How do fireproof safes work?

Most safes contain three layers of protective materials:

• An outer mild steel skin.
• An middle core of fireproof material.
• An inner layer of felt or carpet type material to protect the contents.

To make a safe fireproof the materials used need to be non-conductive of heat and incombustible. While steel is incombustible it conducts heat very well. So, a heat isolation or insulation material is often installed between the inner and outer skins.

Some of the isolation materials used could be perlite, wood chips, diatomaceous earth, Portland cement, vermiculite, mica or gypsum. There are also proprietary materials that have been developed to use for this purpose. You usually find these materials used in high end commercial safes. Gypsum, vermiculite and perlite are commonly used in domestic and office safes.

These are naturally occurring minerals that have high thermal resistance and are very light weight. This makes them ideal for using as insulating materials in safes. You have probably seen both materials in your local hardware store as they are used extensively in horticulture to condition soils.

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