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I've taken all the sheetrock off of an interior wall for some renovations we're doing. What I would like to do is use a section of that wall to create a fire resistant hidden storage compartment. It's not a safe, I don't want to spend that much money and security from thieves is not a primary concern.

My goals are:

  • Cost - cheaper than buying a standalone fire safe with similar capacity.
  • Capacity (limited depth, but height could be several feet with shelves.)
  • Camouflage (shouldn't stick out like a sore thumb.)
  • Fire protection (consider this the value to "solve for" while meeting all other requirements.)
hemp
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3 Answers3

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Brick and mortar box. Put drywall over brick if you want to hide it. Leave an opening so you can take things in and out. Can use an old fire oven door or something for the opening. I actually found the best place to do this is in a closet ceiling if you have attic space above. It doesn't have to look good so don't worry about the brick job - just make sure that is is pretty well sealed so heat/smoke can't get in. Could use garden stones too.

DMoore
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If you want serious house-fire resistance most homebrew solutions will not suffice. Minimum rating should be 1-hour @ 350-degrees F, on a standard test sequence which involves external temps up to around 1750 degrees. Yes, house fires can go that high.

That will be enough protection for papers and CDs in most house fires. For magnetic and photographic media you need something rated as a media chest, which will both keep the temps down to 150F and keep the humidity in the protected area lower.

The only solutions I consider trustworthy are either a fire chest with that rating (the cheap Sentry's and similar do work) or an in-ground safe installed thru the basement floor. The latter is not a promise, just my own guess that they might work well enough.

Remember that even if they have combo lock dials, most fire chests are not safes. If you need security too, that's more expensive, bulkier, and heavier.

hemp
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keshlam
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I think the question is based on the assumption that most people live in cities and most house fires get put out by the local fire department after they heat up one corner of a room in the house and ruin much more with smoke damage. So if you are like most people who have decided it's just not worth buying a fire safe; you might still want to build a brick and mortar box, surrounded by two sheets of drywall. I've used a square paver stone as my lid, with drywall glued over top. No, it won't survive a devastating house fire, but it will do just fine in the other 99.99% of fires.

joe
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