The First Alert 2037F is a small fireproof safe and a good choice for anyone who is on a budget. As the title suggests, it is not fancy and it is not expensive but it will do what it is designed to do and that is protect your valuable documents in a fire situation.
This is a very useful item to have around the office or the home. People who have a lot of important documentation and even for those of us who have the very basic of paper documentation can benefit from this security chest.
Protect all your important information in hanging files and lock them away from thieves, fire, and water. This small safe or security chest has fireproofing and waterproofing and also has a five year limited warranty.
Is The First Alert 2037F Right For You?
There are many varieties of small safes on the market these days and all of them have their own special features and benefits. This particular security chest has a number of features and is predominantly focused on protecting paper documents. It has the right shape and size to hold A4 sized hanging files or even a collection of mixed files and folders.
It offers very basic security against burglary so if your main priority is anti-theft and you need a safe designed specifically to deter thieves from breaking then I would start looking around for an alternative.
The First Alert 2037F has been tested to protect various items against fire in temperatures reaching 1,550 degrees Fahrenheit for up to 30 minutes. So this is a sound investment if you have a lot of important files, documents, papers, etc that are irreplaceable and need protecting from fire or water.
As a suggestion, if you are planning on storing your documents I would also place a safe dehumidifier dry pack into the safe to protect your papers from any trapped moisture. There are also special sealant bags that will do this.
It is a portable safe but is also quite heavy considering its size. The weight is heavy enough to prevent a small child from tipping it over but won’t stop a thief from walking away with it. As mentioned, this security chest is conveniently sized to hold standing files for keeping all your documents organized and in one piece without having to fold them.
A nice little bonus is its flat lid. This is very useful if you have very little room available in your apartment, house or office. If you have more than one of these lock boxes you can stack them one on top of the other and use up very little space.
The First Alert 2037F isn’t just designed for protecting documents. It has a 0.62 cubic foot capacity so it is large enough to store away all kinds of different items such as CDs, DVDs, cell phones and other electronic equipment.
As mentioned above, this is not a high security safe. It does have a really smooth locking mechanism that is fast and easy to use but it certainly would not keep out a burglar for very long.
I don’t believe it to be a major flaw of this safe as its main function is to protect from fire and water damage rather than a determined thief. If the level of security for you is to just keep your young child or nosey friends from getting into the safe then this First Alert 2037F would do just fine.
Just by looking at this product you can tell that it is sturdy and with the lid shut you can understand the importance of the waterproofing seal placed around the opening. By sealing the lid tight anything kept locked away inside would be protected from water damage and of course fire damage.
This personal small safe comes with two keys that should be hidden away carefully. With the key the mechanism unlocks flawlessly and the lid opens and closes smoothly and without any trouble. A one-push latch and lock system means easy access and quick storage.
Conclusion
If you are going to spend under $100 for a safe you cannot expect it to have all the features you require but if you know what you’re safe requirement priorities are then you can find yourself exactly what you needed. So regarding the First Alert 2037F your main priority would be fire and water protection for your important documents and other valuables. This safe offers basic level security; it won’t stop anyone from getting in if they persisted.
It is a bit heavier than you may expect so if you plan on moving this thing around a lot I would consider a lighter model. I think its heavy weight can be an advantage if you just plan on storing it in a cupboard or under your desk.
Of course, it can be portable but its lack of a carry handle could make things a little awkward if you have to carry it far. The fireproofing and waterproofing look flawless and for a document safe you could do a lot worse. At time of writing this the price has dropped below $50 so there is no question that this is great value for money.
PROS
The right size to hold standing files meaning no paper folding.
Smooth and easy locking system.
Has a low price tag.
CONS
Doesn’t have a handle.
Features
Clamping style latch key lock.
Includes entry keys.
Independently verified to protect electronic media, such as memory sticks, CD’s, DVD’s and external hard drives.
Waterproof even when fully submerged.
UL classified 30 minute fire protection for media devices in an external temperature up to 1550 degrees.
