Using a fire safe to protect your documents and valuable is smart. Most fire safes on the market can protect documents up to 1,550 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. Documents may still receive some damage from the heat. If the fire goes out within 30 minutes, the items have a better chance of survival.
When a fire occurs
Homeowners are not allowed to re-enter their homes until the Fire Department determines that it is safe to do so. That means that you won’t be able to retrieve a fire safe right after the fire has occurred. The priority during and immediately after a fire is putting out the fire and checking you and your family for injuries.
At some point, you will be permitted to re-enter the home. Your insurance company should have a list of all your belongings in your home. These items can be retrieved once the Fire Department allows it.
The importance of a fire safe
Your important documents, such as birth certificates and social security cards, should be stored in a fire safe. Authorized copies of these documents can also be stored in secure locations like a bank deposit box. Other documents can be ordered on request. Of course, the goal is to preserve the originals as much as possible. This is why a fire safe is an important move.
Electronics require a special safe. Because electronics can melt or combust at a temperature lower than 1,550 Fahrenheit, storing electronics inside of fire-resistant electronics safes is the way to go. These safes protect electronics and digital media from fire damage for at least 30 minutes.
Fire safes are also used to store memories. People place their photo albums and mementos in fire safes to protect them in case of a fire. From important documents to family heirlooms, fire safe boxes provide some peace of mind in the event of a fire.
If you want to retrieve a fire safe after a fire, you must first clear whether it is safe for you to re-enter the house or not. Your restoration team may also be allowed to retrieve the fire safe for you with your permission. You can be relieved that your documents were spared or experienced minimal damage from the fire.
