Fire Rating Guide
Understand 30, 60, 90, and 120-minute fire ratings and what they mean for your contents.
How fire ratings are tested
Fire ratings are determined by independent labs like UL (Underwriters Laboratories). A safe is heated in a furnace to temperatures exceeding 1,700°F for the rated duration. Interior temperatures are monitored. To pass, paper documents must remain legible (below 350°F inside) and the safe must not open during the test.
30-minute fire rating
Suitable for cash, some jewelry, and items that can be replaced. Not recommended for irreplaceable documents. A 30-minute rating is the minimum fire protection available and is better than no rating at all.
60-minute fire rating
The most common choice for home safes. Protects paper documents, photos, and most valuables. Adequate for the majority of residential fires, which are typically contained or extinguished within this window.
90 and 120-minute fire ratings
Recommended for irreplaceable documents, business records, and situations where fire response times may be longer (rural areas, large buildings). 120-minute ratings offer the highest level of fire protection available in standalone safes.
Fire rating and digital media
Paper documents survive up to 350°F. But hard drives, USB drives, CDs, and film are damaged at much lower temperatures (125-150°F). If you're storing digital media, look for safes with a UL 125 data/media rating, which maintains interior temperatures below 125°F.
Related Resources
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