Common Ratings used for fire and burglary classifications.

The rating systems for safes are defined by construction or performance. Performance ratings are generally ranked by amount of time your valuables are safe when under attack by either burglary or fire. The following list will give you a general idea of how safes are rated, and these ratings are used on this website.

Construction Ratings 

B Rated - Steel, doors less than 1 inch thick, walls less than 1/2 inch thick.

C Rated - Steel, doors at least 1 inch thick, walls at least 1/2 inch thick.

E Rated - Steel, doors at least 1 1/2 inches thick, walls at least 1inch thick.

ER Rated - Safe or chest labeled with: "UL Inspected Tool Resisting Safe TL 15 Burglary"

F Rated - Safe or chest labeled with: "UL Inspected Tool Resisting Safe TL 30 Burglary" or "UL Inspected Torch Resisting Safe TR 30 Burglary" or "UL Inspected Explosive Resistant Safe with Relocking Device X 60 Burglary"

G Rated - Safe or chest labeled with: "UL Inspected Torch and Explosive Resisting Safe TX 60 Burglary" or "UL Inspected Torch Resisting Safe TR 60 Burglary" or "UL Inspected Torch and Tool Resisting Safe TRTL 30 Burglary"

Performance Ratings - Burglary Classifications

TL -15 Rating - Successfully resist entry for a net assault time of 15 minutes when attacked with common hand tools, picking tools, mechanical or portable electric tools, grinders, drills or pressure devices.

TL- 30 Rating - Successfully resist entry for a net assault time of 30 minutes when attacked with common hand tools, picking tools, mechanical or portable electric tools, grinders, drills or pressure devices.

TRTL - 30 Rating - Successfully resist entry for a net assault time of 30 minutes when attacked with common hand tools, picking tools, mechanical or portable electric tools, grinders, drills , pressure devices and oxy-fuel gas cutting or welding torches.

TRTL - 60 Rating - Successfully resist entry for a net assault time of 60 minutes when attacked with common hand tools, picking tools, mechanical or portable electric tools, grinders, drills , pressure devices and oxy-fuel gas cutting or welding torches.

TXTL - 60 Rating - Successfully resist entry for a net assault time of 60 minutes when attacked with common hand tools, picking tools, mechanical or portable electric tools, grinders, drills , pressure devices, explosives and oxy-fuel gas cutting or welding torches.

Performance Ratings - Fire Classifications

4 Hour Rating - Maintain an interior temperature of less than 150 degrees F and an interior humidity less than 85% when exposed to fire (up to 2000 F) for 4 hours.

3 Hour Rating - Maintain an interior temperature of less than 150 degrees F and an interior humidity less than 85% when exposed to fire (up to 2000 F) for 3 hours.

2 Hour Rating - Maintain an interior temperature of less than 150 degrees F and an interior humidity less than 85% when exposed to fire (up to 2000 F) for 2 hours.

1 Hour Rating - Maintain an interior temperature of less than 150 degrees F and an interior humidity less than 85% when exposed to fire (up to 2000 F) for 1 hour.

UL Labels

If a safe or chest bears the "Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc." , then it's model has been fully tested by this highly respected independent laboratory. On the UL label will be a complete performance coding. If your safe has an UL label, then you can be assured it meets or exceeds the standards set by Underwriter Laboratories, Inc.