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Antique Safes/safe rating

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Expert: - 1/30/2009


Question
We have an old safe, double doors, with a combination lock.  It is used to store money.  Inside the door is written: Spec F1 - D, Fire Insulated, SMNA Class A
What does all this mean?
thanks for the help, Kim


Answer
Kim,

First off you should not be storing money in this safe unless you are only protecting it from fire!!!!!

The old SMNA (Safe Manufactures National Association) was rating safes between the 1920's until around 1962.  UL (Underwriters Labs) started rating them in the late 1950's.  Most SMNA rated safes do not meet current standards, and because of their age, the protection that they did offer should be suspect.

The rating that your safe has is as follows:

F1-D, Fire insulated safe, Class-A 4 hour tested fire resistive safe with impact test.  Label color - Green

In the current UL testing for a safe such as this, the safe would be placed in an 1850 degree oven for 4 hours during which time the interior temperature could not exceed 350 degrees F.  (Paper chars at 412 degrees F.  and combusts at 451 degrees F.) The safe is then taken out of the oven while it is still hot, raised 30 feet and dropped upside down on to broken bricks, it is then placed back in the oven for an additional hour.  They safe cannot explode (due to temperature changes) or allow the interior temperature to exceed 350 degrees F.

Note:  This is a fire resistive safe, which means that it is designed to provide protection to documents from FIRE, only.  It is not a burglary safe and provides only limited theft protection as the door is locked and people can't just walk by and grab money.  But the safe is probably on wheels, and it is not designed to keep burglars out, neither of which lends to great security.

I would recommend replacement of your safe with a more current safe that offers the protection that you need, but I would need more info into what you are storing to recommend a safe to you.

Please feel free to check out our web site for more information.  www.securitysafeusa.com or www.securitysafeintl.com

Andy

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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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