As wildfires remain a serious threat in Northern California, homeowners must take proactive measures to safeguard their valuables. One of the best investments you can make is purchasing a high-quality fire-rated safe. It's important to understand that not all safes are created equal and that fire-rated safes are not "fireproof." In fact, no safe is "fireproof." There is a spectrum of fire ratings, and the more you invest in a higher fire rating, the better your chances of protecting your valuables. However, relying on the safe alone may not be enough in extreme temperatures of a wildfire. Most gun safes are not tested at the extreme temperatures of wildfires which often lead to evacuations, leaving your safe in hot embers and coals for much longer than its tested duration. In theory, most safes should not survive a wildfire, because the safe will be exposed to hours, if not days, of extreme temperatures above their tested temperature threshold. This article will discuss how a fire-rated safe works and offer tips from customers that had safes survive California's recent wildfires so you can take one more step to safeguarding your most treasured items from wildfire.
What is a Fire Rating and How Does It Work?
A fire rating indicates how a safe will perform in a typical house fire. Manufacturers typically use fireboard inside a safe, plus some type of door seal, to keep the steam from the fireboard in and smoke, soot, and fire out. At 212°F, these door seals will expand to seal the door airtight, anywhere from 5 to 8 times their original size. As the safe heats up, the fireboard inside will release steam, helping to keep the internal temperatures from climbing to the extremes outside the safe. The goal is to keep the internal temperature from exceeding 350°F during the test. Industry standard testing is usually conducted at around 1200°F for durations ranging from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours. For example, the Liberty Presidential 50’s internal temperature will remain at or below 350°F in a 1200°F fire for 2.5 hours.
However, wildfires typically burn much hotter than 1200°F, potentially above 2000°F. Therefore, the hotter the fire, the quicker the safe will run out of steam. It's crucial to take additional steps to give your safe a fighting chance, regardless of its fire rating. Here are a few tips we've gathered from our customers' success stories to help your safe survive in extreme conditions.
Watch this quick video for a comprehensive understanding of how a Liberty Safe is fire tested:
Will a Fire Rated Safe Survive a Wildfire?
Most fire-rated safes are tested at an industry standard of 1200°F, just above the average house fire temperature. However, wildfires can burn much hotter and spread rapidly, often leaving nothing behind. Safes tested at 1200°F may not survive these extremes, especially since homes evacuated due to wildfires are left unattended and safes can sit in hot embers for hours or days. This means they are exposed to higher temperatures for longer than their rated duration. Despite this, many safes do survive these conditions. Successful cases often involve safes with at least a 90-minute fire rating, particularly American Security and Liberty Safes. But this of course does not guarantee the safe's survival. Here are some tips from customers who had their safes survive extreme temperatures.
Five Tips to Enhance Your Safe's Survival in a Wildfire:
- Create Defensible Space: Clear at least 100 feet of space around your home by removing flammable vegetation. This reduces the risk of wildfire reaching your property.
- Install Fire-Resistant Materials: Use fire-resistant materials for your roof, walls, and decks. Placing your safe in a fire-resistant building helps stave off the heat.
- Bolt Your Safe Down to Concrete: Securing your safe to a strong foundation will help prevent it from falling over, which can hinder its ability to resist high temperatures. Safes are designed to withstand certain temperatures while standing upright.
- Safe Placement: Place your safe in spot with minimal flammable materials, such as fuel, accelerants, cars, batteries (especially lithium), firewood, etc. Consider areas in your home with minimal burning debris, such as an exterior wall. A bad example is in a closet located under a central staircase, which will likely be the hottest area of the fire.
- Invest in the Best Fire Rating: Prepare for the unexpected by investing in the highest fire rating you can afford. A higher fire rating increases the chances of your safe surviving extreme conditions. We see more success with safes at 90 Minute Ratings and above.
*Below are a few photos of a few safes from customers that executed these five tips. Each safe had a fire rating of at least 90 minutes, and customers executed most, if not every tip we provided above.*
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Investing in a high-quality fire-rated safe can protect your valuables and provide peace of mind. For more information or to find the right safe for your needs, visit one of our showrooms or give us a call.
Sacramento Showroom: 817 Jefferson Blvd, West Sacramento, CA 95691, (916) 373-1900
San Jose Showroom: 2897 S. Bascom Ave, Campbell, CA 95008, (408) 559-5004
