Gun Safe 'Fire Proof' Question

justright58

Good Day Forum,
I have often wondered if my safe is truely fire proof or if that's just a sales gimmick. I store my weaponry loaded and also keep many boxes of ammo in there as well. Someone I know had a house fire and his gun safe was supposed to be fire rated. The rounds 'cooked off' and destroyed the weapons which were stored loaded. My Liberty safe is rated for 1200 dF for 30 minutes.
Many Thanks to all responses.
John

PC800

It isn't fire PROOF, it is fire RESISTANT. For 30 minutes at 1200 degrees. After that all beats are off.

http://www.libertysafe.com/fireprotection.lasso?page=2

slinger

The rationale behind the "30 minutes @1300 degrees" or whatever, is that the fire department should arrive in that time or less to cool off the engulfed house and contents. More or less. Sometimes. YMMV

HLOUIE2

John, if the safe is UL rated for 30 min, a similar safe was filled with bank note type paper and subjected to 1200 deg F for 30 minutes. If the paper does not char it passes. There is also a significant drop test to simulate falling through a floor. Just a guess but I expect you might start having problems with primers before paper would char.

Curious about why you would keep loaded guns in a safe and ammo is typically stored in a weak container to avoid creating a bomb if you happen to have a detonation problem. Hlouie

perry shooter

Hello primers/ammo will cook off at much lower then 1200 degrees dont store with the guns

justright58

HLOUIE2... I live out in the sticks and keep 'em loaded so I can defend or eat at a moments notice. We don't have kids and the little woman is a great shot, but not so great at fiddling with bullets.
I guess I should unload all of them and just keep my .45 handy.
John

nmyers

Fire resistance ratings are relative, not absolute. Safes are tested under controlled conditions which may or may represent what they will be subjected to in a real life fire.

So, a "1 hour" rated safe may only protect the contents for 15 minutes. All you know for sure is that it is twice as effective as a "30 minute" rated safe.

The construction of your house, & the location of your safe, will have a great effect on how well its contents are protected.

Neal

PC800

quote:Originally posted by nmyers
Fire resistance ratings are relative, not absolute. Safes are tested under controlled conditions which may or may represent what they will be subjected to in a real life fire.

So, a "1 hour" rated safe may only protect the contents for 15 minutes. All you know for sure is that it is twice as effective as a "30 minute" rated safe.

The construction of your house, & the location of your safe, will have a great effect on how well its contents are protected.

Neal


That is all very true. I asked the local Fire Marshal about this (who is also an FFL) and he said the best place for a safe is on the bottom floor (so it doesn't fall through) and in the corner (so less burning stuff falls down on it) and up against a bare cement wall (so there is not burning stuff behind it).

justright58

Thanks Gentlemen for the helpful input. I have just finished unloading all weaponry and removed all ammo from there. I can't believe I've been so foolish for so many years.[B)]
John

remington nut

my buddy had a *fire resistant* safe, his townhouse caught fire and was at the other end of the basement from his safe, when the fire was out and he opened his safe, the seal on the safe was destroyed and all the o-rings on his scopes were gone, glass just rattled in the tubes. the fire was never any where near the safe, it was in his reloading room and none of his powder cans ignited either.

JimmyJack

My fire chief told me to save my money, that home fires are way too hot and if you live close enough to a fire station, so they can get their quick enough, you probably didnt need fire resistance anyway. I took his advice and bought a bigger and better safe. He said his experience looking into gun safes was that they were built mostly for safety and burglars.