bolting down a safe

[grady202]

I have a fireproof safe that has indentations where you drill thru and bolt down. My question is if you drill thru the safe is it still fire proof or what can I do to make it fire proof afterwards.

[Keykutter]

If you are bolting down to a concrete floor, yes. If you are bolting it to a wooden floor, no technically, but for all intents and purposes, yes, it still is.

It really depends what the UL listing says as to what the fire rating is. Most small safes are 1/2 hr at 1200 degrees.

If the fire started right below the box, the heat may be transferred inside the box by the bolts but otherwise, there would be no appreciable difference.

As far as government regulations, if it were a GSA approved container, nothing would reinstate it's rating, short of a new box.

KK

[R&M]

I used a tube of the firestop caulk used in construction and filled the holes around the bolt heads where they were recessed with it be sure. It can be found at most hardware and home center stores.

[Keykutter]

To be really sure the heat would't transfer inside the box from the heat on the bolt, you could put some of that caulking R&M describes in a little container and place it over the bolts on the inside of the safe.

Like the bottom inch of a coke can or something that size. The insulation would control the heat transfer, but we're only talking about the fire being right under the safe.

KK

[Purple]

Check with safe manufacturer on whether or not the fire rating is compromised or not. They will also recommend the grade of bolt and floor anchor you need.

I've been in the fire service for 37 years and have yet to find a residential fire that will burn so hot that the interior contents of a a good quality fire safe are compromised - bolted to a floor or not. For the floor bolts to heat up to the point of igniting the safe contents you would need to have one helluva fire concentrated on the base of the safe/bolts for a prolonged period of time - like a ox-acetylene torch.

[Keykutter]

Check with safe manufacturer on whether or not the fire rating is compromised or not. They will also recommend the grade of bolt and floor anchor you need.

I've been in the fire service for 37 years and have yet to find a residential fire that will burn so hot that the interior contents of a a good quality fire safe are compromised - bolted to a floor or not. For the floor bolts to heat up to the point of igniting the safe contents you would need to have one helluva fire concentrated on the base of the safe/bolts for a prolonged period of time - like a ox-acetylene torch.

Agreed. That's basically what I said in my first post. Any safe company will tell you the fire rating is compromised if holes are drilled in the safe also, so a call will not change reality.

Short answer, don't worry about the fire rating by bolting the safe down.

KK