How hot is too hot?

[Scratch & Goose]

Hello
I have a DP (see signature) that has two "SECREAT" hiding places in the floor, right over the engine.
Can a SENTRY fire safe and two SENTRY hand carry fire safes withstand the heat, if GOD forbid the engine should catch fire.
All three safes are rated at 1200 dg. F.
We store some items which would be very hard to replace.
Any comments or suggestions .....

Scratch

[Scratch & Goose]

Hello
I have a DP (see signature) that has two "SECREAT" hiding places in the floor, right over the engine.
Can a SENTRY fire safe and two SENTRY hand carry fire safes withstand the heat, if GOD forbid the engine should catch fire.
All three safes are rated at 1200 dg. F.
We store some items which would be very hard to replace.
Any comments or suggestions .....

Scratch

[NeilV]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Scratch & Goose:
Hello
I have a DP (see signature) that has two "SECREAT" hiding places in the floor, right over the engine.
Can a SENTRY fire safe and two SENTRY hand carry fire safes withstand the heat, if GOD forbid the engine should catch fire.
All three safes are rated at 1200 dg. F.
We store some items which would be very hard to replace.
Any comments or suggestions .....

Scratch </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Then you may want to consider a fire suppresion system. See the one at the web site listed below:

http://www.rvsafetysystems.com/Fire%...uppression.htm

["007"]

You could also consider a system like this setup by Cruzer one of our own.Fire Systems

[Scratch & Goose]

Hello;
Thanks for the advertisements, they made interesting reading, BUT my question is still unanswered....

Scratch

["007"]

Sentry fire endurance

Have you called Sentry and ask them the heat limits. A coach burnt to the ground even the metal melts in extream heat. Fire system is to save your coach and your safes and possibly your lives.

[NeilV]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Scratch & Goose:
Hello;
Thanks for the advertisements, they made interesting reading, BUT my question is still unanswered....

Scratch </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I lost my motorhome in a fire.

Your request was for:

"Any comments or suggestions"

After personally experiencing a motorhome fire while driving down the highway at 65 mph with no brakes is to do everything in your power to not have a fire.

In my case of a gas coach the valve covers and intake melted off the engine. Diesels when they go will burn a crater into the roadway.

I am actively looking for a fire suppression system myself and my suggestion is that you do the same. A fire safe only provides partial protection after it is too late.

I would not store valuables over the engine. The fire safes might survive but the contents would have to suffer some level of harm.

[NeilV]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by NeilV:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Scratch & Goose:
Hello;
Thanks for the advertisements, they made interesting reading, BUT my question is still unanswered....

Scratch </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I lost my motorhome in a fire.

Your request was for:

"Any comments or suggestions"

After personally experiencing a motorhome fire while driving down the highway at 65 mph with no brakes my comment is to do everything in your power to not have a fire.

In my case of a gas coach the valve covers and intake melted off the engine. Diesels when they go will burn a crater into the roadway.

I am actively looking for a fire suppression system myself and my suggestion is that you do the same. A fire safe only provides partial protection after it is too late.

I would not store valuables over the engine. The fire safes might survive but the contents would have to suffer some level of harm. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Cruzer]

To answer your specific question - "no", I don't think your contents would survive. Part of the issue is that you'd be placing them in the worst possible place - directly over a superheated heat source. They "might" survive in the front of the coach but I'd hesitate to rely on any hard numbers. If you really do have important irreplaceable stuff (and we all do) I'd think about suppressing the fire rather than trying to survive it. You can't fit everything into a safe and even if it's not on the "A" list, it's still going to be missed. Not to mention the potential loss of life. These things go up fast and get very hot. I installed my suppression system with an eye to both suppress the fire to prevent further damage as well as to provide an early warning system to allow me to take the approriate action. The advice that Neil and Roger offered is good counsel. I'd consider that option rather than the safe.

[DavidMc]

As I recall (and apply the usual caution to things "remembered"), the ratings on fire-safes have a couple of parameters that need to be considered:

1) how hot
2) how long
3) how quickly cooled down afterwards.

I think the instructions for these safes include "to be cooled in a fire-hose mist" for half-an-hour or so before opening - - that translates to a great deal of water which we may not have on hand.

[JerryForwood]

Thinking about my own gas coach:
Over the engine - NEVER
Over the mid area - NEVER - Propane tank
Over the rear area - NEVER - Gasoline tank
Answer to question - In a safety deposit box in a bank.
JMHO!

[Scratch & Goose]

Hello;
OK, you guys talk me into storing the valuables elswhere.
When the DW read NeilV's reply she asked "why don't we have one of those???

SO .......

Thanks for your replies,
Scratch