Fire Resistant Gun Safes. While firearms and ammunition are intended for your personal safety, they also require some protection, in their own right, against theft, unauthorized access and more often than not, fire.
In 2012, it was reported that fire departments responded to over 370,000 house fires in the US. Although that statistic doesn’t quite compare with the 1.5 million home invasions last year, it is still significant enough to pose the question, “How are you protecting your guns from fire?”
Fire protection is an essential component of any full size gun safe and serious attention should be taken when choosing the right level of protection for your home. Essentially, there are three main criteria to weigh before making your final decision on a fire safe:
- Components: There are three preferred types of fire protection used today. The first and most common is fire-board or gypsum board. This “dry wall like” material is water dense and is generally layered and adhered to the interior of the steel body of the safe, providing a cooling effect by diffusing heat through moisture. Dry Light fire protection, used by some manufacturers, is similar to concrete and poured between a double walled steel constructed safe, providing exceptional fire protection much like concrete blocks in home construction. And third, though not as common, are ceramic thermal blankets. This type of fire protective material boasts low thermal conductivity, thermal shock resistance and low heat storage capacity.
- Certification: To begin with, it is worth mentioning that most safes do not bear an official fire certification label. Most manufacturers conduct their own fire tests within their own testing facility. This is why gun safe fire ratings can appear all over the board. However, there is one constant, all safes are tested to maintain that the internal temperature remains at or below 350 degrees. For, example, a fire safe rated by a manufacturer at 1200 degrees for 1 hour assures that he internal temperature does not exceed 350 degrees for up to 1 hour is the external temperature remains at or below 1200 degrees. Simple as that. With that said, there are some manufacturers that do have their safes “classified” or “listed” for fire by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), an independent organization that tests and certifies products for safety Though not common in the industry, you can find a few safes with this label, if it offers you the greatest peace of mind.
- Distance: One of the most important things to consider is your location in regards to your local fire department. In an urban environment, response time can be short and thus, perhaps a 2 hour rated safe is unnecessary and a 30 minute fire rating would suit. Inversely, if your home is located in a more rural location, where your local fire station is not simply around the corner, “the higher the fire rating the better” might need to be your motto.
Regardless of materials, certification or location, when investing in a safe fire protection is just one of the major components for ultimate security. Not to be taken lightly, it can still be a daunting task to compare all that the gun safe industry has to offer. If you need expert assistance, Gunsafes.com has the best trained team in the safe business, as well as the largest selection online. Visit the website, give a call and let them help you choose the right fire rated gun safe for you.