Most safe buyers are driven by two things: theft protection and fire protection. While burglary is often top of mind, fire is far more likely to destroy irreplaceable items—and it happens fast. In just a few minutes, a fire can engulf a room, reaching temperatures that destroy paper, photos, electronics, and heirlooms if they're not properly protected.
| Fire Material | Used In | Strengths | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Density Concrete | American Security RF, RFX, CE, CF. ISM - ALL | Seamless insulation, best fire performance | Expensive and very heavy |
| Fire Clay | American Security BF, BFS & UL Series | Excellent thermal barrier. Long Lasting. No moisture problems. | Dense and heavy. Expensive |
| DryLight (concrete composite) | American Security BF, BFII | Seamless insulation, UL-rated, high-performance | Relatively heavy and expensive compared to other brands. |
| Fireboard (layered gypsum) | All Liberty and Rhino Safes & Vault Doors. American Security SF,TF,NF | Lightweight, affordable, commonly used | Varies in effectiveness by number of layers |
| Ceramic Wool/Ceramic Blanket | Various niche safes | Good, but better options available. | Expensive, needs to be combined with other fire protection materials. |
At The SafeMarket, we evaluate all safes with a critical eye and honest experience. We work with multiple brands because no one safe is right for everyone. And we take the time to understand:
Answers to Your Top Questions About Fire Ratings and Fireproof Safes
A 60-minute fire rating means the safe was tested to keep its interior temperature below 350°F for at least one hour when exposed to temperatures around 1200°F. This threshold is important because it's the point at which paper starts to burn.
But keep in mind—not all 60-minute ratings are equal. Safes tested by independent labs like UL (Underwriters Laboratories) or ETL offer greater peace of mind than those tested in-house by manufacturers.
No. Despite the marketing language, no safe is truly fireproof—only fire-resistant. Fire-rated safes are designed to resist heat for a limited amount of time before the internal temperature becomes too high for the contents to survive.
The best fireproof safe for your home depends on what you need to protect:
Always check for independent testing and full insulation coverage, especially around the door.
These UL classes indicate the maximum interior temperature allowed during testing:
If you're storing electronics, family photos, or digital records, a UL class 125 or 150 safe is recommended.
Fire ratings are typically determined by exposing a safe to high temperatures (usually 1200°F to 1700°F) and measuring how long it takes for the interior to reach 350°F.
Only safes with ETL/Intertek certification have been verified by a third party.
It depends on what you're storing—and how replaceable those items are.
Yes. Standard fire safes are designed for paper—but digital media is much more sensitive to heat.
To protect things like:
...you'll need a Class 125 or Class 150 media safe, which keeps internal temperatures below 150°F.
Yes—UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and ETL certifications are the gold standards for safe testing. They guarantee your safe was independently tested to meet strict fire endurance requirements. Safes without third-party testing may not perform as expected in a real fire.
Look for labels like:
A fire safe is designed to resist heat and protect your valuables from temperature damage. A burglary safe is built to prevent unauthorized access with thicker steel, stronger locks, and pry resistance.
For full protection, look for composite safes or models that carry both a UL fire rating and a UL RSC burglary rating.
