Security Safe or Fireproof Safe at Home

A while back there was a fantastic article from Ray Martin on CBS Moneywatch talking about things that should be stored in a fireproof safe. Many people think that just a security safe will suffice, but as he writes, a fireproof safe is the best to really protect fragile things like documents, jewelry, and precious metals.
He also points out that for those of you thinking of just having those high-value items in a safety deposit box at a bank, well, think again! Remember, the items in a safety deposit box are not insured. What happens if the bank collapses, like the Cyprus bank system? Think you're getting your gold or silver back. Think again!

Even in the event of a disaster at your home, a lot of times the items in a fireproof safe are covered at home by your homeowner's insurance, as I talked about here.

He covers the basics of what should be stored in a fireproof safe, and his list is comprehensive and a good reference. Once you've purchased your security or fire safe, use his list to go through your valuables in order to select the right things for your new safe.

And remember, there's a lot that he feels should be stored in a fireproof safe, so err on the side of a slightly larger space with enough room than trying to stuff everything into one small safe. Its extremely frustrating to spend money on a great safe only to find that its far too small!

More Information on Protecting Your Valuables and Security

A Fireproof Safe Eases The Pain of a House Fire

A Safe and a House Fire: How a fireproof safe helped to ease the pain of my loss after a house fire. I thought all was lost but my important documents were saved!

The Worst Night of My Family's Life & How A Fireproof Safe Saved It

It was the middle of the morning, couldn’t have been much past 2 AM, when I heard the loud beeping of the fire alarm. I bolted out of bed and shouted to my wife to “Get up! Get the kids!”. We stayed low to the floor outside in the hallway and opened our kids’ bedroom door, went in, quickly woke them up.
As we went back out in the hallway, we could see the fire flames coming from the kitchen down below. We shot right down the stairs and out onto the front lawn, where one of our neighbors already was waiting for us. He said he called 911 already, and we could faintly hear the sirens in the distance. Why was it taking the fire department so long?
Now, the flames started to engulf most of the first floor, including our den—which also served as my office! Everything was in there!
Suddenly, I remembered that I had bought a fireproof safe a few months ago and had put our valuables in there: our wills, the titles to our cars, our insurance policies, my grandfather’s gold watch, and my wife’s diamond earrings. I had a whole stack of documents from founding my business a few years back that were sitting in there. I also put a few silver dollars I had collected, and now I hoped they would all be safe.
The fire department arrived and went to work, virtually flooding the whole first floor, including my office. It was hours before they had finally determined that the house was safe to go back into, but now as the sun was coming over the horizon, we could see the devastation before us.
Neighbors offered breakfast and a warm place to stay, and over the next few days, our lives were like a living nightmare. We had lost SO MUCH, and why us?
The next day, though, I went into the burned-out hulk of my former office and looked in the cabinet—what was left of it—that had held my fireproof safe. Amazingly it was still there!
The outside was partially melted, but the key that I had stashed in my car still opened the lock. I was SO NERVOUS opening the safe but I cracked it open and it was all still there! Everything that formed the foundation of our lives was still in perfect condition, dry, and intact!
Now, looking back, I can safely say that spending the money to get a fireproof safe may have been one of the best investments I ever made.
Information on security and safes can be found by clicking here

Fireproof Safe Information and Fireproof Safe Reviews

Fireproof Safe Information and Fireproof Safe Reviews: Key features you need to know before purchasing one, all in one source

Fireproof Safe Information and Fire Safe Reviews

Security Safe Information and Fire Safe Reviews: Important features in fireproof safes you need to know before purchasing one, all in one source

The video tells it all!

Visit Fireproof Safes to obtain more information plus top safe reviews

It is extremely important for the consumers to follow and consider some guidelines in choosing the right
safe. Looking for this could become tedious but remember that having all your valuables safe and intact
in one place is a lot comforting than losing them all to a house fire.

Fireproof Safe Reviews & Information

FIRE RESISTANT SAFES

There are such safes that are called FIREPROOF SAFES. With all reality, there are NO SUCH FIREPROOF safes – there are, however, FIRE RESISTANT SAFES. These are the kind of safes that are designed to
protect its contents against fire or extremely high temperatures. They are usually rated by the amount
of time they can withstand the extreme temperatures a fire produces, while not exceeding a set internal
temperature, e.g., less than 350 °F (177 °C) over 30 minutes.
Models are typically available between half-hour and four-hour durations. A good fire resistant safe
should have a minimum of 30 minutes fire rating but an hour or more of protection is even better. The
problem is, you don’t know where a fire could start – it may start right next to your safe and continue
to subject the contents of your safe to high temperatures for a long period of time. Fireproof safes are
NOT recommended for protecting large amounts of cash or high value items from theft. When you want
BOTH burglar and fire protection, look for a burglar fire safe or a high security burglar fire safe.
Document safes are designed to maintain an internal temperature no greater than 177 °C (351 °F) while
in a constantly heated environment in excess of 1,000 °C (1,830 °F). Data safes are designed to maintain
an internal temperature no greater than 55 °C (131 °F) while in a constantly heated environment in
excess of 1,000 °C (1,830 °F).
The conditions stipulated above are maintained for the duration of the test. The test usually lasts for
about 30 minutes or could be extended to several hours depending on its grade. They are also tested
for impact by dropping them from a set height onto a solid surface and then tested for fire survivability
once again.
In the USA, both the writing of standards for fire-resistance and the actual testing of safes is performed
by Underwriters Laboratories.
Underwriters Laboratories Certification for Safes: Classes

Classes	Description	May store:
Class 125	- sustains an internal atmosphere of 125°F (52°C) and 80% humidity - waterproof - hour ratings: ½, 1, 2, 3, or 4	Papers, floppy disks
Class 150	- sustains an internal atmosphere less than 150°F (66°C) and 85% humidity - waterproof - hour ratings: ½, 1, 2, 3, or 4	Papers, Optical medias (CDs)
Class 350	- sustains an internal atmosphere of less than 350°F (177°C) and 85% humidity - most basic of U.L. tests and specifically tests for the storage of paper - sufficient for storage of paper - hour ratings: ½, 1, 2, 3, or 4	Papers, Floppy Disks, Optical Medias (CDs)
Class TL-15	- combination locked safe that offers limited protection against combinations of common mechanical and electrical tools - resist abuse for 15 minutes from tools such as hand tools, picking tools, mechanical or electric tools, grinding points, carbide drills and devices that apply pressure
Class TL-30	- combination locked safe that offers moderate protection against combinations of mechanical and electrical tools - resist abuse for 30 minutes from tools such as hand tools, picking tools, mechanical or electrical tools, grinding points, carbide drills, devices that apply pressure, cutting wheels and power saws.
Class TL-40	- combination locked safe that offers moderate protection against combinations of mechanical and electrical tools - resist abuse for 40 minutes from tools such as hand tools, picking tools, mechanical or electrical tools, grinding points, carbide drills, devices that apply pressure, cutting wheels and power saws.
Class TRTL-30	- combination locked safe that offers high protection against combinations of mechanical, electrical, and cutting tools - resist abuse for 30 minutes from tools such as hand tools, picking tools, mechanical or electrical tools, grinding points, carbide drills, devices that apply pressure, cutting wheels, power saws, impact tools and, in addition, can withstand an oxy-fuel welding and cutting torch (tested gas limited to 1,000 cubic feet (28 m3) combined total oxygen and fuel gas)
Class TRTL-60	- withstand the same assaults as Class TRTL-30 for 60 minutes
Class TXTL-60	- meets all the requirements for Class TRTL-60 - withstand high explosives such as nitroglycerin or equivalent to not more than 4 ounces (110 g) of nitroglycerin in one charge (entire test must not use more explosive than that equivalent to 8 ounces (230 g) of nitroglycerin)

Additional reminders:
1. Check the safe if it is indeed UL TESTED. The safe has passed the testing requirements ONLY
when you see a UL label applied to the safe.
2. If you also want burglary protection, choose burglar/fire safe that is appropriate for the content
value.
These ratings and content values are guidelines only:
B-Rated
Up to $5,000 content value
B/C Rated
Up to $10,000 content value
U.L. RSC
Up to $15,000 content value
C Rated
Up to $30,000 content value
U.L. TL-15
Up to $200,000 content value
U.L. TL-30
Up to $375,000 content value
U.L. TL-30X6
Up to $500,000 to $ 1,000,000 content value
U.L. TRTL-30X6 $1,000,000 and up content value
3. Don’t use a floor safe to protect against fire.
Floor safes are great for gold, silver, coins, jewelry and other valuables because they are engineered
to protect against burglary attacks. While they are burglary resistant, these are NOT – despite of
common beliefs – ideal against fire or extremely high temperatures. Floor safe doors are made of
plate steel that ranges from ½” to 1½” thick and unfortunately, nearly all floor safes do NOT have
fire retardant material included in the door. Therefore, most floor safes are not a good product to
protect against the ravages of a fire.

A more comprehensive list of safes with their features is located if you click here