The Difference Between Fireproof & Fire Resistant Safe

Fireproof vs Fire resistant. What is the difference? And is there any difference at all? The simple answer – there is none.

There is no difference between Fireproof and Fire Resistance. Both terms mean the same essentially. The only distinction between the two is how people tend to interpret these characteristics.

The definition of Fireproof and Fire Resistant

Both fireproof and fire resistant imply similar feature. Let’s take safes as an example. Fireproof or Fire resistant models serve to protect their contents from high temperatures. The difference is that fireproof is usually associated with products that are more reliable and will hold better against fire over a period of time.

This is the definition various safe manufacturers and industry marketers prefer to use. As a result, people view fireproof to be superior to fire resistant. And consequently suggest that the latter offers only a basic level of protection.

However both Fireproof and Fire Resistance describe the exact same quality, which is the ability to withstand fire and heat.

Keep that in mind, and don’t make a mistake of thinking that fireproof will offer you absolute protection. Because in truth there is no 100% fire-resistant safes. Given certain amount of time and heat level, any safe will burn eventually. In another words your possessions will be secured for a certain length of time and under certain conditions.

The real meaning behind Fireproof & Fire Resistant property

Therefore, when you go through a particular product features and it says fireproof, understand that the manufactures is simply trying to hint that such product will provide a better and longer protection against fire than entry-level one. But it doesn’t mean that your valuables are 100% going to be preserved in a fire emergency.

Instead, you need to look at the safe’s certification or rating. A company will often state the rating given by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). For example UL Class 125 1-hour, UL Class 350 1-hour etc.

UL Class 125 1-hour means that, the temperature inside the safe will not go higher than 125° F (52°C) for at least 1 hour while exposed to external temperatures of over 1700°F (926°C).

UL Class 350 1-hour means that, the temperature inside the safe will not go higher than 350° F (177°C) for at least 1 hour while exposed to external temperatures of over 1700°F (926°C).

So the real meaning of how much something is Fireproof & Fire Resistant is directly described in its rating/certification.

Conclusion

Both terms are used to describe the same attribute. It’s just so happened that historically “fireproof” indicates a higher quality of the product. But no matter what descriptive is added to the title of the product, the real characteristics you should always inspect is the actual rating/certification.