Fireproof Security Safes to Protect Your Valuable Items

If you have decided to protect your home, then you’re probably considering some kind of home security system. Protecting your house from robbery using spy cameras, lighting or sound alarm systems is a great idea. However, even these powerful security tools will not be able to protect your most valuable data in 100% of the cases.

What if you have some documents you need to protect? Or what about jewelry or similar items? Although a spy camera can capture the burglar robbing the house, putting your most important items into a safer place would be a smart decision. And one of such great places is a safe.

What You Should Know About the Safes

There are different safes built around the world. Some are built very well, to protect the items or documents under the most extreme circumstances. Others are just crappy. It might be a good idea trying to invest into a better quality safe, because you’ll be using them to protect your valuable data in the first place, right.

One of the most important features of a safe is that it can protect your documents. Imagine that you’ve just put all your company’s documents, or personal documents, or maybe some stock papers in your office desk drawer. If burglars sneak in and within just few minutes are able to steal all your most valuable documents, along with some other items maybe, then you’ll find yourself in very uncomfortable position. Many people just go out of business completely. However, if you put all these documents into a safe, you’d have nothing to worry about.

Another great feature of a security safe is that it can be fireproof. Safes are tested before they’re released to the market. A fire safe should hold the temperature inside below 350 degrees Fahrenheit for a certain amount of time. Above that temperature, the paper starts to burn. Fireproof safes work by releasing the steam (sort of moisture) to keep the temperature low. However, that moisture could damage video tapes, CD’s or DVD’s.

In that case, there are fireproof safes that have different construction and technology used. These safes are called media fire safes. They use dry insulation to keep the temperature low. These safes can protect papers and computer data without much trouble. Of course, the price of such safe is much higher, because of more advanced technology used in them.

If you’re thinking about getting a new safe, make sure that you get what you’re paying for. Ask the company’s representatives or other qualified professionals about the safe. Let them explain what the best options for you are. You don’t want to miss when protecting your most important data, right.

If you get some cheap safe, then in case of fire, you might lose the data. Don’t keep your money in your pocket when purchasing a safe. It’s better to spend a little more, but be sure that your jewelry, documents, CD’s or money are kept safe, even in case of fire.

Dan Crane informs consumers about home security devices and techniques. If you'd like to learn more about wireless home security systems or nanny cameras, go to:
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Safes And Vaults For Your House

For precious possessions and vitally important documents, the optimal safeguard against burglary and fire is a safe-deposit box at your local bank. But most of these safe-deposit boxes are too small for bulky objects, and too inconvenient for frequently used items like financial records and computer disks. The best way to protect such articles is to store them in a safe in your residence that is burglar and/or fire resistant.

Before choosing a safe, decide whether you are concerned more about burglary or fire, since few safes protect against both. Burglary safes have thick steel bodies, combination locks, and hardened steel bolts, but papers inside may char in a fire. A fire safe has a double shell of thin sheet metal filled with insulation. Some have reinforced doors and combination locks, but thieves can crack them by peeling away the sheet metal.

Fire Safes: The insulation in fire safes actually contain up to 30 quarts of water, which is released as steam in a fire to absorb heat. The vapor filters through vents inside and outside the safe and may crumple and discolor papers, but they will remain legible and flexible enough to handle. Look for the Underwriters Laboratory (UL, or ULC in Canada) label on any fire safe before buying. It will indicate how long the unit can withstand a fire and how high the interior temperature may go.

Burglary Safes: The most secure burglary safes are UL or ULC rated models, which weigh 800 pounds or more; they are primarily designed for business use. Safes designed for the home tend to be lighter and less expensive, but they are also more vulnerable, able to withstand sledgehammers, drills and pry bars for only a few minutes. When purchasing a safe for the home, be sure the unit has a concealed hardened-steel plate to protect the lock and bolts, and bolts or steel hooks that secure the hinge side of the door.

You may want your dealer to install mounting brackets on the unit, to enable you to bolt the safe to the floor to prevent burglars from carting it away. Try to choose an inconspicuous or concealed location for the safe – beneath a stairway or behind a false electrical panel, for example. If you have a security system installed, try to protect this area with a photoelectric, infrared, or microwave motion sensor.

M Adley has over 10 years experience in the security industry and is webmaster at http://www.alarmsystemreviews.com, an unbiased resource for reviews and information about home security and security systems for the average consumer.