When you begin the search for a Fire Safe it is important to remember that ALL SAFES ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL. What this means is that each safe is specifically designed to fit the needs of its application. 

HERE ARE SOME HELPFUL TIPS WHEN CHOOSING A SAFE: 

1. Determine the type of protection of your  valuables. 
2. Speak to your insurance agent and see if a particular type of safe will reduce your insurance costs.   
3. Ask yourself if the Safe will be used for personal or commercial purposes. 
4. Understand U.L. Burglary Rating Classifications (see table below).

[UL Underwriters' Laboratories (UL) - UL is a non-profit, non-bias agency that tests and rates the safety and performance of consumer products. Safes that have earned specific UL ratings will carry a UL label which designates the product's security and fire-protection ratings. The UL listing is the only testing process fully recognized by insurance companies worldwide.]

U.L. FIRE RESISTIVE RATING CLASSIFICATIONS Note: All images represented here are to show the different types of safes and not necessarily represent the rating.
1/2 Hour - U.L.™ class 350 Rate Safe	This safe has been tested by the Underwriters Laboratory™.  The unit is heated for one-half hour to reach an exterior temperature of 1550 degrees. Because paper will begin to char at approximately 400 degrees, the unit being tested must maintain an interior temperature of less than 350 degrees during heat-up and cool-down testing in order to earn it's rating. At U.L.™ after the safe has hit the test time the safe is removed from the oven and hoisted 30 feet (equal to 3 flights of a building) and dropped on to concrete rubble, it is allowed to cool and then picked up and placed back into a 2000 degree preheated oven (this is called the explosive test). It is done to see if the door will blow off, then it remains in the oven and the contents of the safe must come out unharmed.
1 Hour - U.L™ class 350 Rate Safe	To earn this rating, the safe is heated for one hour to reach an exterior temperature of 1550 degrees, then put through the cool down test. Like the 1/2 Hour test the safe must maintain an interior temperature of less than 350 degrees throughout the test. At U.L.™ after the safe has hit the test time the safe is removed from the oven and hoisted 30 feet (equal to 3 flights of a building) and dropped on to concrete rubble, it is allowed to cool and then picked up and placed back into a 2000 degree preheated oven (this is called the explosive test). It is done to see if the door will blow off, then it remains in the oven and the contents of the safe must come out unharmed.
2 Hour - U.L™ class 350 Rate Safe	The safe is heated for two hours to reach an exterior temperature of 1550 degrees, then put through the cool down test. During the complete process the interior of the safe cannot drop below 350 degrees. At U.L.™ after the safe has hit the test time the safe is removed from the oven and hoisted 30 feet (equal to 3 flights of a building) and dropped on to concrete rubble, it is allowed to cool and then picked up and placed back into a 2000 degree preheated oven (this is called the explosive test). It is done to see if the door will blow off, then it remains in the oven and the contents of the safe must come out unharmed.