U.L. Fire and Burglary Resistance Classifications

The testing and construction requirements of an Underwriters Laboratories rating Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. is widely considered to be the premier independent product testing and certification organization in the gun safe industry (gun safes are just one of the more than 19,000 types of products that U.L. tests each year). The owner of a gun safe that has been given a U.L. rating can thus be assured that the safe will perform as promised in the event of a fire or burglary. To receive a burglary- or fire-resistance rating from U.L., a gun safe must meet the following requirements. U.L. Fire-Resistance Rating Classification U.L. Class 350 is the fire-resistance category that applies to most home gun safes. A Class 350 safe would retain an internal temperature of no higher than 350 degrees Fahrenheit during a fire, which is sufficient to preserve paper. But time and the heat of the fire also factor into the U.L. rating. For example, a U.L. Label/Class 350 degrees Fahrenheit one-hour safe will maintain that internal temperature for one hour during a 1700 degrees Fahrenheit fire. Greater protection would be offered by a Class 350 two-hour safe (two-hour fire at 1850 degrees Fahrenheit) or a Class 150 or Class 125 gun safe (which would be used to protect items more sensitive than paper). To earn these ratings, gun safes are put through three extremely rigorous tests by U.L.: a fire endurance test, an explosion hazard test, and an optional fire impact test.

In the fire endurance test, the safe is placed in a furnace and its interior temperature is monitored with heat sensors. After the safe has been tested at specific temperatures and fire duration times, it is allowed to cool. Its lock, interior, and parts are then examined for both security and heat transmission.

In the explosion hazard test, the safe is placed in a furnace that's been preheated to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. If the safe is a Class 350 one hour, it must endure this temperature for 30 minutes, or for 45 minutes if it's a two-hour safe. If the safe doesn't explode, it's allowed to cool and its lock, interior, and parts are examined.

If the safe manufacturer chooses to have it performed, the optional fire impact test immediately follows the explosion hazard test. Two minutes after being removed from the furnace, the safe is dropped 30 feet onto a concrete base covered by bricks. The safe is then inspected for damage or deformation. After it's cooled, the safe is inverted and reheated to 1550 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes (or 1638 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes if it's a two-hour safe), and then its lock, interior, and parts are examined.

U.L. Burglary-Resistance Rating Classification

TL-15 and TL-30 are the burglary-resistance ratings given to gun safes by Underwriters Laboratories. Such safes will be able to resist entry for 15 and 30 minutes respectively when attacked by burglars using common hand tools and picking tools, mechanical or portable electric tools, grinding points, carbide drills, and/or pressure-applying devices. Entry is defined as opening the door or making a hole in the door or front face that is at least six square inches.

To be given a U.L. fire-resistance rating, gun safes must also meet a specific set of construction requirements:

• The safe must use a U.L.-listed Group II, 1, or 1R combination lock
• The safe must weigh at least 750 pounds or come with instructions for anchoring (in a larger safe, concrete blocks, etc.)
• Body walls of material equivalent to at least one inch of open hearth steel with a minimum tensile strength of 50,000 pounds per square inch
• Walls fastened in a manner equivalent to continuous ﾼ inch penetration weld of open hearth steel with minimum tensile strength of 50,000 pounds per square inch
• One hole .25 inch or less to accommodate electrical conductors arranged to have no direct view of the door or locking mechanism

Information courtesy of AMSEC Safes (www.amsecusa.com)