Fire Safes - Opinions?

malachi555

Anyone here own a fire safe? I'm near the coast in Southern Cal and am constantly worrying about humidity affecting my collection. I read with horror a post here the other day about a collectors safe having been pried open, but I can't imagine how that could be done to a fire safe due to the thickness of its walls and door. Yet, I have the humidity to deal with. I have a single pack of dessicant, but the hygrometer in the safe shows a near continual 75% humidity which is pretty scary. I thought it might be broken but it has dropped to about 40% this last week due to the dry Santa Ana winds. Anyway, I'd like to hear thoughts from Forum members here.

Cladiator

Put the stuff in the bank. Their safes are exponentially better than anything you'll be able to purchase and put in your home. Plus, I can't remember the last time I heard about a bank burning down.

ScarsdaleCoin

One of the leading experts in safes - Richard from Empire Safes will be on hand all day Sat/Sun to answer questions about safes at the show.... maybe one of the forum members attending can jot your question down, ask Richard, and post his response....

slipgate

Fire safes are useless on any kind of real house fire. They melt just like the rest of your stuff. A lot of them just have drywall built into the sides as insulation. I would not count on a safe to protect anything in the event of a fire. No safe would stand up to the CA fires!

As for your humidity problems, most safes have a small hole to install a de-humidifier.

malachi555

<< <i>One of the leading experts in safes - Richard from Empire Safes will be on hand all day Sat/Sun to answer questions about safes at the show.... maybe one of the forum members attending can jot your question down, ask Richard, and post his response.... >>



any takers?

notwilight

<< <i>Fire safes are useless on any kind of real house fire. They melt just like the rest of your stuff. >>



Have you pointed this out to UL?

notwilight

Fire safes come in many varieties. Look at the weight. If it doesn't weigh several hudred pounds, it is sheet metal and designed for fire protection only, not theft protection. Even the dual pupose safes won't stop a real pro. Safe deposit boxes and glocks are your best protection --Jerry

Tootawl

Has anyone heard of Fort Knox safes?

malachi555

<< <i>Fire safes come in many varieties. Look at the weight. If it doesn't weigh several hudred pounds, it is sheet metal and designed for fire protection only, not theft protection. Even the dual pupose safes won't stop a real pro. Safe deposit boxes and glocks are your best protection --Jerry >>



My safe weighs about 500 lbs. I saw a cross section at the dealership here in Santa Ana california. Its half-inch steel surrounding concrete interiors. The problem is many of my coins come in and out as I buy and sell. I will need to select the precious few from my collection to stick into a safe deposit box

mozin

Coin collection belong in the bank. For short term storage at home a Sentry home fire safe should handle most home fires. Fire safes are not security safes. Here is the desiccant pouch I use, even in the bank safety deposit boxes.

Drier pouches

seemyauction

Fire RESISTANT safe's are rated for at xx temp for xx time.


The higher the temp and longer the duration the more expensive the safe, and usually more weight.


If you want added protection put your valuables inside a small fire resistant container and put the container inside your fire resistant safe.....


Alan

CoinKing1969

Believe it or not I have four different kinds I use. The first is actually a walk in vault that has 12" concrete walls and roof and a 9" steel vault door, also about 200 square feet. I bought an office building that already had one and can be used a tornado shelter or even a bomb shelter. Now for the home I have a gun/fire safe that is about 6 feet tall that is just for my important numismatic items. I also use a old Sentry safe for just documents. Last I use just a Sentry fire box that is about 18" cube. I just use it for daily activities with coins next to my computer. Sounds like I am paranoid, but I just lucked up on a couple of these items.

Frankcoins

Most UL-rated fire safes should be fine for residential fires. The dissicant pouches are worthless in safes. Get a product called DAMP RID that comes in a cottage cheese size container.

malachi555

<< <i>Get a product called DAMP RID that comes in a cottage cheese size container. >>



I just looked for this on-line. For $3.99 a container, I figured its worth a try. What kind of life expectancy do you get out of a bucket?

Frankcoins

<< <i>

<< <i>Get a product called DAMP RID that comes in a cottage cheese size container. >>



I just looked for this on-line. For $3.99 a container, I figured its worth a try. What kind of life expectancy do you get out of a bucket? >>



Couple of months if you keep the water poured off. They have refills for the active ingredient. I found it at Walgreen's

BigRed

If you chose a fire proof safe aways put it at a wall next to the outside. Fires are much hotter towards the center of the house and stay hotter longer.

Barndog

good thread about safes and security

do some additional searching and you will find more threads, some of which can be educational and amusing

LanLord

<< <i>Put the stuff in the bank. Their safes are exponentially better than anything you'll be able to purchase and put in your home. Plus, I can't remember the last time I heard about a bank burning down. >>



Doggonit Rich, now don't go giving people any new ideas.

UtahCoin

The thought of losing everything has always been on my mind. I grew up in Santa Barbara and nearly got burned out twice. Now days I'm not concerned as much about wild fires as I am about house fire, theft and tornado. I've gone with a safe that weights 2400 lbs empty (ain't no one moving this puppy). Inside of that I have one of those very small fire safes (inside diameter about 9x12x4) that I keep the really irreplaceable stuff.

To get to me, you have to get passed the security guard at the gate, bypass the in home security system, the dogs, me and my guns, then find the security room, try to enter it, and open a safe with an 800 lbs door. Meanwhile, everything is being digitally recorded, monitored and saved off site. They also installed a few other little tricks that I won't go into.

Good luck!

garsmith

Fire safes are rated by how many minutes they can be in a sustained fire without damage to the contents. Most are rated 20, 40 or 60 minutes, wouldn't have helped much in the Cali fires; they are too hot and lasting too long!

ScarsdaleCoin

The thought of losing everything has always been on my mind. I grew up in Santa Barbara and nearly got burned out twice. Now days I'm not concerned as much about wild fires as I am about house fire, theft and tornado. I've gone with a safe that weights 2400 lbs empty (ain't no one moving this puppy). Inside of that I have one of those very small fire safes (inside diameter about 9x12x4) that I keep the really irreplaceable stuff.

To get to me, you have to get passed the security guard at the gate, bypass the in home security system, the dogs, me and my guns, then find the security room, try to enter it, and open a safe with an 800 lbs door. Meanwhile, everything is being digitally recorded, monitored and saved off site. They also installed a few other little tricks that I won't go into.

Good luck!


You can slow em down, but you cant stop someone that really wants in.......

123cents

Brinks makes quality fire safes.