"Fire-proof safes" not as safe as you th
Moderators: cataclysm80, hammr7, l0qii, Apocalypse2K, berkumps, dragsamou, mystical_tutor, pp
"Fire-proof safes" not as safe as you th
I was reading the old "insurance" thread and a lot of people talked about getting fireproof safes for their MtG collections.
If you're keeping your cards in binders, then the safe probably isn't going to do you any good.
They work like this: the safe walls have stuff in them designed to outgas under high temperatures. Sort of like boiling water. The hot gases carry heat away from the safe, keeping it somewhat cooler than the surrounding environment. Your typical safe is rated to keep papers intact for up to 1 hour in a fire of 1700 degrees.
Paper, however, can withstand temperatures of hundreds of degrees without harm, before eventually starting to turn brown.
Plastic isn't so clever. If you've got CDRoms or floppy disks or backup tapes in that safe, they're going to be warped and ruined long before the paper shows any damage.
So if you've got your Magic cards in *plastic binder pages* in that safe, expect to be trying to peel melted polyethylene (or whatever) off those precious cards. If you really expect to keep them safe, they need to be unsleeved in a cardboard box. Yea, I know, I'm not very excited about that prospect either.
Here's some specific info I turned up.
"These FireKing safes carry the UL Class 350 1-hour fire rating. This means that the internal temperature of the safe will not exceed 350° for at least one hour when exposed to external temperatures up to 1700°."
From http://www.imation.com/en_US/main.jhtml?Id=70_02_06
"As a general rule, Imation suggests that you store magnetic and optical media in a safe that meets the UL 125 1-hour fire and impact rating. The internal temperature of a safe that carries the UL 125 1-hour fire rating will not exceed 125º F (52º C) after sitting in a 1700º F (926º C) furnace for 60 minutes. Fire safes that are not manufactured to UL 125 may have their internal temperature exceed the safe storage temperature range for magnetic and optical media."
If you're keeping your cards in binders, then the safe probably isn't going to do you any good.
They work like this: the safe walls have stuff in them designed to outgas under high temperatures. Sort of like boiling water. The hot gases carry heat away from the safe, keeping it somewhat cooler than the surrounding environment. Your typical safe is rated to keep papers intact for up to 1 hour in a fire of 1700 degrees.
Paper, however, can withstand temperatures of hundreds of degrees without harm, before eventually starting to turn brown.
Plastic isn't so clever. If you've got CDRoms or floppy disks or backup tapes in that safe, they're going to be warped and ruined long before the paper shows any damage.
So if you've got your Magic cards in *plastic binder pages* in that safe, expect to be trying to peel melted polyethylene (or whatever) off those precious cards. If you really expect to keep them safe, they need to be unsleeved in a cardboard box. Yea, I know, I'm not very excited about that prospect either.
Here's some specific info I turned up.
"These FireKing safes carry the UL Class 350 1-hour fire rating. This means that the internal temperature of the safe will not exceed 350° for at least one hour when exposed to external temperatures up to 1700°."
From http://www.imation.com/en_US/main.jhtml?Id=70_02_06
"As a general rule, Imation suggests that you store magnetic and optical media in a safe that meets the UL 125 1-hour fire and impact rating. The internal temperature of a safe that carries the UL 125 1-hour fire rating will not exceed 125º F (52º C) after sitting in a 1700º F (926º C) furnace for 60 minutes. Fire safes that are not manufactured to UL 125 may have their internal temperature exceed the safe storage temperature range for magnetic and optical media."
Re: "Fire-proof safes" not as safe as yo
Hmm. Now, I realize that a lack of follow-up posts doesn't mean nobody read the original post. It might be definitive. Or boring.
Did anybody read the original post? Did you find the information useful, or is this, in the end, just a way for me to boost my post count? ::)
Did anybody read the original post? Did you find the information useful, or is this, in the end, just a way for me to boost my post count? ::)
- Celebrindor
- Member
- Posts: 604
- Joined: Tue Jun 22, 2004 3:02 am
- Location: Glenside, PA
Re: "Fire-proof safes" not as safe as yo
It has been read 54 times (it says so at the top of the thread, and in the thread listing page)Hmm. Now, I realize that a lack of follow-up posts doesn't mean nobody read the original post. It might be definitive. Or boring.
Did anybody read the original post? Â Did you find the information useful, or is this, in the end, just a way for me to boost my post count? Â ::)
Re: "Fire-proof safes" not as safe as yo
Well, viewed, yes. I was more curious about whether or not it was interesting or useful. <shrug>
- Celebrindor
- Member
- Posts: 604
- Joined: Tue Jun 22, 2004 3:02 am
- Location: Glenside, PA
Re: "Fire-proof safes" not as safe as yo
I can't speak for anyone else, but I found it interesting.
Re: "Fire-proof safes" not as safe as yo
I found it to be interesting as my brother recently bought a large safe and had a photo safe put inside of it to protect more delicate items such as CDs and negatives.
Really valuable MTG cards that are not used on a regular basis might be best kept in a safety deposit box in a vault at a bank if you can't afford a specialized safe.
Really valuable MTG cards that are not used on a regular basis might be best kept in a safety deposit box in a vault at a bank if you can't afford a specialized safe.
- flatmatt
- Legendary Wild Bear Tracker
- Posts: 313
- Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2003 10:27 am
- Location: Michigan, USA
- Contact:
Re: "Fire-proof safes" not as safe as yo
I thought it was rather interesting and informative, though not all that useful to me, personally.
- dry cereal
- Legendary Part of a Complete Breakfast
- Posts: 1016
- Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2003 12:31 am
- Location: New York CitY!?
- Contact:
Re: "Fire-proof safes" not as safe as yo
are you saying to put a safe inside a safe? brilliant!!
I can't believe I ate the whole thing
-
- Librarities Legend
- Posts: 370
- Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2003 10:59 pm
- Location: Cowtown, Alberta, Canada
Re: "Fire-proof safes" not as safe as yo
Sometimes it is safe to put a safe in a safe, as it makes the safe safer inside the safe.are you saying to put a safe inside a safe? Â brilliant!!
Besides, the safest safe is a safe safe.
Oct 30, away until further notice
- dry cereal
- Legendary Part of a Complete Breakfast
- Posts: 1016
- Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2003 12:31 am
- Location: New York CitY!?
- Contact:
Re: "Fire-proof safes" not as safe as yo
Sometimes it is safe to put a safe in a safe, as it makes the safe safer inside the safe.
Besides, the safest safe is a safe safe.
brilliant!!!
I can't believe I ate the whole thing
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 24 guests