FIRE RATINGS EXPLAINED

When it comes to fire protection nobody does it better than Gun Safe Depot! We offer high security safes that earned the stringent Underwriters Laboratories UL half-hr., 1 hr. and 2 hr. fire endurance classifications and have tested and certified a 30 min., 45 min., 60 min., 90 min., and 120 min. series gun safes with Intertek ETL, the industry’s leading independent laboratory for gun safe fire testing. When comparing fire ratings it is important to understand the following:

Be sure to weigh reports from independent laboratories against unverified factory testing.

Consumers looking for real fire protection should consider a safe that has been tested and certified by either Underwriters Laboratories (UL ) or Intertek Laboratories (ETL).

Verify the fire curve. Did the furnace hold its specified temperature early on in the test or ramp up near the end? A true 2-hr. fire test should show that within 8 minutes, the furnace temperature was raised to 1200° F, and that temperature was maintained for the remainder of the two-hour test.

What type of door seals does the product offer? The best seal is a Palusol™ door seal that expands to 7 times its size when temperatures reach 212 degrees, sealing off both heat and smoke. Some top end products use dual seals utilizing a silicone seal as first defense protecting the safe until the Palusol™ seal performs its task.

Key insights + statistics

In a five-year period, house fires caused 2,620 deaths and $6.9 billion in property damage (NFPA).
In 2018, the national average was 2.5 civilian fire deaths and 9.8 injuries per 1,000 fires (NFDR).
The top three causes of fires in homes are cooking, heating equipment, and electrical malfunction (FEMA).
It can take just 30 seconds for a small flame to turn into a major blaze (Department of Homeland Security).
An average of 358,500 homes experience a structural fire each year (NFPA).
More than 3,000 Americans die in fires each year (FEMA).
Every day, at least one child dies from a fire inside the home (Stanford Children’s Hospital).

The Best: Fire safes that are constructed with inner and outer steel plates enclosing a poured fire insulating material creating a seamless fire barrier. These safes offer superior fire protection and have been tested by either Underwriters Laboratories (UL rating) or Intertek (ETL).

Better: Fire safes are constructed with 2 to 4 assorted layers of gypsum board positioned throughout the interior body and door. These safes should be tested and verified by Intertek (ETL).

Good: Fire safes are constructed with 1 to 2 assorted layers of gypsum board positioned throughout the interior body and door. They typically offer a manufacturer's independent fire rating.

HOUR AND TWO HOUR FIRE LABELS

U.L. Label/Class 350°F-one hour and Class 350°F-two hour. The safe will maintain an interior temperature less than 350°F when exposed to fire for a period of one hour at 1700°F or for a period of two hours at 1850°F. Safe must successfully undergo all other requirements for the Fire Endurance Test, Explosion Hazard Test and the Fire/Impact Test as stated below.

U.L. Class 350 1 Hour U.L. Class 350 2 Hour

FIRE ENDURANCE TEST

Fire Endurance TextAfter heat sensors and paper are placed inside the safe, the unit is locked and exposed to a uniformly distributed fire. The furnace is regulated to reach a maximum temperature of 1700°F for a period of one hour, or 1850°F for two hours, then allowed to cool without opening the furnace. The interior temperature is recorded throughout the test and during the cooling period until a definite drop is shown and must never exceed 350°F.

Once cooled, the unit is opened and examined for usability. The units locking mechanisms and parts fastenings are examined for security and the interior examined for visible evidence of undue heat transmission.

EXPLOSION HAZARD TEST

Explosion Hazard Test. The safe is locked and placed into a furnace preheated to 2000°F. This temperature is maintained for 30 minutes (2 hour test is 45 minutes) and if no explosion results, the unit is allowed to cool without opening the furnace doors. Once cooled, the unit is opened and examined for usability. The units locking mechanisms and parts fastenings are examined for security and the interior examined for visible evidence of undue heat transmission.

FIRE IMPACT TEST (MANUFACTURER’S OPTION)

Fire Impact Test. After the explosion hazard test, the safe is removed from the furnace and within two minutes is dropped 30’ onto a riprap of brick on a heavy concrete base. After impact, the unit is examined for deformation, rupture of parts, damaged insulation and any other openings into the interior of the unit. Once cooled, the unit is inverted and reheated to 1550°F for a period of 30 min. (2 hour test: 45 min. at 1638°F).