The 5 Best Fireproof Safes For You

It is an exciting thing to note how the advent of fire has changed the way humans have lived since the age of hunting. The same fire has also become an enemy, with the extent of damage it has to humans, the environment, and our belongings. We can never be too sure. We live in a time where some items have become so valuable. They need an extra layer of security and secrecy. It is a good thing that there are safes created for this, but not all safes are the same. We will help you find a safe that is extra security for your belongings and help you find the best fireproof safe to keep that restless mind at ease.

Detailed Review Of The Five Best Fireproof Safes

Honeywell Safes & Door Locks – 1 Hour Fire Safe Waterproof Safe Box Chest with Carry Handle, Large, 1104

Product Highlights

The Honeywell 1104 is one of the best fireproof safes you can get for your home or your office. It’s independently rated by UL to last longer against fires at higher temperatures compared to other safes with the same or with similar size. This gives it the most potential of protection with the added convenience of portability.

The Good

The Honeywell 1104 Fire Safe Box obtained the UL Fire protection rating for 1 hour and can protect your items from a fire up to 1700. This safe is built to be durable and can store important letter/legal sized papers flat-no need to fold them for it to fit. The safe is attached with a handle that makes it portable as well, but one of the best things about this safe is that it was designed to store and protect electronic media as well, which is not entirely available on all “fireproof” safes. 

The Bad

The storage capacity is not as big as the users expect.

SentrySafe SFW123GDC Fireproof Waterproof Safe, 1.23 Cubic Feet, Gun Metal Grey 

Product Highlights

This heavily armored steel safe has a total of 1.23 cubic feet of space and boasts an internal locking drawer to help keep your smaller items organized. SentrySafe is known for durable products, and the SentrySafe SFW123GDC is no exemption. 

It features a backlit keypad and has interior lighting for easy access to valuables with limited light.

Since we are featuring fireproof safes, it is also crucial to note that it also has UL Classified fire protection.

The Good

The SentrySafe SFW123GDC is UL Classified to withstand 1 hour of heat at 1700°F temperatures. Although some fireproof safes are not suitable for keeping digital media, this safe can keep interior temperatures safe enough to store other irreplaceable documents and items. 

This safe is also ETL verified to endure a 15 footfall in the event of a fire and remain shut.

The Bad

SentrySafe recommends the use of four high-quality, name branded, alkaline AA batteries with a lengthy expiration date: 8-10 years. This safe will not meet its optimum capacity with generic alkaline batteries. You have to be ready to invest in your batteries. 

First Alert 2602DF Waterproof Fire Chest with Digital Lock, 0.39 Cubic Feet

Product Highlights

The First Alert Waterproof Fire Chest with Digital Lock is a theft-resistant fire and water chest that provides safety for your documents and belongings. Besides being able to hold a standard letter size paper flat, it is also capable of safeguarding other data storage devices. It has a waterproof seal along the opening that keeps your belongings dry. This safe is classified to withstand fires ranging up to 1,550° F for up to 30 minutes. 

The Good

We are featuring fireproof safes, so it is only apt to mention that this safe is tested to endure external high temperatures up to 1,550° Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. This is lesser than the others that have been mentioned in this article. Still, it has other notable qualities, such as its ability to float when in water with a size reasonably spacious enough to store a variety of items.

The Bad

Although it can store letter-sized papers, it cannot save it stacked flat. It can only accommodate a certain thickness of the article, and consequently, you will need to fold the rest. Identify the items you want to store first and cross-reference it with the dimensions of your chosen safe to help you better optimize the use of the safe. The digital keypad numbers, like a lot of electric equipment, may have some minor issues when it comes to being in sync with the lock.  

SentrySafe SFW123DSB Fireproof Safe and Waterproof Safe with Dial Combination 1.23 Cubic Feet

Product Highlights

We are going to feature SentrySafe again because of its impressive fireproof capability. 

Designed to protect your relevant documents,the SentrySafe SFW123DSB Fireproof Safe and Waterproof Safe protects documents, valuables, and digital media from fire, water, and theft. Ideal for your home and office security needs, featuring solid steel construction with a secondary locking key to provide additional protection from unwanted access.

The Good

A lot of fireproof safes are not theft-proof—some safes do not offer options like alarms and bolt down options. We are featuring another SentrySafe product specifically for that reason. This safe has features that are not available in some we have discussed. SentrySafe SFW123DSB fire protection is UL classified to protect your belongings up to one hour at temperatures as high as 1700˚F (927˚C). For maximum security, bolting down your safe is strongly recommended. That is why this safe comes with bolt down hardware so that you are ensured thieves cannot easily remove the safe from your home or office.

The Bad

Bolted down at a secure location in your home or office is the safes design. It is exceptionally sturdy and cumbersome. Do not expect convenience in moving this safe around, as it is not for that. 

Phoenix Datacare 1-Hour Key Lock Fireproof Media Safe - 0.26 cu ft 

Product Highlights

We picked this as an excellent fireproof safe since it focuses on Data safety. Materials that are usually too sensitive to be placed in other safes are meant to be placed in a safe like this—a media safe. 

The Phoenix media safe provides ideal storage conditions for all types of media devices like film and memory cards. It features a key lock for immediate access. Plus, these data safes are tested for fire at 1850 degrees Fahrenheit and is an all-steel construction. All bolt work fastens into steel. Because of the sealed construction, your contents are also protected against theft, dust, and humidity.

The Good

There is a pronounced difference between a proper *DATA* safe and a general-purpose fireproof safe. A standard “fireproof” safe cannot stay dry enough during a fire in contrast to a media reliable. This Phoenix Datacare Media Safe is designed to protect sensitive digital equipment and data from fire for an hour.

The Bad

A specialty safe like this obviously will have to be an investment, which is why it does not come cheap. But items like data and media are so vital and irreplaceable because of their content that they need more than just usual fireproofing. The price can come as a slight shock, but it should not be a cause for concern for the protection you are getting in return.

Things to Consider When Choosing A Fireproof Safe

Not all safes are the same. Some features highlighted more than others, which means there will be a compromise for certain features. Price is also an important thing to consider when looking for a high security safe like a fireproof safe. Below are some questions that will help you choose the best fireproof safe. 

Allow us to help you with a few questions: 

How Valuable are the Contents of My Safe? Will these Items Grow in Value Over the Years?

We are talking about the maximum value and type of the contents you will store in your safe. Think ahead. Are these items valuable now and will grow in value over the years? Why is this necessary?

The type of safe may not be secure enough in 10 years to protect the maximum value of your items.  

Since you’re looking for a fireproof safe, it is safe to assume the contents need an extraordinary amount of safekeeping. So think of the value of your content and think ahead.

What is UL (Underwriters Laboratory), and Should I Involve Them in Choosing a Fireproof Safe?

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is known to be the most significant and best-known testing laboratory in the world. Based in the US, UL conducts quality and safety tests on products that include fire doors, CCTV cameras, and yes, safes. They have a rigorous process to test products, which makes the UL certification an essential part when deciding how fireproof you want your safe to be. 

It is a helpful tip to ask your Insurance Broker to contact Underwriters Laboratory for additional recommendations when deciding to purchase a fireproof safe.

Does the Size of the Safe Matter?

You may want to consider that a safe you purchase now CAN outgrow your needs. If you can foresee your needs to increase, consider investing in a more giant safe. 

What is the Minimum Fire Rating to Protect Paper/Money in a Safe?

Fireproof safes should at least have a 1-hour fire rating. Anything less than this may not be able to protect paper items in case of a fire. An obvious problem would be, what if the fire starts right next to my safe? If this happens, your safe is exposed to very high temperatures, and it may not keep the contents safe for long enough. 



Other Things To Consider:

Location – a fireproof safe does not automatically mean a burglar-proof safe. Note the location of your safe. It is highly suggested to anchor your safe on concrete.

Portability – depending on your lifestyle.

Type of content stored in safe – some materials are sensitive to high temperatures like photos, CDs, and tapes. A fireproof safe generally uses steam to protect paper in the safe. When data or media is exposed to 135 degrees or 85% humidity, it may be badly damaged.

Conclusion

Modern society’s needs continue to grow in time. Some of the things we own can no longer be left as is. Our needs have evolved because our lives have become a little more complicated. There are things we hold more valuable than our lives; that is why we have become dependent on layers of safety and security in efforts to protect it from natural calamities and, more importantly, from other people. The invention of a fireproof safe is a breath of fresh air to the worrywart, the cautious and the incessantly concerned. The best fireproof safe is just around the corner, waiting to be unboxed and to give you the peace of mind you deserve finally.

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