| Fireproof
safes are safes that are designed to protect
the contents from damage due to a home or business fire.
The most important factor to consider when choosing fireproof
safes is the fire rating assigned to the safe.
The fire rating is an indication of how well the safe will
protect the contents during actual fire conditions. These
ratings are usually given in minutes or hours. An example
rating would be a 1 hour 350 degree F rating. This rating
means that the safe has been exposed to a 1700 degree F
fire for 1 hour, and the temperature inside the safe did
not rise above 350 degrees F. This is a low enough temperature
to protect documents and other durable valuables from permanent
damage.
For more delicate valuables or items such as electronic
backup media, fireproof safes are available with special
media ratings. Media ratings are determined in the same
way as fire ratings, except that the internal temperature
cannot rise above 125 degrees F, a much lower temperature.
In addition, a media safe rating specifies that the humidity
during fire conditions will not rise above 80% relative
humidity.
Fireproof
safes can also carry a burglary rating. The burglary
rating gives an indication of how difficult the safe is
to break into. Usually specified in minutes, they give the
amount of time that it would take an experienced person
(such as a locksmith) to break into the safe using common
locksmithing tools. A higher burglary rating means a more
secure safe. It important to point out that some ratings
like TL 15 can be so difficult to break into that you can
leave tools and a set of instructions on the safe and the
thief still will not be able to get into it.
There are a number of other factors besides ratings to
consider when choosing fireproof safes. One factor is the
type of locking mechanism used on the safe. Models are available
with traditional mechanical combination dials, mechanical
key locks, electronic keypad locks, and biometric locks.
The electronic keypad lock is much more convenient than
the mechanical combination dial or key lock. To open the
safe, the user simply enters the combination to the safe
on a PIN pad similar to the ones used on ATM machines. For
even more convenience and security, consider a biometric
lock. A biometric locking mechanism uses a fingerprint scanner
to provide access to the safe. The user simply places their
index finger on the scanner for about a second, and the
safe opens.
Electronic locks allow multiple users to be enrolled, and
some models also have an audit trail feature. This feature
allows you to see when the safe was accessed and by whom.
This data is either viewed on a local display panel or uploaded
to a personal computer for viewing.
Fireproof safes are available
in a wide variety of overall sizes, shapes and interior
arrangements. Consider carefully what is to be stored in
the safe before choosing one. For example, media safes have
available drawers designed for the storage of popular computer
backup media. Special fireproof safes are also available
for gun storage.
As you can see, there are a number of factors to consider
when choosing fireproof safes.
Be sure to consider the features that are most important
to you in order to choose the safe that is right for your
needs. Feel free to call us if you need more help narrowing
down what you are looking for in a fireproof
safe.
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