Fire resistant cabinets

The terms "fireproof safe", "fire-safe" and "fire-resistant safe" are widely used, but no safe is completely fireproof. A certified fire-resistant safe is tested at temperatures of 800°C and above, and offers a guaranteed protection time that is sufficient in practice to survive a domestic fire.

What does exist is a certified fire-resistant safe that protects its contents for a defined period, or a fire-resistant cabinet offering fire protection only. Only certified models offer proven protection.

More about fire resistance standards: fire resistance classes and test methods.

The stated fire resistance of a safe (for example 30, 60, or 120 minutes) refers to the duration of the test phase in a controlled fire laboratory test. In practice, the contents often remain protected for much longer, as some fire-resistant safes go through a cool-down period after the fire is extinguished. During this phase, the internal temperature may continue to rise, but well-designed safes keep it below the critical level at which documents or data media would be damaged.

Not all testing standards include this cool-down phase — it depends on the fire-resistance standard and the specific test method used.

Learn more about the different fire-resistance standards and testing methods for safes on this page.

Yes. Some models are specifically designed and tested to provide protection against both fire and water. However, a conventional fire-resistant safe or fire-resistant cabinet is generally not waterproof: fire-resistance certification does not guarantee protection against submersion.

This is particularly important for a safe installed in a basement. During a fire, the basement may fill with firefighting water while the safe itself remains relatively cool. Intumescent seals only expand when exposed to sufficient heat and may therefore not yet provide a complete seal. Keyholes and cable openings can also provide possible entry points for water.

Some compact fire-resistant chests have separately tested water protection, with certain models offering protection against submersion for up to 72 hours. An exceptional example was the former KASO DS 4000 data safe: certain models were independently tested by being submerged at a depth of three metres for four hours.

Where there is a risk of flooding, the location of the safe is also important. Installing it in an area that is unlikely to become submerged, or placing it on a sufficiently high plinth, can considerably reduce the risk.

The term "refractory safe" or "refractory cabinet" appears in older catalogues from brands such as Fichet, Bauche and Haffner. It refers to safes whose walls were filled with refractory materials — materials capable of withstanding high temperatures and slowing the transfer of heat in the event of fire. This technique dates back to Henri Bauche, who from 1864 constructed his safes with two iron casings filled with a refractory compound between them.

Today, the correct term is fire-resistant safe or, where the model also offers certified burglary resistance, fire-resistant safe with burglary protection. The principle of refractory materials in the walls remains present in modern certified models.