PROTECTING YOUR VITAL RECORDS

Selecting fire-resistant products that meet and exceed Underwriters' Laboratories (UL) requirements for fire, impact and explosion resistance, as well as those extensively tested to meet government safety and security standards, can help prevent tragedy and maintain business continuity.

Product ratings

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) rates fire resistant products according to the media the product is designed to protect, the length of time it provides that protection, and whether or not the product is protected from impact. Products may undergo multiple tests to determine each rating.

To measure varying tolerance levels of record media, UL tests include three temperature ratings and five different time durations: paper storage at 350º F, media tapes and micro forms at 150º F, and diskettes at 125º F. These time lengths are assigned to a UL rating. For example, a product may receive a UL 125 Class, 1 hour rating.

Product specifies

Consider a wide range of fire-resistant products to protect your vital records including, file cabinets, record and media safes or insulated vault and file room doors.

Fire-resistant file cabinets that are designed to store vital paper records, computer data, media and small items are UL 350, UL 150 and UL 125 rated for the protection of all types of vital records will provide safe storage. Along with individually insulated drawers, high security locks and a standard manufacturer's warranty, some companies offer filing cabinets in lateral, vertical, side and end tab models, as well as two, three and four drawer styles in a variety of colors.

Fire-proof record and media safes are well suited to protect assorted media formats and larger specialty items and should offer a minimal rating of UL 72 and UL Class 125, 1 hour fire and 30 foot impact rated, security locking systems, warranties and color choices.

Vault doors are recommended for secured areas less than 5,000 cubic feet that are protected from temperatures exceeding 3500 F. File room doors are recommended for areas less than 50,000 cubic feet that store non-critical records. Vaults and doors should be one, two, four and six hour UL rated with a Class 350 rating, as well as UL 72 fire and 30 foot impact rated and offer high security locking mechanisms.

Integrating these products into your storage and filing systems will safeguard your vital records and materials from fire and ensure business continuity.