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Why You Need a Fireproof Document Safe in Your Office

A fireproof document safe will keep important documents safe in the case of fire, flood, or theft. This is a very important item to own because if you don't take preventative measures now, you could find yourself in a dire situation, unable to replace your most valuable items.

By Morgan E. WestlingPublished 5 years ago 5 min read
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Having a fireproof document safe in your office is a great way to protect your valuables and important documents. There are many reasons why having a fireproof safe is a great idea, and there are also many features you’re going to want to secure when picking out the best option. A secure safe is going to have an excellent lock, fire and waterproof capabilities, and will be either large enough or portable depending on your specific needs. Let’s consider some of the main reasons why a fireproof document safe is a great buy, what features to look for, and some recommendations for possibly one of the most important purchases you could think to make.

For When Disaster Strikes

Obviously, one of the main reasons people choose to keep a fireproof document safe in their office is because you never know when disaster might strike. You cannot risk your most valuable items being lost or destroyed. Investing in a secure safe will give you peace of mind from any disaster that might occur, because although there are plenty of material items to lose, these irreplaceable items will be as protected as possible.

In Case of Theft

Another reason for getting fire safes (and gun safes for that matter) is because of theft. If a thief were to ever break into your office when you weren't there, a secure safe is not something they are going to mess with, especially if your fireproof document safe has a solid locking mechanism. On the other hand, if you have your employee information, tax documents, and other important documents lying around, these are things a thief may be able to capitalize on if they were to grab them and go.

In Case of Fire

Many heavy duty safes will claim they are fireproof, but that is not always the case. When looking at the details, make sure you find a safe that can withstand the heat of 1550 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 30 minutes. This is an optimal amount of time because by that time, emergency services should be well on their way to putting out the fire raving the office. A safe with this fireproof capability will keep your documents safe through the worst of disasters.

Water Resistant

Your safe will need to be water resistant if you want to rest assured that it can withstand any flood, hurricane, or other disaster that may come unexpectedly. You’ll want to look for safes that can withstand water submersion for up to 72 hours. That way, if your safe were to be in flood water where you could not access it, your documents would remain dry inside until the water were to subside or someone was able to retrieve it.

Locking Mechanisms

There are a variety of different locking mechanisms to choose from when deciding on a fireproof document safe. You may want to consider a digital lock if you’re thinking about having access to documents quickly, in case of an emergency or for ease of access. You can also buy safes with a key lock or a combination lock. Key locks may make you feel at peace knowing you’ll be the only one in possession of the key. The safe’s locking mechanism is a matter of preference, but should be carefully considered.

You’ll want to make sure to keep in mind all of your most important documents to store in your safe. Some of the most common documents that people choose to protect include passports, home owner certificates, car titles, living wills, birth certificates, social security cards, emergency cash, expensive jewelry, and any other items you find extremely valuable. In the workplace, this can range from the social security numbers of employees to investor's personal and financial information.

Digital Media to Store

Keep in mind that it may be a good idea to also store digital media in your fireproof document safe as a backup. Flash drive features and designs allow you to store a safe that is full of much more stuff than could actually fit in the box itself, such as photos, documents, and any other valuables that might be saved on one or more computers in the office.

We’ve included some recommendations for fireproof document safes, which will give you all of the key qualities you need, including fire and water resistance, and more. This specific safe by SentrySafe is a bestseller on Amazon. It is big enough to hold all of your most important documents, but it is also small enough to remain portable in the event you need to travel with jewelry-sized items (like flash drives!) and other valuables. This safe’s locking mechanism is a key lock, so you can rest assured that you are the only one able to open it. It is fireproof in temperatures of 1550 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 30 minutes, and it is waterproof when submerged for up to 72 hours. This is a great choice for protecting your most valuable items.

This is another option by SentrySafe, which is a little larger and includes hanging file folders so that your documents will be well organized inside your safe. While this box is larger, it is still a portable size, and can be moved around the office if necessary. Again, this safe’s locking mechanism is a key lock, and it is fire and waterproof for optimal heat and time limits.

This fire resistant safe by AmazonBasics is a more sturdy and stable safe. It comes with a combination lock, which is great for fast entry whenever necessary, and is large enough to hold multiple documents and items. It even has a shelf inside of it to help you stay better organized when working. This safe will be fire resistant for 20 minutes at temperatures up to 1200 degrees Fahrenheit, and it also has a one year warranty.

A fireproof document safe is an essential item in every office because you never know when disaster will occur. It’s much better to take preventative measures than to be sorry later when you lose things that cannot be replaced. Remember when purchasing a safe to look for all of the key features, so that you get the best value and protection out of your choice. We hope your safe is never truly needed, but it sure is nice to have one just in case!

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About the Creator

Morgan E. Westling

Avid Reader, Freelance Writer/Editor, and Lifestyle Blogger

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