When choosing a safe or fireproof bag, you may come across terms like UL 72, UL 687, or UL 94. But what do these UL standards actually mean? This article provides a practical guide to help you understand these important certifications so you can choose the best protection for your valuables.
What is UL?
UL (Underwriters Laboratories) is a leading global safety certification organization. Its standards ensure that products meet rigorous safety, fire resistance, and security performance benchmarks.
1. UL 72 – Fire Resistance Testing for Record Protection Equipment
Scope:
UL 72 tests the fire resistance of safes, file cabinets, and vaults designed to protect documents, data media, and other records from fire damage.
Key Class Ratings:
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Class 350: Protects paper documents by keeping internal temperature below 350°F (177°C).
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Class 150: Protects magnetic tapes or film media by keeping internal temperature below 150°F (66°C) and humidity under 85%.
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Class 125: Protects electronic data storage media by keeping internal temperature below 125°F (52°C) and humidity under 80%.
Time Ratings:
Available in 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, or 4 hours, depending on how long the safe can maintain these temperatures in a fire up to 1093°C (2000°F).
Note: Fireproof bags often reference UL 94 (material flame resistance) rather than UL 72 because UL 72 is designed for rigid fire safes.
2. UL 687 – Burglary-Resistant Safes
Scope:
Tests a safe's ability to resist physical attacks by tools, torches, or explosives.
Key Ratings:
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TL-15 / TL-30: Withstands tool attacks for 15 or 30 minutes.
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TL-15X6 / TL-30X6: Same as above but for all six sides.
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TRTL-30 / TRTL-30X6: Resists tools plus torch attacks for 30 minutes (door only or all sides).
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TXTL-60X6: Highest level, resists tools, torches, and explosives for 60 minutes on all sides.
The attack time refers to “net working time,” meaning the cumulative time attackers actively apply force or tools on the safe.
3. UL 1037 – Residential Security Containers (RSC)
Scope:
Defines security levels for home safes and gun safes.
Levels:
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Level I: Resists attack by hand tools for 5 minutes.
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Level II: Resists heavier tool attacks by two people for 10 minutes.
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Level III: Resists advanced tool attacks with smaller allowed breach areas.
RSC certified safes are ideal for home use but are not equivalent to bank vault security levels.
4. UL 94 – Flammability of Plastic Materials
Scope:
Tests how quickly plastic or composite materials ignite and burn.
Key Ratings:
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V-0 / VTM-0: Material stops burning within 10 seconds with no flaming drips, indicating high flame resistance.
Fireproof bags often state UL 94 V-0 or VTM-0 certification for their silicone-coated fiberglass materials, demonstrating strong flame-retardant performance.
5. UL 608 – Vault Doors and Modular Panels
Scope:
Tests bank vault doors and modular vault panels for resistance to tool attacks.
Class Ratings:
Class M (15 minutes), Class 1 (30 minutes), Class 2 (60 minutes), Class 3 (120 minutes).
6. UL 768 & UL 2058 – Safe Lock Standards
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UL 768: Covers mechanical combination locks.
Group 2, 2M, 1, and 1R range from basic to the highest resistance against manipulation and X-ray attacks. -
UL 2058: Covers electronic high security locks. Equivalent to mechanical Group 1, including resistance to electromagnetic interference and technical attacks.
7. UL 140 – Relocking Devices
Ensures that a safe’s relocker (secondary lock) activates automatically if the main lock is attacked or removed.
8. UL 771 – Night Depositories
Applies to night deposit boxes used in banks, ensuring they resist fishing or trapping of deposited items.
Why UL Standards Matter
Choosing products with the right UL certifications ensures verified performance under fire or burglary situations, compliance with insurance requirements, and peace of mind knowing your valuables are protected.
Final Thoughts
If you are storing cash, important documents, digital media, or firearms, check the UL labels on your safe or fireproof bag. UL certifications prove that the product has passed independent, rigorous tests and can truly protect what matters most.