Do Fireproof Gun Safes Really Work?

Do Fireproof Gun Safes Really Work?

Fireproof gun safes are a popular option for anyone who wants to protect their firearms from accidental fires. They also come in many different types, so there is one for every type of firearm and homeowner.

The question for this topic is, do fireproof safes really work? The answer is yes and no. Fireproof gun safes offer protection against fire, heat, and water damage. However, there are also ones that don’t provide the level of protection they claim to have.

Fireproof safes work in the same way as any other type of safe – they protect your firearm from fire and other types of threats like water or heat damage. It is the fire rating that determines how well your safe will be able to protect your valuables against fire.

Fireproof Gun Safes

Are All Safes Fireproof?

The bedside safes that you can buy for your home are not completely fireproof, but many of them are capable of resisting the effects of damaging elements such as fire (and water) to varying degrees.

If you want to make sure that your safe is fireproof (or waterproof) before you buy it, always take the time to read the fine print in the instructions. Fire safes are designed to protect their contents from fire and heat.

But have you ever thought about how fireproof a safe is? It is important to know the fire rating of the safe before buying one, as this will help you determine how long it takes for a fire safe to be destroyed.

How Can Gun Safes Resist Fire?

The heat and duration of fires are unpredictable: it is impossible to predict how long or how hot they will burn. There is no safe company that can guarantee 100% fire protection for your valuables due to this.

It is possible, however, to improve your chances of success by selecting a quality, tested, fire-rated safe. Steel thickness plays an important role in a safe’s fire rating.

However, a fireboard or a composite material is typically required for real fire protection. The term drywall is also used to refer to fireboards.

A board is made by pressing gypsum powder between two thick sheets of paper. A drywall layer is then installed between the exterior steel wall and the interior wall of the safe.

Safes Fireproof

Types Of Drywalls

In your home, drywall is available in regular and upgraded versions. Regular drywall is used on the walls inside your home; the upgraded version is used in your garage.

Drywall is made from gypsum, which is non-flammable by itself, and water is added to make it more resistant to high temperatures. A fire causes the drywall to produce water vapor, which cools the safe’s interior as it heats up.

Additionally, choose to have a fire-resistant gun safe with upgraded drywall. You will not only be able to take advantage of all those cooling benefits, but you will also benefit from improved fire protection since the drywall has been injected with specialized additives.

Do Fireproof Gun Safes Work?

Every safe has its limits and will eventually fail no matter how well it is constructed, and no safe is truly fireproof. Each fire has its own unique characteristics; there are no two that are the same.

“Fireproof” gun safes burn completely in most house fires where the walls collapse.

In some cases, however, some revolver gun safes made it through less serious fires without losing any valuables.

There were some fires in which thick steel gun safes survived with no fire insulation. Therefore, there are many factors to consider when dealing with a specific fire.

The likelihood of a gun safe providing you with protection varies from fire to fire. It is, therefore, difficult to determine how much protection a gun safe provides by looking at what happened in specific fires.

Standards for fire ratings are vital for this reason. Tests such as these are designed to simulate common worst-case scenarios to ensure your valuables survive regardless of the type of fire.

Fire Rating Of A Gun Safe

The Fire Rating Of A Gun Safe Is Directly Influenced By Its Price

You will definitely have to pay a little more for the fire protection of your safe when you step up in protection. There will be more fireboard, thicker steel, and a better seal around the door to keep out smoke and fire.

A fire protection feature, however, is worth paying more for. You won’t regret your decision to upgrade your protection if the unthinkable happens and a house fire occurs.

Fire Testing Of Safes Is Important

When researching fire-resistant safes, consider how the safe company conducts fire testing as well as the fire-board layers and steel thickness.

Those companies that are serious about fire safety will burn every model of their safes in a furnace in order to ensure that it provides the protection it promises. To perform a successful fire test, heat a safe to 1200 degrees within 10 minutes and keep it at that temperature throughout the test.

It is not uncommon for companies to ramp up their furnace to 1200 degrees for 30 or 40 minutes; then, if the safe survives, the test calls it a success.

Fire Rating Gun Safe

Note From The Author:

There is no such thing as a completely fireproof home or gun safe. Furthermore, the concept of “fire resistance certification” doesn’t even have a regulation.

A safe’s performance will depend on how long the fire burns, where it is placed, and at what temperature it burns. It is true that any safe can be destroyed if it is burned hot and long enough.

“Certifications” aren’t always trustworthy, but numbers are. When choosing a gun safe, study what’s inside, as the more layers of fireboard and the thicker the steel, the better the likelihood of protecting your valuables in case of a fire.

Do Fireproof Safes Also Have Waterproof Seals?

There are some that are, and there are some that aren’t. For example, a fireproof rating is certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), but a waterproof rating is certified by ETL.

Safes that are waterproof and fireproof are a good idea. In the event that water is used directly on a fire safe, damage may occur.

A watertight safe should have an ETL waterproof seal to ensure it is waterproof. This ETL rating is usually provided in 24-hour, 72-hour, or 100-hour intervals to withstand underwater conditions.

The problem of moisture building up in safes is also present even in fireproof, waterproof ones. So, the idea of getting a safe dehumidifier seems like a good way to resolve this issue.

YouTube video

Final Words

Safes can withstand fires more effectively by using concrete-based composite materials. Furthermore, the composite material is placed between the safe’s outer and inner metal walls.

It conducts heat poorly, so it heats very slowly, so valuables inside the safe are protected from the heat outside. Unfortunately, the majority of composite safes on the market are very heavy and expensive. Hopefully, now you understand the concept behind fireproof safes.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *