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Office fires can ignite unexpectedly destroying countless important documents including HR documents, confidential business papers and more.
Fortunately, a fireproof file cabinet can save you from a huge headache of having to track down all those documents and give you peace of mind during emergency situations.
Article Overview
- What To Consider?
- What About Insurance?
- Best Cabinets
- Why You Need One? (Video)
- Secure Shredding and Safe Surges
What To Consider In A Fireproof File Cabinet?
It’s said that an estimated 40% of businesses don’t reopen after a disaster and another 25% fail within one year. Fires are unpredictable so it’s important to protect your documents and keep your business running after your business has suffered one.
Below are some items to consider when purchasing a fireproof file cabinet.
- Fireproof – The industry standard is one hour at 350°F (no, this isn’t a baking recipe). That means the file cabinet can withstand a fire of 350°F for up to one hour.
- Water-Resistant – If there’s a fire there will probably be firemen and women putting it out with water. If the file cabinet isn’t water-resistant your documents are going to be destroyed. So even if you get a fireproof cabinet it means nothing if it isn’t water-resistant as well.
- Weight – These cabinets are not as light as other filing cabinets. They are insulated to make them fireproof. Make sure you have a way of moving the cabinet into your office space. Some companies only deliver up to certain amounts of stairs or to loading docks.
- Locking Capabilities – Make sure your cabinet locks. You not only need to protect these documents from disasters but people too. There are confidential files (think HR, insurance, taxes, etc.) that need to be protected.
- Letter vs Legal – Get a cabinet that holds the size of documents you are needing to file in the way you want to file (front to back or side to side).
Read on to learn more about the best fire safe file cabinet for you and your business.
Can Insurance Help With Fire Damage Claims?
You may be telling yourself, “Well, my insurance will cover the damages and help me get back on my feet.” Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. Some insurance policies do not award enough money to help your business get back up and running.
And how are you going to replace the actual contents that have been destroyed? They can’t be bought at a store. In a time like this, it’s important to prepare for any and all emergencies. That includes protecting your files with fireproof cabinets.
Best Locking File Cabinet With 4 Drawers: FireKing Turtle Review
This FireKing Turtle locking file cabinet is insulated to help make it fireproof. This four drawer filing cabinet can withstand a 350°F fire for up to 1 hour. It can also withstand being dropped up to 30′ without compromising its integrity.
So if the floor loses stability during a fire or the container drops off the back of a moving truck, it should remain in working condition. It can hold letter-size files from the front to the back or legal-size files from side-to-side.
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Pricing & Tech Specs
Best Locking File Cabinet With 2 Drawers: FireKing Turtle Review
If you’re looking for a smaller matching file cabinet to the four drawer FireKing above, here it is. This is the same model except in a two drawer version. So if you want your office space to match, you’re all set with this set.
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Pricing & Tech Specs
- $834.00
- Weight: 251 pounds
- Dimensions: 24.1″ x 20.7″ x 33.8″
- Color: Parchment
- Material: Metal
Best Lateral File Cabinet: Phoenix Safe International Lateral Fireproof File Cabinet Review
The Phoenix Safe International is our pick for Best Lateral File Cabinet. It too is rated for 1 hour of fire protection at 350°F and is water-resistant so no documents are destroyed from the fire department putting the fire out.
If your filing cabinet is ever in a fire, Phoenix Safe International will replace your cabinet at no charge to you. You can fill the drawers with two rows of letter front to back, legal from side to side and letter from side to side. So you can file however you prefer.
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Pricing & Tech Specs
- $2,799.00
- Weight: 335 pounds
- Dimensions: 23.6″ x 31″ x 28.8″
- Colors: Black, Light Gray, and Putty
- Material: Steel
Below is one more file cabinet we reviewed but it did not make our top picks.
Sentry Safe Lateral File Cabinet Review
Sentry Safe is known for its fireproof safes but they also sell fireproof file cabinets. This lateral version is just one of the options available. Unfortunately, they do not offer a four drawer version of it.
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Pricing & Tech Specs
- Check Amazon for availability
- Weight: 359 pounds
- Dimensions: 27.6″ x 29.8″ x 20.5″
- Colors: Black, Gray, Light Gray, Sand, Tan, and Putty
- Material: Metal
Video: Why You Need Fireproof Filing Cabinets
The video below shows a side-by-side comparison of what happens with a standard filing cabinet and a fireproof cabinet during a fire. It’s important for any business owner to see this video to realize why it’s so important to protect your files.
Best Safe Surge Protectors And Secure Shredders
Did you know old or unsafe plugs and extension cords can be dangerous and cause electrical fires? Upgrade to a safe surge protector to prevent disaster from happening in the first place. And although fire is one way to get rid of old papers, we recommend shredding them with a secure shredder instead.
Decide on a fireproof cabinet or still looking? Let us know in the comments!
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