Do Small Fire Resistant Safes Really Work?

Small fireproof safes, which often fall under the category of small safes for home, are designed to protect valuable documents – passports, social security cards, photographs - jewelry, crypto passwords, hard drives, and other important items from the damaging effects of fire. But how effective are these small home safes in reality?

The Basics

Small fire resistant safes are typically constructed of thick steel walls and a fire-resistant insulating material. This insulation slows down the rate at which heat penetrates the safe, protecting the contents of the small safe. Small fireproof safes also offer varying levels of burglary protection.

Key Factors That Determine Effectiveness

• Fire Resistance Rating: This rating indicates the length of time a small fire resistant safe can withstand exposure to a specific temperature in a standardized fire test. Higher ratings generally offer greater protection. Cocono fireproof safes provide a certified 90 minutes of protection.
• Safe Contents: The nature of the items you intend to protect plays a crucial role. Paper documents are more sensitive to heat than, say, a steel figurine. Each Cocono small fireproof safe is designed to keep the interior below 177°C (350.6°F) for the full 90 minutes, which is lower than temperature at which paper chars.

How Small Fire Resistant Safes Work

• Heat Insulation: The walls of a fire resistant safe are typically constructed of two layers of steel, which sandwich a layer of insulation. The insulating material within the walls of these small safes for home acts as a barrier against heat transfer. The insulation can be constructed of a few different materials – such as fireboard, gypsum, or poured insulation. Poured insulation provides the highest level of protection from heat, and has the added benefit of increasing the heft and security of the safe.
• Heat Dissipation (poured insulation only): Some safes – including Cocono small biometric safes – contain poured insulation that releases moisture when heated to extreme temperatures. The moisture will not penetrate the interior of the safe, but instead evaporates off of the safe during a fire, the moisture released from the insulation as steam. During this process the molecules of water in the steam carry some of the heat away from the safe, thereby maintaining a lower internal temperature.

Important Considerations

• Installation: Proper placement of a small fireproof safe is crucial. To get the full benefit of the Cocono safe fire ratings, they should be anchored properly into a concrete foundation. Cocono safes come with all the necessary hardware and instructions to do so, and full installation can be completed in under an hour.
• Limitations: Even the best small fireproof safes have limitations. When considering which fireproof safe is right for you, make sure to review which specifications are right for your situation. Read our comparison of popular small fire resistant safes here.

In conclusion, small safes for home - particularly small fire resistant safes - can offer valuable protection for your important documents and valuables in the event of a fire. Make sure to choose a safe with an appropriate fire resistance rating for your specific needs and to understand the limitations of this type of protection.