A good safe can protect your most valuable possessions and important documents from loss due to either theft or fire.
Hidden Safes
The most secure safe is one that a burglar can’t find. Floor safes are the best for this. Wall safes are almost as good, but they are so commonly used in the movies that many burglars will routinely check for them.
The cheap alternative is simply to hide a normal safe by putting in the back of a closet and covering it up. A large cardboard box can disguise most safes. The downside is that a safe that is hard for a burglar to find is also difficult for you to access.
Fire Safes
Most of us will end up storing paperwork in our safes, and paper is extremely vulnerable to fire. It would be a shame to open your home safe after a fire and discover little more than ashes inside.
Underwriters Laboratories (U.L.) publishes guidelines for fire protection. U.S. Class 350 is designed to protect paper documents.
UL Class 350 Fire Ratings
- 1/2 hr — Protects valuables for up to 30 minutes with an outside temperature of 1550 degrees.
- 1 hr — Protects valuables for up to 1 hour with an outside temperature of 1700 degrees.
- 1 hr+ — Protects valuables for up to 1 hour with an outside temperature of 1700 degrees, plus survived drop test from 30 feet.
- 2 hr — Protects valuables for up to 2 hours with an outside temperature of 1850 degrees.
- 2 hr+ — Protects valuables for up to 2 hours with an outside temperature of 1850 degrees, plus survived drop test onto rubble from 30 feet
Securing Your Safe
Safes are built to be difficult to open, but anything can be opened with enough time and effort. One of the greatest risks with small home safes is that the burglar simply steals the entire safe. The burglar may never be able to open the safe, but your valuable possessions are still lost.
Every home safe should be securely bolted down, preferably into concrete and preferably with non-removable bolts.
Home Security Safes,
