Legal Document Lock Box
Honeywell`s 1103, 1503, 1533 and 1553 models are all variants of the same model with different latches and locks. While they`re generally strong competitors, their internal dimensions are a bit too small to hold an 8.5 x 11-inch sheet flat, and at this point they cost more than our budget selection from Union Safe Company. If you have a lot of documents and want to organize them into folders, the Honeywell 1108 Fire/Water Large File Chest is the best choice. It has all the same features as our main selection, the Honeywell 1114, including the ability to survive a fire up to 1,700ºF for an hour. The main difference between the two is the 1108`s ability to accommodate legal letter and hanging files in more than one cubic foot of storage. The result of this extra space is that the 1108 is the heaviest safe we`ve tested, weighing over 80 pounds. This makes it difficult to move even with the small handles carved on the outer edges. Moisture can be an issue with these safes as they tend to trap and retain moisture, which can damage the contents. This is a problem that many secure companies mention in their documentation and other documents. The SentrySafe HD2100 and CFW20201 both have the same design flaw. Your lids are only secured by small knobs on either side of the hinge, and the material is soft enough that you can actually break the lid with less force than expected.
You should expect a certain level of build quality from something that houses your most important documents, and these safes don`t deliver. As with the other SentrySafe models, although we haven`t tested them, CHW20101, CHW20201 and CHW20121 are all variants of the same design, so we don`t expect different performance. In addition, the first of the two HD2100 devices we tested arrived with cracks in the case. Representatives from SentrySafe told us that the company had recently had manufacturing problems that could have led to this problem, and that it has since reverted to its previous system, which was supposed to prevent this problem. For this guide, we didn`t look for expensive professional facilities or gun safes, but smaller, fireproof safes that fit under a desk or in a closet. This is the kind that is heavy and safe, but always ready to be lifted and moved when needed. A document safe should be fireproof and waterproof (also known as “flood-prone”), with a locking mechanism that keeps opportunistic intruders away. These safes are designed to hang files and are ideal for documents and small digital media files. The lightweight and waterproof Honeywell 1114 trunk has been independently checked by security organization Intertek to safely store personal belongings during a fire for an hour – twice as long as the competition – in conditions up to 1,700°F.
A house fire can peak at around 2,000°F, but this type of heat occurs at the highest points of your home, namely the attic, or at least the ceiling. It is cooler near the floor where you store your safe. Honeywell also says the safe prevents spray and flood water for 100 hours. It`s large enough to hold both sheets of letter and legal paper without you having to fold them. The added protection makes the 1114 noticeably larger and heavier than other safes of similar capacity – it weighs 42 pounds and takes up the same floor space as a mini-fridge. But we think the price and size are worth tolerating as this safe gives your belongings a greater chance of surviving a disaster. The 1114 has an internal capacity of 0.39 cubic feet, with the interior measuring 14.8 inches wide and 12 inches long and 3.8 inches high. This makes it shorter, but wider and longer than most document vaults. It is large enough to accommodate unfolded leaves. The best flame retardant document that protects items from fire and water is the lightweight and waterproof Honeywell 1114 trunk. It can survive hotter fires longer than any other home or office safe we`ve found from a reputable brand, and Honeywell says this safe should keep water out for 100 hours.
Its interior is long and wide enough that you can accommodate documents of any standard size, including letter, A4 and legal. (If you need to save folders of suspended files, check out our equally helpful tips, the Honeywell 1108 and the First Alert 2037F.) Thoughtful design features such as a securely attached cover as well as hydraulic hinges that prevent your fingers from being crushed when closing will set them apart from the competition. We like the lid hinge system, which prevents the heavy lid from crushing your fingers when closing. It is still possible to close the lid, but if it is accidentally tipped over, it will slow down a few centimeters before closing. In our testing, we only saw this feature on larger Honeywell safes, not on models from other brands. In addition, this Honeywell safe has latches on both sides of the lock that provide an extra level of security when closing the lid. Fireproof safes should not be burglar-proof or serve as impenetrable time capsules. If you have jewelry, precious metals, or anything else of great value that you don`t need frequent access to, consider a safe anchored to your floor or even a locker at a local bank. It is not as easy for a thief to enter a bank vault as it is for him to enter your home. These document safes are also not firearm safes and should not be used as such. The Honeywell 1108 Fire/Water large file trunk is a larger version of our premium safe with the same one-hour fire resistance. This 84-pound colossus is designed to hold folders of letters and hanging folders, which is handy if you have a lot of documents or just want to organize your belongings.
But it`s a big effort to move. During our lives, there are moments that change us forever. Getting married, having a child, moving to a new home and much more. SentrySafe knows that these moments come with memories of you and important financial documents that you need to keep. SentrySafe document vaults keep your documents and personal belongings organized and protected from danger. The 2037F is large enough to hold files and documents, but only has a burn time of 30 minutes. We only recommend it if you want to save a little money or if you don`t have the space for a huge safe. Document safes are designed to provide protection against fire, water, and (to some extent) theft for people who want to keep important items safe in an office or home. They are best suited for hard-to-replace or valuable documents such as passports and birth certificates, or small items such as hard drives or USB sticks.