Fireproof gun safes and storage

Welcome to FireProofGunSafes.net! We are here to provide you with information regarding fireproof gun safes and even storage.  We all know the dangers that can come from not properly storing your firearm when it is not in use.  Accidents can be prevented by taking the proper steps to storing your firearm.  In addition other valuable items that you may own need to be protected as well.  From jewelry to important documents fireproof safes can store all your valuable information.  FireProofGunSafes.net does not promote any one product or method of use.  Our mission is simply to provide you with enough information to make the best choices when it comes to gun safety and other storage.  There are many different types of safes available with a variety of levels of fire protection. 

Fireproof gun safes are designed to protect the contents within it from fire, or other high temperatures.  They are usually rated by the amount of time they can withstand extremely high temperatures.  For example fire proof safes with a level 7 rating can withstand 2300 degree temperatures for up to sixty minutes before its contents are harmed.  Most fires never even reach as high as 2300 degrees as it is. The average household fire reaches upwards of 1200 degrees.  A fireproof safe also keeps the temperature within the save at 350 degrees because at that temperature paper begins to char and can start an internal fire.

Fireproof gun safes were first designed around 1855.  They used many clay and mineral coatings that provided a heat resistant layer to coat the iron of the safe body.  While this method was effective for smaller fires and for short periods of time it could not be highly relied upon for protection in a house fire.   In the early 1900’s a safe was created with two different compartments; an outer layer and an inner layer.  This is the method that is still in use today for many fireproofs safe that are available for storage.  Current safes have 3-4 layers.  The first layer is the part of the safe that you see, usually made of iron or other heavy metals.  The second and third layers are made with some sort of insulator.  Different safe companies use different insulating materials, but the most commonly used is plaster of paris.  Some safes that are designed for higher protection use two layers of insulation to ensure the safety of the items within the safe.  The last layer is the part of the safe you see when it is opened.  This is usually made of the same metal as the outer layer.  However this layer is far thinner then the outer layer. 

What is the best way to tell if a safe has adequate fire protection? The best way is to actually inspect the safe and ask a few intelligent questions. The salesmen should know exactly how much fireboard protection is in the safe as well as the thickness of the steel. The more fireboard the better, and thicker steel will withstand higher temperatures. The seal is a very important area to inspect as well and is often the entry point for flames when a safe is compromised. A thick door with reinforced fireboard door jams is the best option. Specific answers separate the knowledgeable salesmen from the rest of them, don’t settle for generalizations.

Gun storage is important both for the safety of the firearm and the safety of the occupants of the house. A gun is not something that should be stored in a nightstand or under a pillow. In home invasions with a firearm involved, the homeowner is more likely to hurt themselves or a loved one than to shoot the intruder who is typically after easy money and will avoid confrontation. Lights and loud noises like alarms are their biggest deterrents. Proper gun safety involves locking any firearms as well as all their ammunition.

No gun safe is completely fireproof. Typically they will have a rating that determines how long the interior will remain under a certain temperature at a maximum temperature. Average home fires are between 800-1200 degrees so a minimum level of protection would be a safe rated to 1200 degrees for 30 minutes. People who live in rural areas away from fast fire service should get one that lasts at least 60 minutes.

Not only does the safe need to protect from fires, it also needs to be secure enough and heavy enough to not be broken into or moved. Security aspects to look for include uni-body construction with the fewest welds possible, internal hinges, bolt locking systems, anti-theft sheer-off handles with spindles comparable to those used on bank vaults, and a hard plate over the mechanism to prevent drilling.

 

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