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How can you protect your valuables in a fire?

The best way to protect your valuables in a fire is to invest in a fire proof safe. There are two types of fireproof safes on the market: those for paper storage and those for data storage. Data fire safes carry a UL 125 or UL 72 rating and document storage fire safes carry a UL 350 fire rating.

An UL (Underwriter�s Laboratories) rating of 125 means that the inside of the safe will not go above 125 degrees Fahrenheit. This is close to the temperature at which computer media, which includes CD�s, DVD�s, film negatives, etc., will melt. The UL 350 test is rated for the storage of paper documents which begin to burn at 400�F.

How many hours of fire protection do you need? Generally, the average fire burns at around 800�F for about 20 minutes. The UL test for both UL 125�F and UL 350�F ratings is performed for 1 hour at 1700�F. Very rarely will a house fire burn for more than an hour in one area. So, not only is a 1 hour fireproof safe effective, it�s also less costly.A fireproof safe can be a great way to insure your valuables are safe.

Buyers Beware

When shopping around for a fire resistant safe you may notice two different labels: �UL listed� and UL Rated and Tested.� A label that reads, �tested to UL standards� means that the product was submitted to UL for testing but that the product did not pass or has not yet passed testing protocol. A product that reads �UL Listed� has passed the appropriate testing and is a reliable product. For more information on fire safes contact a reputable home safes company.