It’s easy to be misled if you’re unfamiliar with the details behind a safe’s fire rating. Many products may label themselves as "fireproof," but there’s a world of difference between fire resistance at 600°F for just 10 minutes versus protection at 1850°F for two full hours. Familiarizing yourself with UL and ETL standards can help you make informed choices, ensuring your valuables remain safeguarded.

Importance of Certified Fire Protection

Not all safes that boast "fireproof" or "fire-protected" labels are created equal, which is precisely why standards exist. Organizations like UL and ETL rigorously test and certify these claims, providing consumers with reliable and consistent assurance about the products they invest in.

UL Certification: UL, or Underwriters Laboratories, is a globally respected, independent, nonprofit organization with over a century of experience in testing consumer, commercial, and industrial products. UL-certified safes adhere to some of the most rigorous standards available, offering peak fire protection by enduring high temperatures over extended timeframes.

ETL Verification: Intertek’s ETL mark offers manufacturers a verified product label for meeting their own specific claims, especially useful in areas without a universal standard, like water testing. ETL verification is a trusted marker that manufacturers meet or exceed their specified claims.

Why Fire Ratings Matter and What They Mean Fire ratings are primarily determined by two key elements: duration and temperature resistance.

During a Fire Endurance Test, items like paper are placed inside the safe, and the temperature outside the safe is rapidly increased, sometimes reaching as high as 1850°F to mimic real-life fire conditions. For the highest UL fire rating, a safe’s internal temperature must not exceed 350°F for the duration of the designated test. Depending on the certification level, both time and temperature conditions will vary.

If you’re storing digital media, be sure to look for a safe with specific protection against high heat to preserve data, as digital media can be especially susceptible to fire damage.

Fire Protection Involves More Than Just Heat Resistance

Fire is often the primary concern, but residual effects, such as structural impacts and explosions, can also threaten the security of your valuables. For example, a safe located on an upper floor might fall through a weakened floor if the building structure becomes compromised. Fire-rated safes also undergo impact and explosion tests as part of UL testing.

UL Impact Resistance Testing: During this test, the safe is heated to the same extreme temperatures as in the Fire Endurance Test and then dropped from 15 feet. To pass UL’s standards, the safe must withstand the impact without compromising its contents.

UL Explosion Hazard Testing: In extreme heat, rapid air expansion inside a safe can threaten its structural integrity. In UL’s Explosion Hazard Test, the safe is heated to 2000°F and maintained at this temperature for a specific period to ensure it can withstand sudden temperature spikes without failing.

Remember to Check for Water Protection

When thinking of waterproof safes, flooding often comes to mind. However, during a fire, water from sprinkler systems or fire hoses can be equally damaging if a safe lacks water resistance.

Although no official standards for water protection exist, ETL certification is an excellent choice to verify these claims. ETL performs thorough tests on a safe’s water resistance to ensure it can withstand submersion and other forms of water exposure, giving you peace of mind that your belongings will survive even post-fire water exposure.

By understanding these fire and water ratings, you’ll be able to make a more informed choice that keeps your valuables as protected as possible from the varied risks they might face. To learn more about how to choose a safe that best meets your needs, including fire safes, fire files, fire chests, and fire bags, visit rolowaysafe.com