An Introduction to Fire Ratings
There’s a science to the level in which a safe can withstand heat from a fire. Fire ratings are critical indicators of how well a safe can protect its contents during a fire. Understanding these ratings is essential for anyone looking to safeguard important documents, valuables, and irreplaceable items from fire damage.
Understanding Safe Fire Ratings
The scale of fire ratings indicates how long safes can withstand for a specified amount of time at certain temperatures. This measurement is vital because, during a fire, temperatures can quickly escalate to levels that can damage or destroy sensitive materials. A safe with a high fire rating ensures that even in the event of a severe fire, the interior of the safe remains at a temperature low enough to prevent damage to its contents.
The best fire ratings are determined through rigorous testing conducted by certification bodies such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and Intertek Laboratories (ETL). While ETL is a reliable certification body, UL is the best-recognized leader in fire safety and certification. Although independent and factory-tested safes are viable options, organizations such as UL and ETL set the highest standard. Keep this in mind when comparing UL fire ratings to factory-tested ratings, as the criteria and procedures may differ.
Types of Fire Ratings
Fire ratings for gun safes, other residential safes, and commercial safes are established based on how long the containers can protect their contents against high temperatures. Depending on the level of protection you want for your valuables, you can choose from the following ratings from Underwriters Laboratories or Intertek Laboratories:
UL Ratings
- 30-Minutes
- 1-Hour
- 2-Hours
ETL Ratings
- 30-Minutes
- 45-Minutes
- 60-Minutes
- 90-Minutes
- 120-Minutes
Temperature Tolerances
Evaluating the level of heat protection for a safe container also involves examining the container’s internal temperature. For a safe to receive its fire rating, it depends on how long the internal temperature can stay below 350°F. This is vital since paper and money tend to char around 387°F.
Importance of Fire Ratings in Choosing a Safe
When choosing a safe, one of the most important factors to consider is the fire rating. It’s crucial to think about what items you plan to store in the safe. For example, paper documents are highly susceptible to heat and can ignite quickly. Valuables like jewelry or guns may withstand heat for a bit longer, but it’s still essential to choose a safe that offers substantial fire protection for all your items.
Did you know that house fires typically reach around 1,100°F? Knowing that, conduct your own risk assessment on your valuables to determine the protection you need. Before you make a final decision on your next safe, ask yourself the following:
- What type of building are you storing your safe in? Some building materials burn faster than others so this is an important factor to consider. Plus, you’ll want to keep in mind the location in which you plan on keeping the safe (e.g., the basement or higher floor levels).
- Do you live in a wildfire-prone region? If so, consider a safe that has a high fire rating to stay proactive should a crisis like this occur.
- What would it cost to lose your valuables? Weigh the investment in a safe against the potential loss of the items you want to protect. If the value of these items exceeds the cost of the safe, the investment is likely worthwhile in the long run. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
- Do you live in a rural area? If you know you’re not near a fire station, chances are the response time will be longer. A high fire rating could give you the extra time you need until firefighters reach your location. For example, in urban areas, full-time firefighters arrive on average within 90 seconds or less, while part-time firefighters in rural areas experience a turnout time of 5 to 7 minutes or less.
Construction of AMSEC Safes
We incorporate a variety of different materials to construct our safes and ensure strong protection against high temperatures. We typically craft our safes with either fire protection panels or our proprietary material called DryLight.
Fire Protection Panels
Many of our TF and SF safes are crafted with several fire protection panel layers throughout the interior body and door. This strategic use of fire protection panels significantly enhances the fire resistance of our safes, allowing them to pass ETL-Intertek’s rigorous fire tests with flying colors.
DryLight
Many of our safes feature our proprietary material called DryLight, with the BFX gun safe being a prime example. Incorporating DryLight has yielded impressive results, as demonstrated by ETL-Intertek’s rigorous testing. During the test, our BF safe endured 120 minutes in the oven without the interior temperature exceeding 350°F.
Palusol Door Seal
As much as the material of the safe walls should be constructed to provide strong protection, so should the door. That’s why we craft our safes with a Palusol door seal which will expand to 7 times its size if the temperature reaches 212°F. As a result, your cherished valuables will be sealed from heat and smoke.
Testing and Certification Process
Testing the fire-resistant capabilities of a safe requires simulating real-world fire conditions to assess how well a safe can protect its contents under extreme heat. The steps are as follows:
A specialized furnace is utilized to insert the safe into and be subjected to heat. This furnace is gradually increased to higher temperatures to simulate the growth and intensity of a real fire. Depending on the fire rating being tested, temperatures can reach up to 1,700°F (927°C) or higher. This is the process where the safe’s ability to withstand heat is tested and rated based on its performance.
Real-World Results
Our safes speak for themselves — we have received incredible feedback and stories on the effectiveness of our fire-resistant safes. One instance took place in Boulder County, CO, where one of our NF gun safes was the only thing left standing after the now infamous Marshall Fire.
For residential or commercial use, our safes are designed to withstand high temperatures so that your valuables remain protected.
Key Takeaways on Safe Fire Ratings
Understanding safe fire ratings is essential when protecting important documents, valuables, and irreplaceable items from fire damage. It’s crucial to consider the fire rating when choosing a safe, as different items have varying levels of heat susceptibility. Conducting a personal risk assessment and evaluating factors such as building materials, wildfire risk, and proximity to fire stations can help determine the appropriate level of fire protection you require. Now that you’re equipped with knowledge on fire ratings, visit our safe selection and if you have any questions, our team is here to help!