Fire safes are an important addition to any household. There are a lot of things in your house you would not want to lose, even in the unfortunate case of a fire. Documents like birth certificates, marriages license, financial statements and passports are very important. It can be really tiresome to get them back if, they get damaged by fire.

A house fire can sometimes reach temperatures exceeding 1200 degrees Fahrenheit. Even if your existing cabinet is able to keep all your important items secure, it will be helpless against this kind of heat. Specifically made fire safes which can withstand these temperatures and still keep your important documents safe, are your only safeguard against a fire.

Fire safes undergo various safety tests. They are subjected to extreme temperatures for a stipulated amount of time. They also go through various impact tests to make sure they can protect your documents even if the fire causes them to fall from a height.

As a rule of thumb, a high quality fire safe will be able to withstand fire of a higher temperature and protect your documents for a longer time. However, for most houses, a small fire safe is enough to protect important documents from the heat caused by a fire. Some factors like the size and flammability of your house and its closeness to a fire department will help you pick a fire safe best suited to you.