Humans have been fascinated by fire for as long as we can remember. From grilling a mouth-watering steak, all the way to poetic associations with various feelings, like passion and desire, people are captivated by the magic of fire.
It is, however, one of the most dangerous elements in the world, causing 26 billion USD property damage annually, and that’s in the US alone. We haven’t even discussed the immeasurable sentimental value of the objects that fire can destroy.
To protect precious property, and more precisely – documents and money from fire, you can invest in fireproof document bags – (also known as fire resistant document holders).
These carefully and insightfully manufactured pouches/holders/bags are fire-resistant and thus can protect precious personal documents or important archives from being reduced to ashes.
So, what is there to know about fireproof/fire-resistant document bags?
Top 10 best fireproof document bags available:
What exactly is a fireproof document bag?
How are these folders built & what is their purpose?
In the shortest and simplest way we can put it – fireproof document bags are… Well… Fire-resistant bags for documents.
Engineers created them by utilizing sturdy materials and compositional elements which have very high ignition points. Thanks to these materials, fireproof bags can only melt or catch on fire after extremely long exposure to very hot fire. The bag is a great investment since most house and building fires never even get close to the point required to damage it.
Most of the best fireproof document bags in the market today are made from:
- silicone,
- fiberglass
- special PVC coatings,
- special thermal insulation layers
However, you should know that no bag, despite its quality and the marketing information about it, is 100% fire-resistant. The bag only protects the contents for a much more extended period of time, but if rescue does not come, prolonged contact with flames will do its fair share of damage.
So, in short, don’t think about it as a “Get out of jail free” card. Rather look at the bag as a means to win more time for recovery and rescue.
Do these document bags really work, or is it just a gimmick?
You might wonder then if these are just fire-resistant and not fireproof, why bother at all.
We would like to add that nothing is fully fire-resistant. Give it enough time and everything can be ignited, burnt through or forced to burst into flames. However, fireproof document bags absolutely work!
There are tons of video reviews out there. Check them out to see for yourselves. Those babies can take a lot of heat and keep even the most fragile contents safe for a very long time.
Depending on the make and model, bags can withstand excruciating heat, anywhere between 350 Celsius (662 Fahrenheit) all the way to 1200 degrees Celsius (2100 Fahrenheit).
Since most house and regular fires are only around 300 degrees Celsius, photos, papers or anything of value that is stored in a fireproof document bag can be kept intact. As you know, paper is easily ignited, whilst lighting silicone coated fiberglass on fire is a much more difficult challenge.
Choosing the right fireproof bag for documents
Trust us; we could ramble on about the pros and cons of any one of the fireproof bags in the market today. However, since this is a general overview, let’s focus on the aspects and traits of these bags that can help you find just what you were looking for.
1. What is the best folder size?
Fireproof document bags can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. However, the most common dimensions for this item tend to be around 45 x 30 x * centimeters or 17 x 12 x * inches. This is because they have to contain A4 or A3 pages and smaller-sized documents. In addition, a standard-scale fireproof document bag can be used for laptops, credit cards, tablets, smartphones and other belongings as well.
However, the market is also full of smaller bags (usually reserved for cash and valuable documents like a passport etc.) and larger units which can house much more than a 17 by 12 (inches) fireproof document bag.
Make sure you know how much stuff will go in there and select the size accordingly.
2. What is their heat resistance?
As we’ve mentioned – house fires usually keep a steady temperature of ~300 degrees Celsius. This means that any document bag, capable of withstanding a higher temperature can keep your documents protected for longer. Nonetheless, a free piece of advice is never to save and compromise when it comes to security measures. Only take the best available.
Don’t look for the lowest price. Make sure that the purchase can ensure maximum safety before diving head-first into buying the cheapest fireproof document bags en masse.
Heat resistance and its extensiveness are directly related to the qualities of the compositional elements. So, if let’s say your bag is made from wood, it won’t protect the contents from fire. Then again, using something like fiberglass, aluminum foil, PVC and silicone can improve fire resistance. Due to fact that these materials have a much higher ignition point, your documents are stored with much more safety.
3. Are there any extra features?
Look for additional features such as water resistance. Just imagine, a fire breaks out in your company’s archive or any storage area. What immediately happens? That’s right – the sprinklers and the alarm go off. Your documents can be fireproof, but without waterproofing or resistance to water, the H2O will ruin what’s inside the bag before the flames get to it.
If you’re looking for more bang for your buck, browse the specification of a particular product that might interest you. Maybe it has a detachable section, secret, more protected internal compartments, safety certificates, a lock, etc.
Keep in mind that these extra features work not just by protecting contents from flames, but also preventing tampering and theft by adding more safety.
Additional advice for protecting documents from fire
How much should you spend?
It depends. If we are talking about average fireproof document bags, they can cost between 20 and 50 USD. Specific needs can up the price.
What other measures can be used for document protection against fire?
Sometimes it is best to place a bag inside of a bag, but that is just an additional precaution, not a recommendation. What we would recommend is ensuring maximum fire hazard prevention in the particular area where the documents are stored. Fire alarms, smoke detectors, sprinklers and extinguishers placed in convenient locations can help suppress a fire or deter hazards. Make sure you yourself know what to do in case it happens, and you’re set to go!
