RECORD & FIRE SAFES
Record or fire safes are designed and
built to protect records, important papers, cash and valuables from fire. Some
are also rated for burglary protection.
The manufacturing process for all
record or fire safes, manufactured in the United States, is much the same. They
begin with a hollow welded or a hollow molded composite metal box or can, this
will be filled with a "wet" mix that looks much like concrete, they
are dried in kilns, cleaned, finished and painted. This "wet" mix this
is a very specialized product, when it is dried and sets up, it retains cells of
moisture within the structure. These cells of moisture, when exposed to heat,
change to steam, which is released into the interior of the container. The steam
that is released perform two main functions, it keeps the interior temperature
below 350 degrees Fahrenheit, for a prescribed time, and also provides a
pressure seal for the small openings around the door, keeping heat and flames
out. This release of steam is also why anything that will be damaged by moisture
including, stamp collections, photographs, audio & video tapes, and computer
data, should never be kept in a fire safe.
Most US manufactured record or fire
safes are "labeled" or certified to meet the test requirements of Underwriters
Laboratories. The following is a typical test criteria;
U.L. Label/Class
350° - 1 hour: The safe will maintain an interior temperature less than 350°F
when exposed to fire for a period of one hour at 1700°F. Safe must successfully
undergo all other requirements for the Fire Endurance Test, Explosion Hazard
Test and the Fire/Impact Test. Some are only labeled with a manufacturers
label, or some other testing facility, whose criteria may or may not be as stringent
as UL's. You should be sure to check with your professional safe dealer, to have
a full understanding of your safe label.
Links to Fire Safe
Manufacturers
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