One of the lessons we are all taught as children is not to play with fire.
Although we have learned how to harness the power of fire to improve our lives and in some cases ensure our survival it remains one of nature's reminders that we cannot control everything.
Anyone who has witnessed the speed and unpredictable nature of fire understands the need to protect property and human life in the event a fire occurs in your home or business.
For this reason it is imperative everyone take preventative measures to avoid losing important documents or property should disaster strike in your house or office.
Fortunately with advances in technology it is possible to preserve life and property with a bit of careful planning on your part.
Fire safes are available for purchase which can give home and business owners the peace of mind that their valuables are safely protected in the event of a fire.
Before purchasing a fire safe it is important to realize that not all "fire" safes are created equally and certain consideration should be given to the construction and rating of your fire safe.
Here are a few tips to ensure your valuables are really protected in the event of a fire.
Understand terminology- There are safes that are fire resistant and others that are fire proof.
Look for safes that are rated fireproof by the Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
Consider your property- Different property may require different levels of protection.
For example different items will burn at different degrees therefore you should buy your safe with a rating fit for the contents you wish to protect.
Understand grades- The rating or grade of your fire safe will determine how much heat your safe can withstand and still protect your property.
There are three UL ratings- A, B and C with A having the highest rating, capable of protecting your property for four hours with exterior temperatures reaching 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Each rating determines what level of protection your safe will provide.
When in doubt it is always better to by a higher rating versus risk losing your property.
Not always theft resistant- When determining which safe to purchase in the event of a fire, you should understand that not all fireproof safes are theft resistant.
You can purchase safes that combine the two features; look for safes that have been tested for tampering resistance if you are interested in protecting your property from theft and fire.
Water resistant- It would seem obvious that with fire there is a chance of water damage however not all fire safes are water resistant.
You do not want to protect your belongings from a fire only to have them destroyed by water from a sprinkler system or a firefighters hose.
Look for fire safes that are also water resistant to protect your valuable from all elements.
No one is safe from the dangers of fire.
Property can be destroyed by arson, mother nature (lightning or wild fires) or human error.
While there are many precautions that can be taken to limit the chances of fire, there are no guarantees that your property will never be at risk due to a fire.
To ensure documents and property that are valuable and irreplaceable are not damaged or destroyed by fire, invest in a quality fire safe.