Fireproofing might seem unnecessary, especially when you already have a safe. Safes, despite insurance, can be destroyed during fires if they’re not fireproof. If you don’t have an extra budget to spend on purchasing expensive fireproof safes, don’t worry. You can still find a way to protect your valuables by learning how to make fireproof safe.
Fire-proofing is essential, especially when you are at an area prone to fires and other hazards. To protect your pertinent and essential documents and items, having your self-made fireproof safe can be somewhat helpful and handy.
Fireproofing your Safe
Proper fireproofing is hard to accomplish since it can be tough to account for every way in which the heat and fire can penetrate a system, especially if you have a lot of flammable materials at home. There is no guarantee of success, but general caution and keeping yourself informed can help a lot in learning how to make fireproof safe.
The first thing to do is to find a working safe to fireproof. You can purchase cheap ones, or if you already have, then you can utilize that as well. Fireproofing starts with insulating.
Insulation is vital in keeping your safe free from heat. Many people prefer to line the insulation inside the safe since it becomes easier to open the as well as to keep heat and air outside.
A few thick sheets of flame retardant insulator material you can buy from the hardware shop can serve well sitting inside your safe. Even if the exterior metal heats up, the flame retardant will still keep your valuables inside safe from the heat. Additionally, some materials can help prevent air from entering the locked safe, which comes in handy in preventing things inside from smoking up or catching fire, which can be a lifesaver when storing delicate valuables inside.
Line each surface on the inside of your safe with many layers of insulation. Make a box-shaped cavity inside the safe, ensuring that none of the contents absorb too much heat in case of fire. However, smaller safes can have trouble holding a lot of layers of insulation. Thus, it is recommended to have a medium or a big safe if this insulation layer is going to be your primary defense on how to make fireproof safe.
Other Things to Consider
Put your safe in a secure place.
A significant component of loss during fires involves structural damage that occurs as material is burned through. Structural damage may result if the fire overheats the content instead of completely burning it. Regardless of the damage, it can make things hard for safe to keep heating for a possibly long time.
Safes are often mounted on a wall or placed on the floor using wooden floorboards. It is convenient in most situations, but it betrays the purpose of safety, which should be the primary concern when dealing with safes. When fires consume walls or the flooring, safes run the risk of falling. Since they’re pretty heavy themselves, a heavy fall will be enough to make a bolt or two come loose. Especially light safes might even have an entire edge or face damage.
The hot air that can get inside the safe from the damage of the drop id enough to destroy your valuables. Things you keep inside are likely to catch fire in such a situation.
So, do keep your fireproof safe over a concrete floor. You can also hang it securely on a concrete wall while keeping all flammable materials away.
Guard your safe against rust and corrosion.
Instead of the immediate fire, rust and corrosion can contribute a good part when the safe is damaged in a fire. Corroded edges, welds, and faces of a safe become its weakest points. A fire will only magnify those weak spots and make them more susceptive to impact or to bend.
Corrosion can occur if there is moisture leaking into the safe. It may be a leaking pipe in the bathroom or a roof seeping in water from the recent thunderstorm. Another cause of corrosion is dust. It might not stand against a sweeping cloth or duster, but if left unattended, it can cause corrosion without you noticing it. With a lot of dust sitting for a long time, metal tends to lose its sheen and become bumpy, and it may even lose some strength. This might not be a bother with a strong safe, but if you prefer to learn how to make fireproof safe, this is another thing to watch out for.
Get your fireproof safe a decent paint job. Having a good maintenance routine can spare you the hassles, and this gives your safe more durability, and the ability to last for a long time.
Conclusion
Fires can cause a lot of damage to your home. Your most prized possessions become the most vulnerable ones. To prevent any loss, having a fireproof safe is something you need to consider purchasing. This will keep your valuables safe even in the event of a fire hazard. Learning how to make fireproof safe can help you utilize the ones you already have while avoiding spending extra cash on buying a new and bank-breaking fireproof safe. Here’s how to learn more about Hidden Safes.