So what WOULD happen if your house burnt down?

Most collectors have some type of safe, whether it's the 19.99 sentry shoebox special, or a $5,000 gun safe.

They all offer fire protection, but what exactly does it protect?

One has to think for a minute.

The metal itself would most likely be fine, but what if the coin was in a slab, will the heat from the fire be enough to melt or warp it?

What if the coin was in an air-tite holder, would you have a glob around the coin now?

Would all your paper money be singed?

Has anybody heard of a coin collecting actually being in a safe, in a house fire?

...and if so, what happened to the coins?

 

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My coins would be the last of my worries if my house were to burn down.

 

It depends.

 

I guess some answers nay be found in this article:

http://www.coinlink.com/News/us-coins/fire-damaged-coins-conserved/

 

That's one reason I only collect coins with mostly bullion value. An ounce of coin is worth as much as an ounce of melted silver.

 

I've seen it before. However it doesn't mention if the coins were in a safe, by the looks of things, I take it they were not.

 

I think this is part of the reason why some people get safe deposit boxes at their bank.

 

A safe, is a box that contains things. It will leak, it breathes, and will melt under high heat. So, it's not perfect. One of our members had lighting hit his house, and his home went up in flames. The coins in slabes, melted and changed colors. So, most if all coins were messed up. Life is not good sometimes, but he was not injured.

 

<br><br>A safe, is a box that contains things. It will leak, it breathes, and will melt under high heat. So, it's not perfect. One of our members had lighting hit his house, and his home went up in flames. The coins in slabs, melted and changed colors. So, most if all coins were messed up. Life is not good sometimes, but he was not injured.<br>The silver and gold still had melt value.

 

Ya, but was the stuff in a safe?

Not all safes are fire proof. A lot of gun safes are not. You pay extra for it.

 

My Cousin "The FireFighter" told me once that his biggest fear when entering a burning house is heavy objects (e.g. safes) in the attic.

 

Well, most safes are fire resistent. But, that doesn't mean it won't get up to 1000 degress inside the safe and destroy coins and burn paper. No safe, not even in a bank, can protect from that. The best safes for heat are concrete lined, but even their rating expires after just a little while, much shorter than an average house fire.
Guy

 

I don't blame him. That's the dumbest thing one can do. The lowest level is the best.

 

That's just it...most safes, even the best safes have an upper heat and time limit. If either get surpassed (and a total destruction house fire likely would)...the materials inside would get damaged. Bottom line, if your house burns down...don't expect anything inside to survive, no matter the precautions.

 

Provided the lowest level isn't below ground level. I used to work for a company during the summers in high school that cleaned out personal property from burned-up houses for salvage before the remainder was razed. You'd be surprised how much water gets sprayed during a house fire. It was common for the basement, even a week or two after the fire, to have three or four feet of standing water in it. And let me tell you -- it smelled terrific.

I would venture that the first floor above the basement would be the best, probably in a safe (a) hidden in a closet or something (b) that is bolted to the floor so a thief could not carry it off to open later.

 

A home is full of memories; that would be sad. The things are just that 'things" and do not matter. If my family and pets are OK, that's enough for me. PS... I was "burned out" once in my life, and thats enough.

 

house fire. been there, done that TWICE. I have been thru 2 house fires and done OK. I have a couple grab and go boxes of bullion & numi coins that I slid in backpack bag and went out the third floor window on a ladder. second time I was in the basement. the best place for a safe is as low as you can put it. all the water goes down, heat goes up. moderate damage from fire and heavy smoke damage to the house but the safe came thru fine. have smoke detectors and an exit plan. actually thick wood makes a good insulator around a safe. sounds backwards but try to burn thru a couple of thick hardwood boards. I live in city limits so response time is good. takes a lot of heat to cook things in a good safe

 

So now ask yourself, what do you do when your bank is on fire then? I know what I'd do, I'd grab a clothes hanger and some marshmallows.. :thumb:

 

Someone posted this info. years ago.

Fire Ratings

* FR — Fire resistant unrated insulated safe
* 1/2 hr — UL class 350. Protects valuables for up to 30 minutes with outside temperature of 1550 degrees.
* 1 hr — UL class 350. Protects valuables for up to 1 hour with outside temperature of 1700 degrees.
* 1 hr+ — UL class 350. Protects valuables for up to 1 hour with an outside temperature of 1700 degrees, plus survived drop test from 30 feet.
* 2 hr — UL class 350. Protects valuables for up to 2 hours with an outside temperature of 1850 degrees.
* 2 hr+ — UL class 350. Protects valuables for up to 2 hours with outside temperature of 1850 degrees, plus survived drop test onto rubble from 30 feet

UL Underwriters' Laboratories (UL) - UL is a non-profit, non-bias agency that tests and rates the safety and performance of consumer products. Safes that have earned specific UL ratings will carry a UL label which designates the product's security and fire-protection ratings.