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The main difference between a regular safe and a fire-resistant one is the additional layer of insulation between the sheets of steel. The door itself has a bigger layer of insulation or two, to protect the lock. So once you’ve decided you need a safe, either for your home or office, the next thing to do is, ask yourself some questions. Not only would these questions help you decide, but might also help protect your valuables in case of a burglary or fire breakout.
- Is A Safe Really Fireproof?
There is no such thing as a fireproof safe per se. A waterproof object can be perfectly sealed against water, indefinitely. But what is true for water is not true in the case of a fire. In the event of a fire, there are fumes and heat. And then, water and powder from a fire extinguisher.
So if a safe is not fireproof, it is because it is a matter of time. The safe can resist heat as long as it has been constructed and rated to. The better the safe, the longer it can withstand a fire. For example, here is the table of the main specifications:
| Rating/Minutes | Temperature |
| 30 minutes | 1550 °F |
| 60 minutes | 1700 °F |
| 2 hours | 1850 °F |
| 4 hours | 2000 °F |
That is why the material used is called fire-resistant. Heat and fumes can both be dangerous too, not only flames. Heat because of spontaneous combustion, and fumes because they are toxic gases and could be injurious to health.
- Autoignition:
The autoignition temperature or kindling point of a substance is the lowest temperature in which it spontaneously ignites in a normal atmosphere without an external source of ignition, such as a flame or spark. This temperature is required to supply the activation energy needed for combustion. The temperature at which a chemical ignites decreases as the pressure or oxygen concentration increases.
Fumes can deteriorate paper, fabric or electronics. And heat, when high enough, can start a fire without a spark or a flame. That is to say, if the heat arises, the content of a safe can burn with spontaneous combustion. All your valuable documents can burn even if there aren’t any flames around the safe! Here are spontaneous combustion temperatures for a given substance:
| Substance | Autoignition |
| Paper | 218–246 °C (424–475 °F) |
| Leather/Parchment | 200–212 °C (392–414 °F) |
| Wood | 450 °F gradually chars |
| Wood | 700 °F burns |
| Cardboard | 450 °F |
| Plastic | 100 °F starts to melt |
| Plastic | 450 °F burns |
| Gasoline | 247–280 °C (477–536 °F) |
We can see that what is usually stored in a safe burns in a quiet “low” temperature. Papers, leather, cardboard, plastic, electronics: all those things are in a safe. I think it is clear that a fireproof safe is the way to go when you choose a safe to store all the above.
When a fire-resistant safe withstands the temperature for a given time, you maximize your chances of getting back your valuables in a good or acceptable condition. In that sense, I think we can say the answer is yes, a fireproof safe is effective. But there are a couple of conditions:
- It has to be of a good make
- It has to be a good safe all-around with a good lock.
- It has to be filled with good quality fire-resistant insulation
But Always Remember
A safe has to be of good quality anyhow. Some fire safes look sturdy because they are big, but they offer a weak lock with small bolts. The lock can be easily drilled or lock picked. The bolts are not resistant enough to intrusion. The sheets of steel that form the carcass are too thin and can be easily cut. That is why, I only recommend buying a good safe that is fireproof, and not any fireproof safe. If you hesitate, first check the weight of the safe. If it is too light, there is a problem of steel thickness and bolts size. If you ever found your safe cracked open or stolen, you might understand that the primary risk is theft, long before fire or floods. So choose a good overall safe.
Types of Fire-Resistant Safes We Manufacture
The Tejori Safes and Security Equipment Range covers the following items:
- Armoured Series: This series provides the best security as it is made out of imported armoured steel plates. This range is gas-welding resistant which means that thieves won’t be able to cut your safe open. This series is fire resistant for upto 6 hours.
- Warrior Series: This series also provides good security as it is made out of high tensile imported steel plates. This range is fire resistant for upto 3 hours.
- Protector Series: This series is our low-budget range. Made out of imported steel sheets, this range is fire resistant for up to 45 minutes.
Different kinds of Locking Mechanisms:
Gujrat Steel in its drive to cater to everyone, offers three different types of locking mechanisms, to ensure your ease and convenience. The different types of locking mechanisms that we offer are:
- Key Locks.
- Digital Locks
- Combination Locks.