The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) reported nearly 1.3 million cases of fire and the death of 3,800 people due to these fire breakouts in 2019. Also, there’s an estimation of 14.3 billion in property loss. This data truly shows how US residents are affected by the fire.
Therefore, many actually use fireproof bags to at least secure their documents, particularly the papers, including insurance and property documents. They expect that these bags with the fireproofed claim will protect their essential papers even amidst the such extensive fire.
But do fireproof bags really work? Also, if you have fireproof safes at home, you may ask, “Do fireproof safes really work?”
Both fireproof bags and safes will survive fire breakouts for several minutes. However, you shouldn’t expect that they will keep your papers and documents safe even after hours of burning inside the fire. It’s not a practical expectation either.
But now, let’s get deep into the matter for some revealing and shocking truth.
Read also: What Does A Fire Blanket Do? (Fire Blanket Specification)
What are Fireproof Bags?
First off, let’s clarify the definition of a fireproof bag since it confuses many people. Fireproof bags, as the name suggests, is resistant to high heat and temperature. These bags use fireproof materials for their manufacturing needs.
Also, fireproof materials are used both in the interior and exterior sections of the bag. Thus, the design will protect the documents and other items inside the bag. However, this protection won’t last for hours after hours; instead, the bag is capable of protecting the items from fire for a pretty limited time only.
Also, the survival chance against maximum temperature for the bag is not so high. It also will play a crucial factor in how resistant the bag will be against fire.
Nonetheless, these bags are made of different materials with various properties. Accordingly, they have different shapes and also fulfill the multiple needs of people. The common fireproof bag types are-
- Backpack fireproofs
- Shoulder bag fireproof
- Safes fireproof
- Fireproof document folder
You can use these bags to safely keep your documents, passports, jewelry, and special photos. But most offices and homeowners will use them for protecting their important papers from fire.
What Are Fireproof Bags Made Of?
You may be wondering how someone could make a bag fireproof. What materials do manufacturers use to make such science fiction bags?
Well, just like fireproof boots, jackets, and shirts, fireproof bags do really exist. And surprisingly, the material used to manufacture these bags will determine the answer, “Do fireproof bags work?” The most popular and practically best material for making fireproof bags is fiberglass.
However, fiberglass, with its pores and brittle properties, can’t fight against fire alone. It needs support from other materials, and silicone comes forward for such additional safety.
Thus, manufacturers will coat the fiberglass material with silicone. It will reduce the weakness of the fiberglass material, including heating ability shortly in high-temperature and also, porous. Fiberglass brings the following benefits to a fireproof bag-
- Fiberglass is pretty flexible
- Strong and durable
- The material is easy to mold
- The bags are cheap
When the silicone covers the fiberglass material, it also comes with multiple benefits. These benefits are-
- Fiberglass gives an itchy feel to the hand. Silicone covers eliminate such itchiness.
- The covering also makes the bag waterproof along with fireproof properties too.
- The bag will also enjoy extended durability against fire breakouts.
Therefore, both materials will actually complement each other to make the bag truly fireproof and durable in different circumstances.
Do Fireproof Bags Really Work?
Yes, fireproof bags do work to protect your documents and bags from a fire breakout. The fiberglass material and silicone covering truly protect the bag from fire.
But there’re a few factors involved with the fireproofing properties of the bags.
First off, you need to know the external and internal heat resistance of the bag. The bag interior can survive up to 660°F (350°C) temperature. On the contrary, the exterior side of the bag will remain unharmed up to 1550°F (843°C).
Thus, if the internal and external temperature of the bag rises above these limits, it won’t be able to protect the documents from fire anymore.
Nonetheless, the exposure time to fire of the bag is also a vital factor. Ideally, a fireproof bag will successfully survive in fire within the stipulated standard for up to 30 minutes. If the bag remains on fire for a longer period, it may even get burnt at a reduced temperature.
Therefore, you can expect that the fireproof bags will successfully protect the items inside them from short fires with not so high-temperature. But if your house is under fire for hours, you shouldn’t expect it to survive still. It would be pretty harsh on the bag.
Why Use Fiberglass in Fireproof Bags?
Fiberglass is a tough yet flexible material. Also, fiberglass is highly fire-retardant. In fact, scientific proofs show that fiberglass won’t burn even at high-temperature. But it can melt when exposed to such extreme heat.
So, how much temperature can fiberglass survive? It is estimated that fiberglass remains unharmed at 1000°F (540°C). When the temperature reaches beyond this limit, the fiberglass will start melting. But will take a few hours to melt fully.
Thus, fiberglass, with its extensive resistance against high heat, is used in fireproof bags. Moreover, fiberglass is easy to mold, which makes bag manufacturing easier. But there’re also other benefits of using fiberglass in fireproof bags.
First off, fiberglass is cheap, so, these bags remain affordable for commoners. The material supports a folding facility which is an essential part of bags’ uses. Therefore, with these practical and handy benefits, fiberglass has become the top choice for fireproof bags.
How much space is in the fireproof bags?
Fireproof bags are surely important for saving your documents and key items. But when it comes to space inside the bag, you shouldn’t expect much. The bags mostly come with one compartment. Even the compartment isn’t too large.
It is just sufficient to allow you to store A4-sized papers inside it. Thus, the most common size for fireproof bags is about 13” by 10.4”. Some bags may be a bit larger, but that too won’t cross 15” length and 12” height.
However, some high-end fireproof bags may come with multiple compartments. These bags are much like organizer bags and include additional compartments, pockets, and slots. These extra spaces will help you safely store a few more documents easily. Moreover, the small slots and pockets will help you store expensive jewelry such as diamonds and gold.
Furthermore, the compact spacing allows you to store the bag in the safest place, like volts or cabinets, for additional protection.
What Features Do You Look Out for When Buying A Fireproof Document Bag?
When you want to get good quality and practically beneficial fireproof bag, you should consider a few factors closely. First off, see the construction and material used to manufacture the bags. The bags often have multiple layers of fireproof elements. The most common materials are fire-retardant fiberglass. It should also have a silicone coating for further safety.
Next, look at the compartment and space inside the bag. Ideally, the bags have one compartment and space for storing A4-sized documents. Finally, consider the warranty and pricing of the bags. The bags have a warranty period from 6 months to 2 years. And for pricing, the envelope-style ones cost the least at $10-$20. The larger ones may reach up to $70 or even more.
The water-resistant feature is also a pretty crucial consideration. If the bag isn’t water-resistant, water will enter inside it when you pour water over the bag to put off the fire. Thus, it may destroy the paper and documents.
You may look at the style of the bag, but it isn’t important. Also, most bags have a pretty simple design, so you can avoid the consideration.
What about the Internal Temperature of the Bag?
Do fireproof document bags work? The answer to this question depends on the bag’s capability to withstand high-temperature both internally and externally.
The internal side of the fireproof bag will survive successfully up to 660°F (350°C) temperature. This is pretty high, considering that the bag will protect the fire advancement inside for a longer period. Thus, by the time the fire reaches the interior, it would lose its extremity.
It means the bag should survive a possible fire breakout in its interior part. It should bring peace of mind to you.
What External Temperatures Can They Survive In?
The external part of the bag has a fiberglass construction with a silicone coating. Therefore, its external side is more fire-resistant than the interior part. Most manufacturers claim that the exterior of a fireproof bag will survive fire up to 1550°F (843°C).
This limit is high enough to protect the bag exterior from most fire breakouts for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Conclusion
Our discussion finds that fireproof bags will successfully keep fires at bay from the stored documents for a couple of hours. These bags are made of fiberglass and silicone to ensure both fire and water-resistant.
Furthermore, with lightweight construction and durability, you can trust these bags to help you safeguard important business papers, insurance, and property documents. You may even store jewelry items inside the bags. Thus, these fireproof bags bring incredible peace to your life.
