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Standard fire tests for document and data safes

In the event of an external fire - Data Safes and Fire Safes are required to maintain an internal environment that will ensure that the contents of the safe are neither destroyed or corrupted. the case of a Document (Fire) Safe, this means that for a specified period (typically 30, 60, 90 or 120 minutes), the internal temperature must remain at less than 200 degrees centigrade, the point at which documents will combust.

In the Data Safe however the temperature must be held at less than 52 degrees centigrade the point at which data media corrupts. A Data Safe must also offer protection against humidity levels over 85%, magnetic contamination, etc. A number of test standards are available for Safe manufacturers to test their products against.

 

Fire can strike anywhere and at any time and when it does it can be devastating. 60% of companies that suffer a major fire fail with 18 months

Achieving the standards set out in any of the tests is a comfort to any would be purchaser, however as indicated in the overview chart below, some tests are more rigorous than others and the VDMA DIS test is generally considered the ultimate standard to be achieved.

Test
Standard		 Basic Fire Test Other Tests Class Temp
max/rise		 Humidity
max		  
UL 72
(USA)		 Fire Endurance
Test		 1.   Explosion Hazard - 30 mins @ 1093 deg C - Furnace cool.

2.  Fire & Impact - Heat for 30,45 or 60 mins. drop 9.14m -   Invert & reheat for 30, 45 or 60 mins. - Furnace cool
.

350

150

125

177deg C

66deg C

52deg C

-

85%

80%
  
ECB Testing
(formerly 
VDMA 24991- Germany) 		Fire Resistance
Test		 Fire Shock & Drop - Heat for 30,45  mins.at 1090 deg C - Drop 9.14m -   reheat for 30, 45 mins. - Furnace cool, max temperature measured

P

D

DIS
.

150deg C

50deg C

30deg C

-

85%

80%
  
Nordtest
NT Fire 017
(Sweden)		 30, 60, 90 or 120 mins (+water cooling)

optional 4m drop carried out after heating period and before water cooling

   No Soak Out Period

 

Paper

Data

150deg C rise

50deg C rise

N.B. temperatures measured at less sensitive positions than UL or VDMA
    
JIS S1037
(Japan)		 60, 120 or 180 mins (+water cooling)

1. rapid heating, 30 mins @ 900 deg C

2. optional drop - heat for 30, 45 or 60 mins. Drop 4m - air cool for 30 mins - reheat for 30 or 60 mins - Water cool

Paper

Data

180deg C rise

65deg C rise

N.B. temperatures measured at less sensitive positions than UL or VDMA
    
 
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