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The manufacturing process for all
record or fire safes, manufactured in the United States, is much the same. They
begin with a hollow welded or a hollow molded composite metal box or can, this
will be filled with a "wet" mix that looks much like concrete, they
are dried in kilns, cleaned, finished and painted. This "wet" mix is a very specialized product, when it is dried and sets up, it retains cells of
moisture within the structure. These cells of moisture, when exposed to heat,
change to steam, which is released into the interior of the container. The steam
that is released perform two main functions, it keeps the interior temperature
below 350 degrees Fahrenheit, for a prescribed time, and also provides a
pressure seal for the small openings around the door, keeping heat and flames
out. This release of steam is also why anything that will be damaged by moisture
including, stamp collections, photographs, audio & video tapes, and computer
data, should never be kept in a fire safe.
Most US manufactured record or fire
safes are "labeled" or certified to meet the test requirements of Underwriters
Laboratories.
The following is a typical test criteria; U.L.
Label/Class 350° - 1 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. Safe must
successfully undergo all other requirements for the Fire Endurance Test,
Explosion Hazard Test and the Fire/Impact Test.
Some fire safes are only
labeled with a manufacturers label, or that of some other testing facility,
whose criteria may or may not be as stringent as UL's. You should be sure to
check with your professional safe dealer, to have a full understanding of your
safe label.
Links to Fire Safe
Manufacturers
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