Fire Safes

Every fire safe is tested in a furnace at a set temperature for a defined time (e.g. 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes), then checked to confirm the internal temperature stayed low enough to protect paper documents. Some models also carry a separate digital media rating, since hard drives and USB sticks are damaged at much lower temperatures than paper.

Fire protection and security protection are tested separately. Many fire safes carry a security rating too (shown on each product page as cash and valuables cover), but always check the rating rather than assuming — a fire safe built purely for heat resistance may have lighter locking than a dedicated security safe.

Most are supplied ready-prepared for floor fixing, and it's strongly recommended — both for security and to stop the safe being carried out of a burning building along with its contents.

Only if the model has a specific digital media fire rating, listed separately from the paper rating on the product page. Standard paper fire ratings don't guarantee protection for digital storage.