Posted by Jayme,
A fireproof file cabinet is an affordable way to protect all of your personal documents. While just about any official document can be replaced in the information age, the hassle involved can be significant. This is especially true when recovering from a home fire. Protecting your files and valuables is much more simple and can be done with a one time purchase.
Fireproof file cabinets can be used as a safe as well. Many manufactures such as FireKing, Sentry and SchwabCorp., offer their cabinets with high quality locking mechanisms to protect your valuables. Jewelry, emergency cash, handguns, all of these are easily stored in a file cabinet.
When choosing the size and style be sure to look to the future so that you can get one large enough to fit your needs for a while. Replacement will be more costly than just purchasing a size you can grow into.
Lastly be certain of your placement once you have your file cabinet. Your home office should be arranged to accommodate the furniture addition prior to getting it home since these pieces are very heavy and difficult to move.
You’re right about heavy! My 4-drawer weighs about 410 lbs. When it was delivered the delivery guys set it where I wanted it at the time. I thought I’d move after a while and was I ever in for a suprise. I had to rent a moving dolly just to move it over 2 feet.
I got a FireKing 2 hour rated 2-drawer cabinet for $100 off of craigs list. It was a little scrtached but the lock worked fine and the drawers were smooth. From what I’ve seen that’s a pretty good deal.
Fireproof file cabinets and safes should have ratings. If they are UL listed you can count on them having actually been tested to make sure they are up to the standards that the manufacture claims. Sometimes you can find them used and get a good deal but be prepared to move it yourself and realize that these file cabinets are HEAVY!
What’s the best brand? I see a bunch when shopping around online but it’s hard to tell which is good and which is just advertising. I don’t want to spend the money and not really be protected.
I wish I would have had one of these when my house burned down. I was able to get the birth certificates, social security cards and our passports but it took me a lot of time and effort. For no more than they cost I think everyone should have a way to protect valuables from fire.