Families count on fire safes to protect irreplaceable documents, pictures, and keepsakes. But do these safes really protect those precious items? The only way to find out was to set the safes on fire and let them burn.
We tested fire safes of three different sizes made by Sentry, the world's largest maker of this kind of product.
They cost $69.99, $39.99 and $34.99 and all claim even in temperatures of 1,550-degrees that the contents will stay safe because heat stays out!
We tested the Steelmaster security chest, as well. It's also $34.99 and claims to be fire-retardant and able to be withstand temperatures up to 750-degrees
We loaded each safe with valuables just like you would at home. We put in things like credit cards, pictures, DVDs and important paperwork.
We vary the time and temperature of our tests based on the test claims made by the products' makers.
The Steelmaster security chest is in the fire for less than 10 minutes at the lowest heat. All of our contents catch fire and get completely destroyed.
Now to the Sentry safes: first we open the largest, most expensive one. A corner of the chest did pop open a little so our items got wet and one credit card got singed, but overall our contents are in fairly good condition.
However, fire expert Fred Hashagen, of Bucks County Emergency Services, is less impressed with our smallest Sentry safe. The fire melted a hole through the chest
"It didn't hold up quite as well, you can see where it came up through the center through the bottom," Hashagen said.
The mid-priced Sentry safe performed the best with everything dry and virtually untouched.
So your best bet is a chest that's fire "safe" that's passed fire endurance tests conducted by independent Underwriters Laboratories.
Remember our Steelmaster chest only claims to be fire-retardant.
"It's just a covering that usually burns through within an hour," Hashagen said.
SentrySafe Response:
SentrySafe was surprised to learn that some products did not comply with the tests conducted by this station. We do not know the precise conditions or scientific methodology employed in this test, but we do know that our products regularly pass rigorous testing and meet the stringent UL standards for fire performance as advertised. Protecting our consumers' most important and irreplaceable valuables is our top priority and we are committed to providing the highest quality products. Real world feedback and the thousands of testimonials that we receive consistently reflect the superior performance our products provide when disaster strikes. SentrySafe stands by our promise to keep our consumers' irreplaceable valuables safe and secure.
FIRE EXTINGUISHER CAUTION
House fires are the leading cause of fire deaths in the United States. Hundreds die every year, and most of the fires start in the kitchen. Firefighters say that the first few seconds are vital. It means the difference between extinguishing a small, incipient fire on a stove or on a stovetop and the fire consuming your kitchen or a portion of your house.
Consumer Reports just tested more than a dozen extinguishers, including seven smaller ones that are convenient for the kitchen. Also tested were two new types of aerosol sprays.
Testers created fires using a flammable liquid to see how well each one could battle a blaze. Most did well, but the two aerosol sprays sometimes caused the fire to flare up. And while they may look a lot like fire extinguishers, they're not. And another problem, those cans don't have a pressure indicator, so there's no way of knowing if they're ready to use, which is critically important.
Therefore, Consumer Reports rates the Shield Fire Protection Kitchen Guard and First Alert Tundra aerosol sprays a Don't Buy.
A better choice for your kitchen is the $19 Kidde FX 10K.
In addition to having a fire extinguisher in your kitchen, Consumer Reports says that it's important to have multipurpose extinguishers on every floor of your home. Top-rated in tests is the $36 Kidde FX340GW.
An important safety check when buying an extinguisher is to check that the pressure indicator registers "full."
For more information:
Fire Extinguisher 101
Sentry Safes
Fire Safety
