safe? There is no “best” safe design but there is the best safe for you and your needs. K.L .Security is here with several great models and companies.
We have two great brands for you, FireKing and SentrySafe.
This established American company has many great products on our website. The first one we want to talk about is the 1 Hour Rated Data Fire Safe (UL 125). It has a 30 foot UL impact rating and you have five sizes to choose from. It’s recommended for the storing of data and computer materials. The safe keeps the humidity level under 80% and the different models come with a variety of roll-out and fixed shelving. They are great for offices because of their size and their ability to protect different forms of electronic media. For the most important data and sensitive documents, consider the FireKing 3 Hour Rated Data Fire Safe, one of the best deals out there. The different models have between 1.5 and 7.9 cubic feet of storage and weigh between 650lbs. and 1,420lbs. With this line, your media would be protected against fire, impact, magnetic fields, unauthorized access and electrostatic discharge. They are UL 125 fire Rated and have 30 foot UL impact rating. They are perfect for office use and being installed in a tech station or computer room.
SentrySafe has several great lines of fireproof safes available through their Schwab Corp. subsidiary. Their products speak for themselves, Schwab says that they haven’t had product fail a customer since 1872. One of their finest product lines is the Schwab FireGuard Insulated Fireproof Record Safes. The different models have between 19.6 and 37.5 cubic feet of space and have a UL 350 1 hour fire rating. They are also explosion and impact rated and has seven standard colors. There are optional digital locks, x-ray locks and key-locking combinations. The FireGuard also comes with optional interior accessories like card drawers, adjustable shelves and lockers. If you’re looking for an option for your media storage, check out the FireGuard Insulated Media Safe line. All the models have UL 125 1 hour fire rating and are explosion and impact rated. The different models have between 4.8 and 20.1 cubic feet of interior space and are great for storing zip drives, DLT/LTO/VXA tapes, USB devices and external hard drives. The differences in model size offer a wide range in options for usage. Under a desk, in a computer storage area or in a personal office; you don’t have to change your floor plan, it will fit around your needs.
K.L. Security has safes to fit virtually every need you or your business might have but that’s not all we’re concerned about. We want you to understand what you’re purchasing and why; fireproof safes make sense for most businesses; the real question is what type do you need? You need to consider what you’re storing, the codes and regulations of your office and building and what level of protection you’re interested in. That’s why we’re here. We have the info to help you make those decisions. If you have any questions, please click on our Fire Safe Resources page or contact us at any time.