Home fires and burglariescan be devastating. Homeownerscan lose everything, including the documents they will need to recover from their house fire or burglary. Insurance documents, property and vehicle titles, birth certificates, and passports all gone. Some homeowners may have only a home safe, but they really needa burglary and fire safe.
We, at A-1 Locksmith, can help you protect your valuables and important documents. We sell some of the best safes in America made by 3 outstanding companies. Let’s compare safes across these companies to help you find a safe that meets your needs. The chart below compares at a glance the safes we sell. #1 is the highest value. Generally, the thicker the dimension the better. However, each manufacturer may have a proprietary construction technique that makes comparison more challenging
Fire
- Underwriters Laboratory (UL) 1–hour fire label. This means the interior of the safe will not exceed 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 1 hour during a 1,700oF fire.
- Proprietary blend fire clay and steel nuggets wall components
- Dual heat-expanding intumescent seal
Security
- UL Residential Security Container (RSC) Burglary label
- UL listed Group II lock
- ½ inch steel door plate
- Three 1–inch diameter locking bolts
- Spring loaded relocker
- ¼ inch carburized hardplate
- Full length dead bar
- 3-½ inch Door
- 2-½ inch walls (same fire-resistant construction also offers excellent burglary protection)
Reliability
- Excellent reviews
Price
- Higher end, but “You get what you pay for” when buying a safe. Very high–quality safes
CSC Series
Fire
- 2–hour fire protection, but different method than BF Series. Manufacturer (not UL) rated
- Best performer on ground floor installations
- Tested at temperatures up to 1700°F
- Heat expandable intumescent door seal
Security
- UL RSC Burglary rating
- Proprietary fire–resistant material between 12–gauge steel layers in door and walls
- Tempered glass relocker
- Two to three 1½ inch diameter solid steel dead bolts
- UL Listed Group II combination lock
- Spy-proof dial
- Optional electronic lock available
Reliability
- Similar to the BF Series
Price
- Less expensive than BF Series
GARDALL
UL 2-Hour Fire/UL Burglary
Fire
- UL 2-hour fire label
Security
- UL RSC burglary label
- UL listed Group II lock
- 4 ¼ inch door with recessed anti-pry design
- 2 ½ inch walls
- Five 1–inch diameter bolts that lock in 3 directions
- Independent re-locker and hardplate
Reliability
- Excellent reviews
Price
- Higher end pricing
UL One-Hour Fire/UL Burglary
Fire
- 1–hour UL fire label
Security
- UL RSC Burglary Label
- UL Group II combination (S&G) lock
- 1 ¼ inch chrome plated locking bolts
- Independent glass re-locking system
- Composite construction door & body
- 2-inch-thick door
- 3-inch-thick body
HAYMAN
Dyna Vault Series
Fire
- 75–minute manufacturer fire label tested at 1,200oF
Security
- UL RSC burglary rating
- 1 ¼ inch bolt locking mechanism
- 3-way locking bolts (3 sides of door)
- Dead bolt on 4th side
- Continuous dead locking hinge bar
- Drill resistant triple-layered hard plates
- Spring loaded relockers
- Auto bolt detent
- High security mechanical lock (optional electronic lock)
Reliability
- Excellent customer reviews
Price
- Medium to high end
If you still have questions about how to buy a fire rated safe, ask the professionals at A1 Locksmith Services of the Palm Beaches, Inc. They have been serving this community for over 20 years. Call them at (561) 964-6114 or visit us at https://www.a1gmtlocksmith.com/.
