Unlocking Fire Safety: Essential Ratings Explained
When disaster strikes, the difference between losing everything and preserving your most valuable possessions often comes down to one critical factor: fire protection. Whether you are safeguarding irreplaceable family documents, precious heirlooms, or essential business records, understanding fire ratings is crucial to making an informed safe purchase.
To make learning about Gun Safe and Home Safe Fire Ratings as simple as possible, we have narrowed the vast amount of information down to the main core elements that explain your safe's fire protection: Who is the one testing the safe, what temperature it is tested at, and the amount of time it is tested for.
- A typical house fire will normally only reach about 1100-1200 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Paper and standard documents will catch fire at approximately 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Safe interiors must NOT exceed 350ºF during a fire.
- The amount of time listed on the Fire Rating Label is the time that safe was able to handle inside a furnace (at the appropriate temperature) with the internal temperature never going above 350ºF.
- A room during a house fire can burn for about 20 minutes (average).
- Recommendation: While 30 minutes is the minimum, we recommend buying a safe with a 1-hour fire rating (minimum).
Who Conducts the Tests?
The first thing you need to look at when buying a safe with fire protection is “Who is the one actually testing the safes fire rating”. You have a few different options: E.T.L, U.L, K.I.S, J.I.S and the manufacturer of the safe itself.
Things to Look for When Buying a Fire Safe:
Read the label or description and find out who is verifying the Fire Rating. You want to look for indications that the safe is verified by either: UL, ETL, JIS or KIS. If the safe says it is privately tested by the manufacturer it means it is not verified by an independent third party.
U.L Fire Testing 
Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is one of the most respected and reliable testing facilities. They test each safe with extreme tactics, including:
- Fire Endurance Test: The safe is exposed to cold temperatures on all sides then added to the furnace. The test is conducted with papers inside. To pass, documents must be legible and the interior undamaged.
- Explosive Test: Ensures the safe can handle fast-rising heat and explosions. Once the furnace reaches 2000°F, the safe is placed inside for 30 minutes. The insulation must remain intact.
- Impact Test: The safe is heated, dropped 30 feet, and then placed back into the furnace upside down.
UL Class Rating System
| CLASS | FURNACE TIME | TEMP (ºF) | TESTS CONDUCTED |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A | 4 Hour | 2000º F |
✓Fire Endurance Test
✓Explosion on Hazard Test
✓Impact Drop Test
|
| Class B | 2 Hour | 1850º F |
✓Fire Endurance Test
✓Explosion on Hazard Test
✓Impact Drop Test
|
| Class C | 1 Hour | 1700º F |
✓Fire Endurance Test
✓Explosion on Hazard Test
✓Impact Drop Test
|
| Class D | 1 Hour | 1700º F |
✓Fire Endurance Test
✓Explosion on Hazard Test
✕Impact Drop Test
|
| Class E | 30 Mins | 1550º F |
✓Fire Endurance Test
✓Explosion on Hazard Test
✕Impact Drop Test
|
E.T.L Testing 
Intertek ETL is one of the Safe industry’s leading fire testing laboratories. They conduct reliability tests complying with UL-72 standards:
- 45 Minute Fire Testing: Furnace reaches 1200°F after 8 minutes and is held there.
- 90 Minute Fire Testing: Furnace reaches 1200°F after 8 minutes and is held there for the total 90 minutes.
- 120 Minute Fire Testing: Furnace reaches 1200°F after 8 minutes and is held there for 2 hours.
J.I.S & K.I.S Testing 
&
K.I.S (Korean Industrial Standards): Administers a 2 Hour Furnace Test (1850°F), an Explosion Test, and a Fire Impact Drop Test.
J.I.S (Japanese Industrial Standards): Tests for 1 or 2 hours at 1700°F followed by a 13-foot drop test onto concrete and rubble.
Sometimes manufactures administer their own fire tests. This is the most unreliable form of Fire Testing because there is no independent verification. Always read the label to see who performed the test
What Can You Protect?
A 1-hour fire-rated safe provides excellent protection for legal documents (deeds, titles, contracts), financial records, birth certificates, insurance policies, and cash. However, there is a crucial distinction to make regarding digital media.
Standard fire-rated safes protect paper documents (char point ~350°F) but may not protect digital media. Hard drives and USBs require lower interior temperatures (below 125°F). If storing electronics, look for a specialized Data/Media Safe.
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Maintenance and Installation
To ensure your fire-rated safe performs as intended, follow these best practices:
- Professional Installation: Fire safes are heavy (300 to 800+ lbs). Professional delivery ensures proper anchoring.
- Location Matters: Install safes on ground floors when possible, as falling through burning floors can compromise protection.
- Keep Seals Clean: Door seals are critical. Keep them clean and check annually for damage.
- Don't Overfill: Proper air circulation inside the safe helps maintain even temperature distribution during a fire.
We recommend using color-coded document bags inside: Red for immediate action, Blue for permanent records, and Green for financial assets.
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