Will a fireproof safe survive a house fire?
When it comes to protecting your most valuable documents, digital media, and precious items from fire damage, many homeowners turn to fireproof safes as their primary line of defense. But the critical question remains: will a fireproof safe actually survive a house fire? The answer depends on several key factors, including the safe's fire rating, the intensity and duration of the fire, and what you're trying to protect.
Understanding Fire Ratings and House Fire Temperatures
To answer whether a fireproof safe will survive a house fire, we first need to understand how intense residential fires actually become. Typical house fires only reach temperatures of 1100° F, while the average fire burns at 800-1000° F for approximately twenty minutes. This information is crucial because it provides a baseline against which fireproof safe ratings can be measured.
Fireproof safes are tested and rated using rigorous standards, most commonly those established by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). UL tests safes to 1,700–1,850°F, which significantly exceeds typical house fire temperatures. During these tests, the internal temperature cannot exceed 350°F for the duration of the specified test for the safe to receive UL certification.
Types of Fire Ratings Available
Fireproof safes come with different fire ratings depending on their intended use and the level of protection required. The most common ratings include:
UL Class 350 Fire Safes: These safes are designed to keep internal temperatures below 350°F, which is ideal for protecting paper documents. Paper burns at 420°F, so UL advised a temperature limit of 350°F to allow a generous margin of safety.
UL Class 150 and 125 Fire Safes: These offer enhanced protection for digital media and electronic storage devices. The UL Class 125 2-hour fire rating means that when exposed to external temperatures of over 1700°, the internal temperature of the safe will not exceed 125° for at least two hours – 125° is the temperature at which digital media is ruined.
Duration Ratings: Fire safes are also rated by how long they can maintain safe internal temperatures. Common ratings include 30-minute, 1-hour, 2-hour, and even 3-hour protection. The highest UL certification can withstand temperatures up to 1850°F for at least 120 minutes.
What London Safes Offers
London Safes provides various fireproof safe options to meet different protection needs. The most popular is the Bloomsbury 40K Fire range of safes supplied with Digital Keypad, these prestigious Italian safes meet the strict standards of EN14450:18 ‘S2’ ‘Resistance Grade S2’. This testing means they are indisputably accepted by all UK insurance companies for storing up to £4,000 in cash or up to £40,000 in valuables.
Their Master Lock Fireproof Range offers steel construction with fire and water protection in three sizes, with options for 1 or 2-hour fire protection. These safes are designed to protect documents, digital media and other valuables from fire, water, and theft.
The company also offers higher-end solutions, including Securikey Eurograde 6 fire rated safes that have a cash rating of £150,000 or a valuables rating of £1,500,000 and are tested & certified to EN1143-1 Eurograde 6 standards.
Real-World Performance
In practical terms, a properly rated fireproof safe should indeed survive a typical house fire. Since most residential fires burn at temperatures well below the testing standards used for fireproof safes, and given that fire departments average response times of less than 11 minutes in ninety percent of structure fires, most fireproof safes with appropriate ratings will protect their contents.
However, it's important to understand that "fireproof" doesn't mean indestructible. The safe's performance depends on:
- Fire rating duration: Ensure your safe's time rating exceeds the likely duration of fire exposure
- Installation location: Safes installed in basements or on ground floors typically fare better than those in upper stories
- Fire intensity: Extremely intense fires, such as those involving flammable liquids or chemicals, may exceed typical house fire temperatures
- Structural collapse: While the safe may survive fire, structural collapse of the building could cause physical damage
Choosing the Right Protection Level
When selecting a fireproof safe, consider what you're protecting and how long you need protection. For most homeowners storing important documents, a UL Class 350 1-hour rated safe provides adequate protection for typical house fires. Those storing digital media should opt for UL Class 125 or 150 rated safes to ensure their electronic files remain intact.
Conclusion
Yes, a properly rated fireproof safe will likely survive a house fire, provided it's appropriately matched to your protection needs and the fire doesn't exceed the safe's rated duration or temperature limits. Given that typical house fires burn at temperatures well below fireproof safe testing standards, and considering average emergency response times, most quality fireproof safes will successfully protect their contents during a residential fire.
However, it's crucial to choose a safe with appropriate ratings for your specific needs and to consider factors like installation location and the types of items you're protecting. Consulting with experts like those at London Safes can help ensure you select the right fireproof safe for your particular situation, providing peace of mind that your most important possessions will survive even in the worst-case scenario of a house fire.