Keep in mind that if there’s no battery indicator on the keypad, the battery could easily run out and you wouldn’t know it. Look for a unit that uses an electronic keypad, as well as an emergency key if you ever forget your code. Once you’ve worked out fire and water-resistance levels, you’ll also want to make sure your safe actually secures your items.Look for a unit that not only features double steel wall construction with fire-resistant insulation, but also a padded bottom to protect your items.Some models have a 14-gauge steel body and 0.75-inch bolts to keep things secure, but their doors don’t always shut tight enough. If you’re serious about protecting your documents, it’s important to look at build.However, sometimes the insulation inside this type of safe can build up condensation inside. Consider a model that also has waterproof features, with the ability to remain watertight for 24 hours in up to 8 inches of water.Although the items in the safe may be protected from dry, powdery types of extinguishing agents, liquid and water can seep into safes that aren’t protected against it, and those substances can easily damage the items inside. The process of extinguishing the fire itself can damage your belongings due to the chemicals used in the process. Flame and smoke damage aren’t the only concerns you’ll have after a home fire.This gives it more fire protection than basic security boxes, likely surviving a fire as long as 20 minutes without damage to internal contents. But they are built with a layer of fire-resistant insulation in between the double walls. They aren’t UL rated for fire, though, primarily because a small box isn’t capable of surviving a fire like a large safe. However, they do feature fire-resistant features that can help. Some units are safe boxes, not a fireproof safes.
With other models, you’ll get 20 minutes of resistance at 1200 degrees. Some models promise fireproofing for one hour at 1700 degrees Fahrenheit. But obviously, the longer the resistance and the higher the temperature, the better. The basic requirement to qualify as a fire-resistant safe is 20 minutes at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit.
You will, however, enjoy the benefits of your items being secure in a safe.
So you should also factor in how long your safe can withstand water, and up to what depth.Ĭhances are, your safe will never have to hold up against water or fire damage. However, in many instances, water damage may be more of a concern than fire damage.
#WALL MOUNTED FIRE PROOF SAFE FULL#
A safe that can withstand a full hour of temperatures up to 1700 degrees Fahrenheit is rated higher than a safe that can only withstand 20 minutes at 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. You’ll need to check the rating of any safe you’re considering to make sure it will keep your documents unharmed. Not all fireproof safes are equal, though. It may have the added bonus of protecting your items if your home floods due to an appliance leak or natural disaster. Many fireproof safes also build in waterproofing, which keeps your document safe if water is used during the extinguishing process. Hard-to-replace items like marriage and birth certificates, family photos and passports can rest comfortably inside, resisting the smoke and fire that surround it. But what about the documents, photos and other priceless valuables inside? If your entire house burned down today, what would you wish you had saved?Ī fireproof safe can house those valuables, protecting them if the worst happens. Furniture and appliances can be replaced, as can your house. There are more than 350,000 home structure fires each year in the U.S., on average, with an estimated $6.5 billion in direct property damage.