What to Look for in a Gun Safe - Part 1

When investing in a gun safe, you want to make sure you pick out the right one, with the features you need and the size and capabilities you're looking for. Here are some tips for choosing the right safe for you! When you're ready, call us at Welter Lock & Safe!

• The safe you buy should come equipped with heavy duty linkage that is capable of withstanding tremendous amounts of torque through the handle without damaging the lock system or shear pins.
• Don't be impressed with multiple locking pins. The heart of the locking system and how it is protected is much more important.
• The safe you buy should have hard plate protecting the combination box. It should also have a hard plate protecting the independent re-lock, or the entire locking area.
• Make sure the hard plate is not directly welded to the door. It is very important that your raised mounting plate be made in a fashion where it is welded firmly to the door and the hard plate slips in between the mounting plate and the surface of the door. The combination box is then bolted to the mounting plate. Welds to the mild steel are many times stronger than are welds to hard plate.
• To help avoid moisture problems, your safe should be made in a fashion that will allow weather stripping around the door. Fire safes should come equipped with a fire gasket. 
  
  
  Source: SturdySafe

Underwriters Laboratories - Fire Safe Rating

When a safe receives a fire safety rating, there are a number of tests that the safe must survive before that label is placed. Underwriters Laboratories, a not-for-profit independent testing organization was founded in 1984 and they provide the most reliable testing and labeling for safes sold today. However, it is important to note that this testing is done of their own accord. There is no law that states that safes must be labeled with this information. 


All products complete four different fire resistance tests before they can be labeled:

1. Fire Endurance
2. Fire and Impact
3. Explosion Hazard
4. Combined Explosion and Impact

The safes are tested with a variety of products inside them - ranging from paper to cassette tapes to microfilm and discs. The temperature that you see listed on the UL label of a safe represents the maximum temperature that the items inside the safe can withstand. The time listed on the UL label represents the maximum time that the items can withstand the head. Keep in mind, a one-hour safe can provide more than one hour of protection for itself, but not necessarily the items inside. 


The time rating also indicates how hot the furnace temperature reaches during UL's testing process:

• One-Half Hour Rated Products - The furnace is heated up to 1550°F over a one-half hour time period. During this time, the interior of the product cannot exceed the classification temperature or humidity (if applicable) limits.

• One-Hour Rated Products - 1700°F

• Two-Hour Rated Products - 1850°F

• Three-Hour Rated Products - 1920°F

• Four-Hour Rated Products - 2000°F

Welter Lock & Safe is proud to offer fire resistant safes and more! Visit our website for more information.  




Source: KLSSecurity

Gardall UL Two-Hour Fire Resistant Safes

Standard Features

• Thick 4 1/4” door with recessed anti-pry design. Safe walls are 2 1⁄2” thick
• Five active bolts that lock in 3 directions, massive 1” diameter round bolts that extend deep into safes body (Models 1812-3018)
• Center bolt down hole for easy installation (hardware included)
• Plush carpeted quality interior to protect jewelry and valuables (Models 1812-3018)
• UL listed Group II high security lock, mechanical or electronic available
• UL 2-hour fire label, furnace-tested to 1850°F for 2 hours. Interior temperature of safe was less than 350°F during the test and cool down
• Media Cooler (insert) will fit inside model 1612/2 and larger
• Solid chrome-plated handle with shear point to prevent the safe from being forced open by handle attack
• Independent re-locker and hard plate to prevent drilling attack on locking mechanism
• Lifetime Replacement Guarantee (fire damage only) 

For more information, contact us at Welter Lock and Safe!

Just a Few of the Brands We Offer!

Welter Lock and Safe is proud to offer products from the following vendors!