Document/Paper Protector for Inside a Gun Safe

September 30, 2017, 12:17 AM

LS1 GTO

All,

I have a better safe (1,200 degrees @ 90 minutes?) However some who goes by H.G. Wells once told me paper burns at 451 Fahrenheit which means paper (like cash) could become useless after a fire.

Are there options or solutions for an insulated document box for use inside a safe?

September 30, 2017, 01:31 AM

jimmy123x

Those sentry fire safes would give you an added level of protection and insulation. They suck as a safe, but are pretty decent in their fire protection properties.

September 30, 2017, 02:09 AM

MWills

Pretty sure that it was Ray Bradbury who wrote fahrenheit 451. I'm no expert on safes but if your safe can withstand exposure to 1200 degrees for 90 minutes without any heat damage to your guns your paper money and documents should be good for that too. For more protection you might try one of those insulated lock boxes stored inside your gun safe.

September 30, 2017, 06:09 AM

JohnDFW

quote:
Originally posted by jimmy123x:
Those sentry fire safes would give you an added level of protection and insulation. They suck as a safe, but are pretty decent in their fire protection properties.

This is what I did. I hope I never have to find out well it works. But I feel better with the added protection.

September 30, 2017, 06:33 AM

mark60

I put cash, passports, etc in ziplock bags inside a sentry safe, in the bottom of my gunsafe. I figured I'd have extra fire protection along with protection from water damage.

September 30, 2017, 06:57 AM

prairieviper

I use a Liberty Cool Pocket for my documents which is at the bottom of the safe, attached to the door.

http://www.libertysafe.com/acc...ket-ps-15-pg-62.html

September 30, 2017, 08:46 AM

chongosuerte

Stuck in the middle of a thick book.

Knowing what one is talking about is widely admired but not strictly required here.

Although sometimes distracting, there is often a certain entertainment value to this easy standard.
-JALLEN

"All I need is a WAR ON DRUGS reference and I got myself a police thread BINGO." -jljones

September 30, 2017, 08:57 AM

SIG4EVA

I have a fireproof/water proof safe inside my safe.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...ilpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

September 30, 2017, 09:10 AM

a1abdj

The biggest problem with the majority of gun safes is that they will not perform as advertised. Do not believe that the "rating" the manufacturer has printed on a sticker is anywhere close to reality.

There are exceptions, but the vast majority of gun safes are insulated with gypsum board and have no interior support. That gypsum board is full of seams and gaps. Once exposed to heat it will bake out, crumble, and fall within the safe. The door frames are not designed to prevent heat from traveling into the safe. The thin construction will not hold up well as the safe begins to deform.

If you're going to use an insert inside of a gun safe (which is a great idea by the way), make sure it is one that is designed and properly rated as a free standing unit.

Any time you see photos of gun safes that "survived" a fire, there is usually more to the story than the safe being a great fire safe.

September 30, 2017, 11:06 AM

Strambo

I have a Sentry fire box inside my gun "safe".

I adjust large insurance claims for a living. If the room your gun safe is in, is a total burn, everything inside is going to be a gonner. Saw this 2 weeks ago including a $5500 Christiansen Arms custom rifle w/ carbon fiber barrel. I don't know if docs inside a firebox inside would have made it...but this particular fire was way hotter than normal, this whole room was wood (floor, wall paneling, ceiling).

Good news is that homes rarely burn to the ground like that, I only see a couple of those per year. Most often the interior gets pretty hot then put out. In these cases, the gun safe is intact, but all the guns inside are smoked so it is a question of detailed disassembly, cleaning and inspection. In the vast majority of fires, docs inside another fire box would be just fine.

September 30, 2017, 11:31 AM

LS1 GTO

quote:
Originally posted by MWills:
Pretty sure that it was Ray Bradbury who wrote fahrenheit 451.

Well i was having a beer with Mr Wells tomorrow night and he told me otherwise.

September 30, 2017, 11:35 AM

LS1 GTO

quote:
Originally posted by a1abdj:
The biggest problem with the majority of gun safes is that they will not perform as advertised. Do not believe that the "rating" the manufacturer has printed on a sticker is anywhere close to reality.

There are exceptions, but the vast majority of gun safes are insulated with gypsum board and have no interior support. That gypsum board is full of seams and gaps. Once exposed to heat it will bake out, crumble, and fall within the safe. The door frames are not designed to prevent heat from traveling into the safe. The thin construction will not hold up well as the safe begins to deform.

If you're going to use an insert inside of a gun safe (which is a great idea by the way), make sure it is one that is designed and properly rated as a free standing unit.

Any time you see photos of gun safes that "survived" a fire, there is usually more to the story than the safe being a great fire safe.

Thanks. Originally the safe was backed up to an exterior wall (master bedroom) and i figured it was GTG then i remarried and the safe was moved to the house's centerline and nearer to the middle.

September 30, 2017, 12:17 PM

Lord Vaalic

quote:
Originally posted by prairieviper:
I use a Liberty Cool Pocket for my documents which is at the bottom of the safe, attached to the door.

http://www.libertysafe.com/acc...ket-ps-15-pg-62.html

Thats pretty cool, (pun not really intended but why not) thanks for the link.

September 30, 2017, 05:30 PM

StorminNormin

quote:
Originally posted by JohnDFW:
quote:
Originally posted by jimmy123x:
Those sentry fire safes would give you an added level of protection and insulation. They suck as a safe, but are pretty decent in their fire protection properties.

This is what I did. I hope I never have to find out well it works. But I feel better with the added protection.

I did this as well. All important documents are inside a sentry fire chest inside of my gun safe.

September 30, 2017, 05:33 PM

LS1 GTO

quote:
Originally posted by prairieviper:
I use a Liberty Cool Pocket for my documents which is at the bottom of the safe, attached to the door.

http://www.libertysafe.com/acc...ket-ps-15-pg-62.html

That is near exact what I saw in my head when asking the question.

Thank you!!