Ron 717 Loc: Pennsylvania

I have 3 “Fire Resistant boxes. One file type box holds important papers, the other 2 boxes each hold a current backup of my photos, they are in separate locations in the house. I also have a backup HD on my desktop and auto upload my photos to Flickr and to Amazon Prime Photos. My photo equipment is partially insured through my homeowners policy. Equipment can be replaced but not photos.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

No such thing as a fire proof safe.
Safes can be fire resistant, but a determined fire can overcome any safe. Simple thermodynamics. You CANNOT reduce heat transfer to zero. If the area surrounding the safe stays hot for enough time, the contents will get hot.

Safes may be rated for a certain amount of time during which they can keep the contents below damaging temperatures but that time is usually measured in hours, not days. And their definition of "damaging temperatures" may well be oriented toward paper, wheras equipment can be damaged at lower temperatures.

A fire resistant safe might be useful for irreplaceable items, but all your camera gear is replaceable.

For the cost of an extended time fire resistant safe, purchase insurance that would cover your gear at new replacement cost.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

My understanding is a fireproof safe will keep papers from burning etc. But plastic will melt so I'm not sure what the temperature will ket to in the safe and that will also depend on the fire. I'm not sure what the camera can stand.

NCMtnMan Loc: N. Fork New River, Ashe Co., NC

Things might not get hot enough to burn, but that doesn't mean the heat won't damage them.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

No fire resistant safe planned.

chemsaf Loc: San Diego

I store back-up media in one. Started when the cloud did not exist and have not stopped. I would not doubt that today. Equipment? No, insurance.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

CD's will not survive in one if you have a hot fire around the safe. Cameras is questionable.

bobbyjohn Loc: Dallas, TX

Hard disk(s) for backup YES. Camera Equipment NO. I typically backup my HD using Macrium Reflect about once a month, and that backup HD goes into the safe, and once per year one of the HD backup disks go into a bank safe deposit box.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

For backup, the cloud is safer than any fire resistant safe.

JohnH3 Loc: Auburn, AL

Yes, I have a gun safe in a closet that is specifically setup to store my camera equipment. I store my camera equipment in a dedicated safe. I bought the gun safe and then built and installed shelves in it spaced to hold my camera equipment. I did design and build the shelves in a manner to facilitate airflow within the safe. I live in the southeastern United States in South Alabama. We live in a high humidity environment. In light of the high humidity that we experience daily, I do monitor and control the humidity in the safe. I keep a hygrometer (humidity monitor) in the safe. I am usually able to keep the levels below the humidity level that is present in the house. I keep a DampRid on the most middle shelf in the safe. I have found it to be the most effective means of controlling the humidity and maintaining levels that are between 35% and 45% humidity levels. Every thing I have always read has stated that these are safe humidity levels for storing camera lenses and equipment. You don’t want the humidity levels to be to low either. If to low, the lubricants on the lens will dry out and damage your lenses as well. The DampRid does capture some moisture so I keep its holding container emptied and wiped out weekly. Being that the safe is airtight, the DampRid in the safe captures small amounts of moisture as compared to the DampRids we keep in our closets, garage (very large ones), camper, and even our pickup truck (not driven daily). I do set the lens out at times just to expose them to light. UV light does help and is essential in reducing the growth of fungus, but to much will damage other lens components as well. I have a good number of lens. Some I use often and constantly and some I seldom use, but when I need them, I want them. Of course, I pretty much use all of the cameras regularly. I have never had any problems with anything. I do monitor my lens carefully though. Especially in the summer months in south Alabama, we see humidity levels from 70%-100% daily. The house A/C manages the humidity levels well, but I am able to maintain the levels I mentioned above in the safe simply by placing a DampRid in it. I worry about this concern for sure. I also worry about protecting my camera equipment (and guns and my wife’s jewelry) should we ever be broken into and robbed. Yes, we have multiple safes in our house: one for cameras and lens, one for guns, and a third smaller one for jewelry and important documents. Also, should we experience a fire that is quickly contained, I would hope the safes would protect my equipment and other items from both heat and potential water damage as well. With that being said, I have no illusions that the safe would protect any of my valuables from a catastrophic fire or an overly determined thief. For us, tornadoes are also a concern. Unfortunately, those things do happen. With such items, it seems that even with special and expensive riders, insurance never fully covers what you own. Good luck in making your decisions and protecting your equipment.

ezslides

You definitely do not want to keep photo equipment in one, as the humidity level is very high to ensure safety of things like paper in a fire.

worldcycle Loc: Stateline, Nevada

I use my gear. My safe and insurance policy is my hand.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I had a photography business, which included a fireproof safe when I bought the business. I kept my camera equipment in it, not necessarily in case of fire, but because it would be extremely difficult to break into.

RonMe Loc: San Antonio

I have a medium sized gun safe in which I store valuables such as camera equipment, important papers, and yes, guns. I have a hydrometer inside the gun safe that indicates the humidity inside the safe is slightly below what it typically is in my house during summer months, which is around 50%~53%. It has been my experience that humidity has never been higher than that within the house. In regards to the safe being fire resistant, that aspect isn't my primary concern as house fires are not a common event. Home burglaries on the other hand, take place on a relatively frequent basis. The main reason to keep my valuables in the gun safe revolves around the amount of time it would take a thief to open the safe or remove it from my home. A gun safe or other lockable storage cabinet just makes sense to me.

I also have insurance coverage of my valuable assets that cover the purchase amount, but I view storage of my camera equipment much as I do backing up my photos and other important computer files. Redundancy! So in summary, I protect my cameras like I protect my photos with multiple layers. Keep the house locked, store my equipment in a gun safe, and turn on the intrusion alarm when my wife and I are away from the house.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

In a fire the safe will get hot inside, how much depends on the fire. In any event everything inside will be subject to thermal expansion. Lens, cameras, other photo gear are made of differing materials, which have different expansion coefficients. So damage could occur. The hotter the more severe the expansion.