A fireproof safe is an investment you hope to never test, but if needed, it could be invaluable. After testing over a dozen safes, including burning five, we found Honeywell’s 1114 Lightweight Fire and Waterproof Chest to be the best. It endures higher-temperature fires and stays watertight longer than other safes its size, offering top protection for vital documents, photos, and essentials.
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Honeywell 1114 Lightweight Fire and Waterproof Chest
The best fireproof document safe
The 1114 safe endures high-temperature fires twice as long as rivals but weighs 42 pounds and is about the size of a mini fridge.
The Honeywell 1114 Lightweight Fire and Waterproof Chest is Intertek-certified to protect items for an hour at up to 1,700°F—double the duration of similar safes. While house fires can reach 2,000°F, temperatures are cooler near the floor where safes are usually placed. Honeywell also claims it can resist water damage for up to 100 hours. The 1114 is spacious enough for letter- and legal-sized documents without folding. Though it’s larger and heavier (42 pounds, like a mini fridge), this extra protection can be invaluable in emergencies.
Measurements: 20 x 17.2 x 7.3 inches
Weight: 42 pounds
Fireproof rating: One hour at 1,700°F
Union Safe Company Waterproof And Fire Rated Document Safe
A smaller, lighter, less costly safe
This model is the most affordable in its size range, with fire protection comparable to other safes at this price.
Larry McKenna from the US Fire Administration advises getting the best safe you can afford. For those on a budget, the Union Safe Company Waterproof and Fire Rated Document Safe from Harbor Freight is ideal. It fits 8.5-by-11-inch documents without bending and can withstand 1,550°F for 30 minutes—half the duration and lower protection than pricier options. This safe is compact and weighs 28 pounds, making it easier to move, but be cautious with the keys, as replacements aren’t available.
Measurements: 17.3 x 14.6 x 6.5 inches
Weight: 28 pounds
UL rating: 30 mins at 1,550°F
Honeywell 1108 Fire/Water Large File Chest
Best for hanging file folders
The 1108 safe, weighing 80 pounds, holds hanging folders and withstands fires for up to an hour, double the weight of the Honeywell 1114.
The Honeywell 1108 Fire/Water Large File Chest is a heavier, 84-pound version of our top pick, holding letter- and legal-size folders with a one-hour fireproof rating.
How we picked
In this guide, we focused on affordable, compact fireproof safes suitable for storage under desks or in closets. These safes should be secure yet portable, with features that ensure they are both fireproof and watertight, effectively safeguarding documents from both fire and flooding.
We examined offerings primarily from three leading brands: First Alert, Honeywell, and SentrySafe, while also considering a few other options. Our criteria for selection included:
- Independent Fireproof Rating: Safes are typically tested by UL or Intertek (using the “ETL” mark) to establish their fire resistance.
- Waterproof Rating: Since UL and Intertek don’t specifically test for water resistance, we relied on manufacturers’ claims, testing their assertions through rigorous water exposure, all our selected models proved effective at keeping water out.
- Security: While these safes are not designed to be entirely burglarproof, we ensured that their locking mechanisms (keys or keypads) functioned reliably.
- Build Quality: A robust safe enhances safety and provides peace of mind. We excluded models with flimsy components from our testing.
- Size: We evaluated safes for document storage and larger versions for hanging file folders, ensuring all could accommodate at least letter-size paper without folding. We recommended smaller, more affordable options unless a larger size was necessary.
- Price and Availability: We found safes priced at $50 or more typically offer at least 30 minutes of fire protection. Additionally, we ensured the models were accessible from reputable retailers with reasonable shipping options, as the weight of these safes often makes high shipping costs impractical. We also checked for consistent availability across retailers.
How we tested
It’s important to clarify that this test aimed for success, not destruction. A safe’s failure could stem from various factors unrelated to its construction, like firefighter handling. A safe that successfully protected its contents demonstrated its effectiveness.
We filled each safe with identical contents: five printed photos, a newspaper, a flash drive, and a DVD. After heating to about 1,300°F for half an hour, firefighters extinguished the fire. Once cool, we opened the safes to assess any water damage and overall build quality, checking for weak points and any breakage.
In later tests, we used insights from our initial burn to refine our selections, confirming the accuracy of fireproof ratings and examining build quality. We loaded the safes with paper and folders, noting any weak points. Some safes fell apart during testing, and attempts to submerge them revealed that they float, preventing water entry tests.
Our pick: Honeywell 1114 Lightweight Fire and Waterproof Chest
The Honeywell 1114 Lightweight Fire and Waterproof Chest is the top choice for protecting documents from fire and water. It withstands higher temperatures for longer than any other safe we found, with an Intertek rating of up to 1,700°F for one hour, keeping the internal temperature below 350°F. Honeywell claims it can keep water out for 100 hours, and its spacious interior accommodates standard documents, including letter, A4, and legal sizes. Design features like a securely attached lid and hydraulic hinges enhance usability. While no safe guarantees complete security, the Honeywell 1114 offers superior protection in most situations, especially given that room temperatures can exceed 2,000°F in a fire.
Honeywell claims that the 1114 offers digital media protection and waterproofing for up to 100 hours under a meter of water, but these assertions are based on their own testing rather than third-party validation like Intertek.
The Honeywell 1114 features a hinge system that prevents the heavy lid from crushing fingers, allowing it to slow down if accidentally dropped. This safety feature is unique to Honeywell’s larger models. Additionally, it has latches on either side of the lock for added security.
With an internal capacity of 0.39 cubic feet and dimensions of 14.8 inches wide, 12 inches long, and 3.8 inches tall, the safe can hold unfolded sheets of paper. Honeywell backs the 1114 with a seven-year warranty, better than the five-year warranty on our runner-up safe, and offers a “lifetime after-fire replacement guarantee,” replacing the safe (not its contents) for free if damaged in a fire.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The Honeywell 1114 has a footprint of 20 inches wide and 17 inches long, similar to a mini fridge, making it less suitable for small spaces. Its 42-pound weight can make it difficult to move, which could be seen as beneficial for security but inconvenient for access.
While it doesn’t have a digital keypad for keyless entry, a feature that can enhance convenience, none of our other picks include one either. This is something we consider when evaluating safes.
A document-sized budget pick: Union Safe Company Waterproof And Fire Rated Document Safe
The Union Safe Company Waterproof and Fire Rated Document Safe is a solid alternative if our top pick is unavailable, if you’re on a budget, or if space is limited. Sold exclusively by Harbor Freight, it has a lower UL certification than the Honeywell 1114, rated for 1,550 °F for 30 minutes compared to 1,700 °F for 60 minutes. While this safe provides adequate protection in many fire situations, a higher rating may be worth the investment if you can afford it.
Union Safe Company claims this model can keep out water for 24 hours during full submersion, which is less than the Honeywell’s 100 hours but still effective against water from firefighting efforts. Unlike the Honeywell 1114, this safe lacks latches but features a double-locking mechanism, requiring a tubular key and knob to secure it, ensuring the lid remains closed even when unlocked.
The Union Safe Company model has less storage space than our top pick but can still fit unfolded letter-size paper. With dimensions of 17.3 by 14.6 inches, it uses about 73% of the Honeywell 1114’s floor space (1.75 square feet versus 2.4 square feet). Weighing just 28 pounds, it also features a handle for easier transport.
However, a key downside is the lack of replacement keys if lost, as noted by a warning sticker on the safe. While this may not affect most users, it could be a significant inconvenience if keys are misplaced.
A bigger option for file folders: Honeywell 1108 Fire/Water Large File Chest
For those with many documents to organize in folders, the Honeywell 1108 Fire/Water Large File Chest is the best option. It shares the same fire protection as the Honeywell 1114, withstanding temperatures up to 1,700 ºF for an hour. The key difference is its capacity to hold both letter- and legal-size hanging file folders in over a cubic foot of storage. However, this extra space makes the 1108 the heaviest safe tested, weighing over 80 pounds, which makes it difficult to move, even with small grips on the sides.
