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Antique Safes/Material used to fireproof a safe

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Expert: - 1/15/2009


Question

Safe
When I moved into my last house in 1987 there was a safe in the basement left behind by the previous owner. It was 37"H x 26" W x 26" D, wqas red in color, and had a name plate on the door saying Dominion. The house has a fire and was damaged beyond repair in 1995. The clean up crew brought the heavily damaged safe to my new home and put it in the garage where it sat ever since. I wanted to have it removed, and my handyman said he would rent a truck and remove it. Instead, he decided to break it up to make it easier to take the pieces away. He cut it into pieces over the course of 7 hours from the top and sides and coated everything in the garage (car, storage stuff, etc) in a fine dust. I came home and asked what happened and he said not to worry, it was probaly just asbestos dust and that stuff insn't that dangerous (!). Needless to say I was worried. Do you have any idea if the material used was indeed asbestos? I read in a previous response to someone that you said usually asbestos was not used in a safe, except in the 1940's-50's. I woudl like to know so I can breathe easier knowing my belongings aren't coated in asbestos dust. Thanks. The only pic I have is of the pieces after it survived the fire and was cut up (see attached photo - red color not visable due to it being covered in dust from the cutting up). Thanks for any help you can provide.

Answer
Brent,

Only a couple of companies used asbestos extensively in their safes, most were manufactured by the "Safe Cabinet Laboratories".  These were also released under various other labels such as "Art Metal", Remington-Rand", "National Safe Cabinet Co." and a few others.  Asbestos was in fact used in safes from the 1800's but as it was more expensive to mine and use, mortar and plaster of paris was more common.

I am not aware of Dominion using Asbestos, but if you are concerned about it, get a sample of the dust and have a local HazMat group test or inspect it.  It is probably just mortar or concrete dust based on the color (gray).  Asbestos is usually more white.

Note:  Asbestos is dangerous when it becomes airborne, and/or you breath quantities of it.  Use precautions, such as a respirator not a face mask when you are cleaning up to avoid inhalation of the powder in case it is asbestos.

Andy

Terry V Andreasen (Andy)

Expertise

Safe and Vault related Questions; Antique Safe Repair and Restoration; With over 40 years in the Safe & Vault industry, if I can't answer your question I know where to get the answer. Current Project: Restoration of two Tilton & McFarland Safes from the 1860's. Will answer Safe & Vault related questions concerning age, value, restoration, moving, opening & repairing, parts, operation and history. Note: It is not my intention to teach you to open safes or to provide information which may aid in the unlawful opening of a safe. I will not give out drill points or information which I deem inappropriate.

Experience

40 years in the Safe & Vault Industry. Service Manager for one of the largest Safe & Vault companies on the West Coast. Graduate of Lockmasters Safe Lock Servicing, Safe lock Manipulation and Safe Deposit Lock Courses. Graduate of Locksmith Institute. Certified Instructor for the California Locksmith Association teaching Basic and Advanced Lock Servicing, Basic Safe opening and Repairing. Factory Trained by AMSEC, LORD Safes, LeFebure, Mosler, KabaMas, LaGard and Sargent & Greenleaf

Organizations
Safecrackers International and the National Antique Safe Association

Education/Credentials
Graduate of Locksmith Institute 1972 Graduate Lockmasters Safe Lock Servicing 1974 Graduate Lockmasters Safe Lock Manipulation 1975 Graduate Lockmasters Safe Deposit Lock Servicing 1985 Instructor Certified - California Locksmith Association - 1985 Factory trained by AMSEC, MAJOR, STAR, Johnson-Pacific, Kaba-MAS, Allied-Gary, ISM, Lord, Brown Safe, EXL, Mosler, Diebold.

Awards and Honors
2009, 2010 & 2011 Listed in AllExperts top 50 Experts. All Experts Categories - Safes & Security Containers, Locksmithing, Antique Safes. Retired US Army Reserve Chief Warrant Officer (CW3), with 32 years of total service. With numerous awards from Vietnam, Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. US Navy - 1971-1981 US Army Reserve 1984-2006 US Army Retired Reserve 2006-present

Past/Present Clients
US Secret Service, FBI, BATF, Local Law enforcment agencies, Diebold, Hamilton Pacific, Red Hawk Int., Chubb International, Bank of America, Wells Fargo Bank, Mechanics Bank, El Dorado Savings Bank, many Credit unions and smaller banks. McDonalds, Togos, BurgerKing, TacoBell, Carls Jr. FoodMaxx, SaveMart, Lucky's, Albertson's, Raley's, Safeway, NobHill, Bell Markets, PW Markets. Great America, Century Theatres, Cinemark Theatres, UA Cinemas, and many homeowners and small businesses. Provide warranty service for lock and safe manufactures. Service area is Northern California - Fresno to Oregon, including western Nevada

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