In our electronic and digital age, you’d be forgiven for thinking that you do not need your hard-copy documents. That mindset, however, can lead to a messy and disorganized home or office as bills, contracts, invoices, tax returns, and financial records overwhelm you. The last thing you want is to be unable to find the document you need when you need it.
Filing cabinets are an ideal way to maintain organization and reduce general clutter at home or work. They also protect important files from loss or damage. One important decision you need to make is whether to go with a fireproof or a traditional file cabinet.
Not sure if you need a fireproof file cabinet? Read on to learn the benefits and downsides of fireproofing to help you decide.
An Intro to Fireproof Cabinets
As the name suggests, fireproof cabinets are specially designed and constructed to withstand extremely hot temperatures while keeping the internal temperature low enough to prevent the contents from being damaged. A regular metal file cabinet, conversely, may survive a fire but won’t keep its contents cool enough to prevent them from burning.
To be considered “fireproof”, the file cabinet must be able to withstand temperatures up to 1000°C while keeping internal temperatures below 177°C (paper’s burning temperature) for two hours.
Many fireproof cabinets have additional protection between each drawer so even if part of the fireproofing fails, or you leave a drawer open, the rest of the contents will be safe.
Benefits of a Fireproof File Cabinet
The first, and most obvious, benefit of a fireproof cabinet is that it saves your important documents in case of a fire. Estimates put the number of house fires per year at nearly 375,000, with an additional 100,000 occurring in commercial spaces. That’s one fire every 88 seconds. While no one expects a house fire, a fireproof file cabinet keeps you protected in case disaster strikes.
Enhanced fire safety can lead to long-term cost savings thanks to reduced insurance rates. It will also reduce your need for off-site storage, saving you up to several hundreds of dollars per month.
A fireproof cabinet can also serve double duty as a fireproof safe. With their heavy-duty materials and build quality, a fireproof cabinet can store valuables such as jewelry, family heirlooms, or precious metals.
Downsides of Choosing Fireproof
A fire filing cabinet comes with many benefits, but it will have some drawbacks. The main downside of going fireproof is the price. These cabinets are built with sturdier materials and generally higher quality, resulting in a higher price tag. You should expect to pay at least $100 for a fireproof cabinet.
A traditional file cabinet is generally much, much lighter than their fireproof counterparts. This is less of an issue once your cabinet is in place but can make transporting and setting it up difficult, if not impossible, on your own.
Fireproofing can come at the expense of aesthetics. While fire-resistant cabinets are available in many different colors, you are limited in available materials., Regular cabinets come in every material under the sun from metal to plastic to reclaimed wood.
Now that you understand fire-safe file cabinets, you’re in a good position to choose the one that works best for your needs. While fireproofing offers unmatched safety and security, you will make sacrifices when it comes to price, aesthetics, and convenience. However, if those three factors are less important, fireproof may be the way to go.