FAQ - Lock It Up Safe

A. You should wait until you can comfortably rest your hand on the product before you try opening it after the fire. Spontaneous combustion is a concern, and if the product is opened before it has had a chance to naturally cool down, the hot records could ignite when exposed to fresh air. Artificially cooling the outside by pouring water on the product will shorten the cool down period, but may give a false impression of how cool the insides are, so be careful!

Q. Are these products theft or security rated?

A. Fire resistant products generally use relatively light weight steel to reduce heat transference, which in turn prevents the products from attaining a security rating. No matter what type of lock is used, the products can be broken into. Security locks are useful if you want to prevent someone from breaking into your file or safe without leaving obvious physical proof. Generally speaking, the lock on an insulated product is to keep honest people honest and stupid people out. Safes that carry both fire and security ratings are called "composite safes" and are available in the market. Their UL fire protection will be labeled just like a regular insulated file or safe, but the composite safe will also carry a UL security classification. UL rated safes that carry the RSC label offer protection from tool attacks against the door of the safe for five minutes. Safes that carry the TL-15 and TL-30 classification offer protection from tool attacks against the safe's door for 15 or 30 minutes, respectively. Safes rated TLTR-15 or TLTR-30 offer protection from tool and torch attacks against the door for 15 or 30 minutes, respectively. Safes that are rated TLTRX6-15 or TLTRX6-30 offer protection from tool and torch attacks against any part of the safe for either 15 or 30 minutes. Of course, the price increases with the protection level. If you are not sure what level you need, ask your safe dealer or insurance company for a security assessment.

Q. What is a hinge side bolt?

A. A hinge side bolt is a stationary bolt on the inside of the safe that acts as an inside hinge. This is done in case someone was to cut off the hinges in attempt to steal the contents of your safe. This is a very important feature to look for when purchasing a safe.

Q. What good is a product that is rated Class 350 or Class 125? Fires get much hotter than 350°F or 125°F.

A. The UL class rating signifies the maximum internal temperature allowed during the fire test. Depending on the length of the UL fire test, the external heat to which the product is subjected will range from 1550°F to 2000°F; yet the internal temperatures cannot exceed 350°F or 125°F- for paper or computer media, respectively.

Q. Is a one hour fire safe good enough?

A. The average fire burns near 850°F. As the fire moves throughout the building, it's intensity changes as flammable objects start to burn. Fires burn on average about 20 minutes in any location. This intense burn is equal to the burning part of the UL testing phase. After the flammable items are burnt in the fire the temperature decreases, leaving things inside the fire to soak up the radiating heat. This area of the fire is similar to the cooling part of the UL testing phase. Depending on the safe that is being tested, the cooling phase of the test can last as long as 15-25 hours, in which the internal temperature and humidity levels will not exceed the standards set forth by the testing. Most products that fail the UL test fail during this cool down period. Remember, a one-hour rating means the safe will also withstand the cooling process.

Q. Why should I buy a document protection safe?

A. Though fire insurance is available, a lot of people who suffer fires found out the hard way that insurance will only pay for losses that can be documented. If your records are lost, you must still be able to prove to the insurance company exactly what you lost and what it was worth before they will pay out. People have also found out that some items can never be totally restored or replaced, even if the insurance company pays. Contracts, personnel files, blueprints, vendor documents, client documents, accounts receivable and payable... Can you afford to lose these important irreplaceable things? More importantly your personal belongings like passports, tax documents, wedding and divorce papers, birth certificates, baby pictures, living will, and personal treasures should all be well secured at your home.

Q. Why do I need a special product for computer media? Don't fire files and safes protect everything?

A. Fire files and safes are available with different ratings, because paper and media require different forms of protection. During a fire, paper is more durable than media and can tolerate heat up to 420°F before igniting. However, paper will dry out and become brittle when exposed to heat. So, the paper rated file or safe is designed to release a little steam inside to combat the heat's drying effect when the internal temperature nears 300°F. Media such as diskettes, CDs, and tapes cannot tolerate either the higher temperature or the humidity levels found in the paper rated products. They must be stored in an environment that will stay below 125°F and 80% humidity in order to be protected.

Q. Does the insulation ever lose its effectiveness?

A. Some insulation loses its effectiveness over time. All insulation designated as "wet", "oven-baked" or "oven-dried" loses its free-floating moisture over time, thereby compromising its fire-resistant capabilities.

Q. Are these products really fire proof?

A. The actual UL classification is for fire resistance. No product on the market has been tested and proven to withstand against every possible fire, so UL (or other consumer rating bureau) will only issue ratings based on a product's proven ability to resist fires of specific temperatures and lengths of time.

Q. Do I need an installation service?

A. Installation is a service provided by a third party safe installer or locksmith. It is typically required for safes that are over 600 lbs, or if you are unable to install it yourself. Most of our safes are very easy to install and come with instructions, but if you need assistance please do not hesitate to ask us for our expert advise.

Q. Why would I need a fireproof filing cabinet?

A. Everyday metal files may not burn, but they will directly conduct the fire's heat inside, where your records will ignite and burn. In a sense, your metal files become incinerators.

Q. Are fire proof safes/files also waterproof?

A. UL does not test for water resistance. Before being in a fire, all insulated products are not tightly sealed. If they are submerged in water, water will seep inside. After the insulated product is exposed to heat, the insulation expands, forcing all joints to tightly seal and in result keeps the water out.

Q. Is the safe reusable if forced open?

A. If the safe is damaged during a forced break-in it will be rendered not good for use anymore and will need to be replaced. These safes are hard to open and require a professional locksmith if necessary to open.

Q. Can I reuse the insulated product after a fire?

A. Once the safe or file has been in a fire, the insulation loses its protectiveness. There is not a way to reinsulate the product, and it should be thrown away.

Q. How much are the shipping charges?

A. If you are located in the contiguous USA, than shipping is FREE on all safes. Please call or email for information on shipping to Hawaii, Alaska or outside the US.

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