Are File Cabinets Fireproof?

Every workspace needs a Filing Cabinet, whether at home or in the office.

Furthermore, many people wonder if File Cabinets are fireproof because they store important documents in them.

Moreover, there are many fire-resistant File Cabinets available in the market.

Similarly, there are numerous methods to use your ordinary Filing Cabinets without running the risk of a Fire.

Let’s examine everything in further detail.

Are Metals and Steel File Cabinets Fireproof?

Metals and steel File Cabinets are not fireproof. One can even argue steel is an alloy that is non-flammable, but the Fire still weakens the steel.

Metal even melts from the Fire and is not considered fireproof.

Different metals like aluminum and iron won’t burn apart like standard wood or oak. But a high degree of heat from the Fire will destroy and weaken it.

When it comes to steel, its feature is similar to metals like iron. However, they won’t melt from Fire.

But, Fire with more than 1700 degrees won’t preserve the file drawers and documents inside them.

Moreover, metals and steel specially developed by the Company or even insulated with fireproof chambers will protect your documents for specific intervals.

On the other hand, ordinary metals and steel will not last long from Fire and will completely burn your Files.

Ways to Know if Filing Cabinet is Fireproof

To determine whether a Filing Cabinet is fireproof, you should consider the following factors:

1. UL Fireproof Ratings

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is a non-profit organization that evaluates product quality.

For example, the File Cabinet gets a UL rating on how effective and safe they are from Fire.

You can see all of the UL ratings in the table below:

2. Avoiding Poor Insulators

Different materials like wood and oak are highly reactive to Fire. Materials like steel and metals are also bad insulators.

Therefore, to know whether the File Cabinets are fireproof, one needs to find out which materials the File cabinets are made of.

One should always use File Cabinets that consist of inflammable insulators.

This chart shows the melting and burning points of various materials used to make Filing Cabinets.

What Makes a File Cabinet Fireproof?

The manufacturer uses sturdy materials to make File Cabinets fireproof.

A standard File Cabinet with combustible insulators is mainly reactive to Fire.

Therefore, fireproof manufacturers cover those inadequate Fire insulators with layers of effective Fire insulators.

The insulation minerals melt into water and vapor despite the outer temperature increase. Hence, chambers absorb heat keeping documents cool.

The majority of Filing Cabinets can tolerate heat up to 600 degrees Celsius. However, it also depends on the materials used.

What are the Best Fireproof File Cabinets?

Fireproof File Cabinets are one of the best options for getting safe from Fire.

Though it is not 100% fire-resistant, one can get notable benefits from fireproof File Cabinets compared to regular ones.

Most fireproof Cabinets protect your File from up to 1700 degrees of heat for a certain amount of time.

A layer of non-flammable insulators is used in fire-resistant drawers to keep the temperature within the cabinet as low as possible.

Here are some of the best fireproof filing cabinets in 2024.

Are Fireproof File Cabinets Worth it?

The investment in fireproof File Cabinets is worth it. They keep your File, documents, and media safe.

In addition, highly rated fireproof File Cabinets are more useful as they protect your documents from high-degree heat.

However, most people may often avoid investing in fireproof File Cabinets, focusing on their costs.

It is because fireproof File Cabinets are pretty expensive compared to regular ones.

A modest amount of heat might burn your paperwork in standard File Cabinets. However, fire-resistant Cabinets can withstand heat up to 1700 degrees, making them worthwhile.

The Bottom Line

Not all File Cabinets are fireproof. However, steel and aluminum Filing Cabinets can offer some degree of Fire resistance.

Similarly, other materials can also offer some level of Fire resistance, including wood, laminate, and oak.

However, they usually won’t offer much defense against fires with higher temperatures.

Hence, fireproof File Cabinets offer safety and protection. As a result, every home office needs a fireproof File Cabinet appropriate for the space.