As a consumer, you must determine what level fire rating is appropriate for your situation. Some determining factors are: fire department response time, type and amount of fuels near the safe, and heat tolerance of the items stored in the safe. Most house fires can reach temperatures of 1200 to 1500 degrees. Computer data needs to be stored below 150 F, paper documents and wood begin to change color at approximately 275 to 300 F. The average person may store rifles, photos, jewelry, or documents in their safe, which may be located in their garage. What’s in your garage now? Most garages are stuffed with stored items, most of which are flammable. If you have a car parked in the garage, the gas tank is a potential source of fuel that you must consider. In such a case, we recommend a safe with a fire rating of 1200 F for a period of 40-50 minutes. For other locations inside your home with minimal fuel in the vicinity, a rating of 1200 degrees for a duration of 30 minutes may be adequate.