Fire Rating

Fire Ratings for Safes, Vaults & Vault Doors

Understanding Fire Certification, Protection Standards & What It Means for You

Why Fire Ratings Matter

When a fire strikes, the difference between total loss and full protection often comes down to the quality of your fire-rated safe. At Safeguard Safes, we stock the largest range of fire-resistant safes, vaults, and strong room doors in Australia—each designed to meet or exceed national and international fire certification standards. Whether you’re protecting paper documents, digital media, cash, or sensitive assets, we have a certified solution for your specific application.

What Is a Fire Rating?

Fire rating refers to how long a safe can protect its contents from extreme heat, measured in minutes (e.g., 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes). Fire-rated safes undergo rigorous independent testing by world-class certification bodies to simulate real-life fire conditions.

Independent Fire Certification You Can Trust

Look for a certification plate inside the safe door—proof it was tested by a trusted authority. Common testing bodies include:

Types of Fire Certification Tests

Fire Endurance Test

The safe is placed in a furnace exceeding 1,000 °C. It must keep internal temperature below the critical limit (typically 177 °C for paper or 52 °C for digital media) for the rated duration.

Fire Impact / Drop Test

After endurance testing, the safe is dropped from a three‑storey height onto rubble-covered concrete to simulate building collapse. It’s then inspected for damage or heat penetration.

Explosion Hazard Test

The safe faces a sudden flashfire to check if internal gas builds up and causes rupture. It must remain sealed and intact during and after the test, with no damage to contents.

Choosing the Right Fire-Resistant Safe: What to Consider

1. What Are You Protecting?

  • Paper Documents: Requires certification such as UL72 Class 350 or EN 1047‑1 (P).
  • Digital Media & Electronics: Highly heat-sensitive; look for UL72 Class 125 or EN 1047‑1 DIS.
  • Cash, Jewellery & Valuables: Choose dual-certified models offering both fire and burglary protection.
  • Sensitive Records & Archives: Go for data-safe with at least 120-minute fire protection.

2. How Long Do You Need Fire Protection?

  • 30 minutes (S 30 P or UL72 Class 350‑30) – good for homes or fast-response areas.
  • 60 minutes (S 60 P or UL72 Class 350‑60) – ideal for small offices or moderate-risk settings.
  • 90–120 minutes (S 90 P, S 120 P, UL72 Class 350‑90/120) – suited for high-risk or high-value environments.

Soak Time Consideration: Certified safes protect contents even during the post-fire “soak out” period, when internal temperatures continue rising.

Fire Rating vs Fire Resistance vs Fireproof: What’s the Difference?

Fire Rating

Definition: A formal, independently tested certification indicating a safe's ability to protect contents under heat. It includes conditions (like 1,000 °C furnace) and thresholds (e.g., 177 °C for paper, 52 °C for digital media).

Summary: Fire ratings offer verifiable, measurable protection—the gold standard for real-world performance.

Fire Resistance

Definition: Refers to insulated material or construction quality. Without certification, its actual performance is unverified.

Summary: Good materials aren’t enough—testing is the only way to guarantee protection.

Fireproof

This marketing term is misleading—no safe offers infinite heat protection. Certified performance is the only credible benchmark.

Summary: “Fireproof” claims are unreliable unless backed by recognized third-party ratings.

Why This Matters

  • Certified safes are rigorously tested.
  • They perform reliably under real fire conditions.
  • Insurance providers typically accept certified safes.
  • You're not relying on vague marketing claims.

Our Fire Protection Guarantee

At Safeguard Safes, we provide clarity and expertise—beyond just fire-resistant products. We match your needs with the right level of fire protection based on risk, certification, and technology.

We don’t just sell safes—we help protect your future.

Expert Product Matching

Our team has deep training in fire standards like UL72, EN 1047‑1, and NT Fire 017. We'll ask:

  • What are you protecting—paper, digital media, valuables, or all?
  • How long must contents survive—30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes?
  • Does your insurer or industry have certification requirements?
We tailor recommendations to your risk and budget—no one-size-fits-all.

End-to-End Service & Guidance

Our support continues beyond sale:

  • Consultation to match protection needs.
  • Professional delivery & installation by licensed, police-cleared technicians.
  • Compliance documentation including plates, datasheets, risk assessments, and method statements.
  • Insurance/audit assistance for policies and regulations.
  • Ongoing servicing, warranty help, and 24/7 support.

Not Sure What Fire Rating You Need?

We can guide you through certification standards and ratings to recommend the perfect safe for your risk profile and budget.

Reach out today for a confidential, obligation-free consultation with a fire protection expert.