Fire Resistant

I was looking at some fire resistant bags/safes/envelopes for protecting documents and stuff.



I have done some research before when I purchased a fire safe. I know you need something with a fairly high fire rating and protection time. I have seen up to 3000 degrees and up to 1 hour. I'm not sure if I seen both a 3k and 1 hr combination. I even watched some Videos of a few safes failing to do what people assumed they would.

I had some new questions, usually I can find some good information online, but I cant seem to find enough information on fire proof document bags and envelopes(just the safes), other than some general stuff about ratings, the price, $75 to $150 for bags and $7 to $35 for envelopes. Perhaps someone can find some information I missed or someone has some knowledge about this stuff.

I was wondering what happens if you use two envelopes for one item? Or putting a FP envelope in a fire bag? I wouldn't think that it would/could give you double the protection, for all I know it may have the opposite affect somehow. I kinda doubt that, but its better safe than sorry. Perhaps it adds 10% or 20% extra protection? Perhaps it doesn't matter either way? Maybe two FP envelopes won't give any extra protection, but an envelope in a FP bag will add something extra?

I'm not really interested in to much information about the safes I think I have enough about the safes What about putting FP envelopes in a FP safe?

Anyone???

My only contribution will be to warn you against putting anything of value with staples in either a fireproof bag or safe without proper dehumanization.
A $500,000 comic developed rusty staples that migrated onto the paper and reduced the books value to about $100,000.

Quote: AxelWolf

Anyone???

I looked into this also but got about as far as you did.
I was thinking of a fireproof box inside a fireproof safe,but I don't know if that will work.

Quote: billryan

... without proper dehumanization.

As in fingerprints, or did you mean dehumidification?

I just rely on a fireproof safe. If I had something I thought needed more protection and was worth it, I would have it in a vault at a bank.

Yes, damn auto correct

Quote: AxelWolf

What about putting FP envelopes in a FP safe?

Wish I kept my contacts, but I retired some time ago. I'm reasonably sure the SECURITY MANAGER in a military type organization could quickly help you, as they deal with the situation you've described. Or the COMSEC (Communications Security) person in charge.

HTH even a little bit. . . Hope you find what you need, perhaps a friend who has a friend in the military . . . I

My concern would be the difference between "fire resistant" and "fireproof". I think it may be the similar to "water resistant" and "waterproof" when describing wristwatches.

What is the goal of the fire security? Preserve the documents in pristine condition even if the structure around it is destroyed (ala 9/11), or is it to preserve them from turning completely to ash if the house catches on fire, and the fire department puts it out in half an hour? If the former, I don't think you could do it on your own unless you have access to a former salt mine. If the latter, putting the document in two ziploc freezer bags and sticking it on the middle shelf of your freezer should be fine.

Ayecarumba,

I think you're analogy is correct. Most fire resistant products are rated to handle temperatures up to a certain degree. Doesn't mean it's not cooking, it just can handle the heat up to a certain point and keep most common items inside from being damaged.

Putting your documents in your freezer while the freezer is melting is not a good idea. Aside from the moisture in the freezer, or the thawing from the heat, you're probably better off in one of those fire resistant or fire proof safes.

When I think of fireproof, I think of systems that are far more expensive or something designed not to catch on fire. If you are worried about accidentally leaving a pot of the stove or something, get a bank safe.