Gun Safes FAQS
Are gun safes fireproof?
The word proof means able to withstand. We would say that yes, most gun safes are fireproof. Just note that there are many factors that can affect how well the gun safe performs including the duration of the fire, where the safe is located, the temperature at which the fire burns, and how long it takes the fire department to get there to put the fire out. If a fire burns hot enough and long enough, any safe can be damaged or even destroyed if it doesn’t offer the right fire protection. If you are concerned about fire protection, make sure to look for longer fire ratings, thicker steel in the door, and body and fire/smoke seals around the door.
Some gun safe manufacturers typically use a drywall type material to keep the heat from burning up the contents. The more layers, the longer the fire rating. Others use a proprietary concrete composite material. The goal is to keep the internal temperature below 350 degrees F which is the critical temperature where the paper will start to char and burn. You also don’t want your guns to be damaged either. To test the gun safe, they stick the safe in a burn chamber and heat the external temperature up to their desired temperature. They put sensors on the inside to check the internal temperature. The internal temperature should not exceed 350 degrees F for the length of time they are testing the safe. Check the fire ratings to see how long the gun safe was tested for (30 minutes, 45 minutes, 1 hour, 90 minutes, 2 hours). The longer the rating, the longer it should last in the event of a fire.