Good point. I need to think more about where and how to install to optimally survive a fire.

Sturdy brand gun safes.

Made in the USA.
Supported deadbolts, no-nonsense protection for your valuables.

Watch the many videos on their web site and read the reviews.
Get the mechanical dial lock option.

I like the standard finish as pictured in this photo.

They have upgrade options regarding thickness of steel, so be sure to ask them about that.

Call them on the phone and discuss what you need. They are good people and will not only answer the phone, but take the time to help you get what you want.

https://www.sturdysafe.com/products/model-2436#specs

Thanks - never heard of Sturdy. I'll look into their offerings. I've picked AmSec over Liberty and Fort Knox. Interesting if Sturdy is a contender (product and post-sales support).

to the top just one more time. seeking feedback for final three choices - time to buy.

OP edited with summary and the 3 choices.

3, 2, 1.


The Amvault is an exceptional safe from both a burglary and fire standpoint. If you can swing the extra purchase price, it's hands down the winner of that group.

I would have to find it, but I had a customer who was keeping six figures worth of cash in one. He caught his house on fire accidentally, and lived in a rural area. This was one of the rare instances where due to him being there, and me installing the safe, knowing exactly what the safe suffered through.

It lasted well beyond its rating, and was pretty much unrecognizable as a safe once recovered. Everything stored within the safe survived with some minor damage (mostly coins in plastic cases). The cash was fine.

Without going too deeply into the woods, there's a legitimate reason that most UL listed burglary safes do not have a UL fire rating, and it has nothing to do with their ability to protect against fire.

If money and weight are not a concern, consider a Graffunder safe.

https://graffundersafes.com/pr...s/residential-safes/

I believe these are made in WA state.
I've seen one in person and they are the highest-quality safe I've personally seen.

I was going to buy one but the weight was too much for where I was going to put it.

Thanks! Appreciate your expertise.

#3 is stretching the budget. But if the premium over #2 is really justifiable, I can find a way to swing it. It's zero sum so it just means that something else will have to wait.

If not, then sounds like #2; I'll drop #1 as an option. I was leaning toward #2 over #1 anyway as I'm prioritizing fire over burglary at this point. Never had a fire nor burglary, but my primary concern is loss to fire so #2 seems to make more sense (but I'm thinking that #1 is probably sufficient for fire given my proximity to the fire stations).

Thanks!

This is what the safe looked like after the fire. The fire started in the same room as the safe which was in a walk out basement. Fire burned up and out, then the house burned into the basement.

It has been a few years, but if I recall the safe was baking in the fire and rubble combined for 4 or more hours. They ended up plowing a path to the safe with a bobcat, and then wrapped a chain around it to drag it out of the heat. This is what it looked like the next morning after allowing it to cool off so that I could get it open.



Contents look much worse in the photo than they actually were. Some black soot had combined with the steam within the safe to leave the black deposits. Nothing was burned. If you look in the lower left corner of the pic you'll see a plastic bottle of touch up paint that was completely undamaged. Everything else, short of the warped plastic coin cases was merely cosmetic.

Yowza. Great that everything inside survived!!

I think I would have favorable conditions for fire: single story; FD is 5 min away and never traffic blocked; fire hydrant street side; safe will be on street side of house (presuming first part of house to get water).

Btw, I’m looking for a file cabinet to fit inside. Least deep one I can find is 18” deep; same as safe interior which to me means no fit.

What do people generally do for organizing papers inside the safe? I was thinking hanging file holders somehow. Or just in a go bag. If file hanging, what are the options since I think small file holder won’t fit.

I looked at sentry safe offerings but they say something about not keeping certain things because if outgassing. So worried about passports and SSDs.

The owner of this safe wasn't planning his storage this way due to fire, but you'll notice that almost everything inside the safe is inside of a paper envelope. The envelopes were the only items stained. Everything within was pristine.

For anything that would be at risk from moisture (steam is created within the safe when heated), I suggest a microwave safe plastic container of some sort. This can range from a bag, to bowl with a lid, or even a vacuum sealed pouch. They also make courier bags that are resistant to heat and moisture. Armored couriers use them.

The type of safe doesn't matter. If you're using a safe that has a fire rating, and that safe performs as advertised, you're looking at interior temperatures of 350 degrees with very high humidity.

Got it. I'll plan to use plastic bags (ziplock) to protect items from stains and steam. Maybe some sort of pelican type of document container.

These heat/moisture resistant courier bags sound interesting. Is there a recommended brand? I quickly checked Prime and seem to get a bunch of chicom products.

AMSEC or Sturdy - both great choices. I have one of each. AMSEC is a bit more pleasant to the eye and the Sturdy his thicker US made steel.

I’m super happy with my Sturdy, when we build our house they will be at the top of my list when I start looking for a vault door.

I've basically decided upon the amsec ce3524 tl-15 safe. My AD suggested I also then consider a similar safe by ISM. Online, seems like a well respected brand with good ratings and good quality.

(A1abdj) Any thoughts?

ISM makes good safes, and have a long history of making the very high security units.

I have a TXTL-60 out in the shop. ISM Super Diamond. 8,500 pounds.

Thanks! So sounds like ISM is gtg. I'll discuss options, features and price more with my AD - compare ISM to the amsec ce3524.