Product Overview
SentrySafe make some great products. This safe definitely lived up to their reputation. It is fireproof and waterproof and has been UL tested. The fireproof rating shows that it can protect the contents for up to an hour at temperatures reaching up to 1700 degrees Fahrenheit. As far as waterproofing, it has been ETL certified to provide watertight protection in a tin of water for up to 24 hours.
If you are familiar with SentrySafe liner products, then this safe will not disappoint. There are multiple little additions to the safe that make it more than it appears at first glance. For instance, the keypad is backlit which is a feature that you don’t often find at this price point. Additionally, the safe includes a locking drawer. That gives you an extra layer of protection for documents or other things that you would rather not be seen at first glance of the contents.
Key Features
- Programmable electronic keypad
- Heavy Duty Carbon Steel Construction
- 14 gauge body
- Pry resistant concealed hinges
- 4 Live Action Door Bolts
- Interior dimensions: 13.8 x 12.6 x 11.9 inches
- Exterior dimension: 17.8 x 16.3 x 19.3 inches
- Mounting holes require user drilling with hardware included
Durability
The safe is made of 14 gauge solid steel. While that’s not the thickest Steel on the Market, it can be forgiven. Especially in a safe like this that provides the measure of fire and water protection that it does. Additionally as a Measure of its durability, this safe is ETL certified to remain locked and closed even with a fall of up to 15 ft. That means that you can drop this safe out of a second-story window and it will still remain secure.
Additionally, as we stated this safe is fireproof up to 1 hour and 1700 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a great fireproof and waterproof safe; it just is not very theft proof. That’s not a strike against this safe; it’s just a mark of how SentrySafe decided to spend the allotted Budget on this safe. If you want a safe that has this measure of Fire Protection and water protection and also have great Anti-theft protection, you should expect you pay a lot more.
Stability
This safe is able to be bolted down. However, as soon as you drill through the safe to install the bolt down Hardware, you remove the water type protection. . While you can restore the water Tight Seal through creative use of silicone and water tight gasketing, it still removes that Section of the warranty. This is something that you definitely need to consider in your purchase of this safe.
Construction and Design
The state has very solid Construction. The live locking bolts provide superior protection against forced entry. There are four of them that are 1 inch in diameter. Additionally, there is a pry resistant hinge bar that reinforces the door.
The interior locking drawer gives you a little additional security. The drawer is made of plastic, and is not very solid but it provides a little extra security when other people have access to your safe. There is an interior light that lets you see the contents of the safe when you are in low light conditions.
Locking Mechanism
The locking mechanism is a digital lock with a backlight. You can shut your own digital combination to be anything from one to eight digits. Additionally, the secondary lock and key is a nice feature because it is not a bypass key. What the secondary key actually does is disables the keypad. That means if you are going away and you don’t want your housekeeper or kids to access the safe, you can simply disable it with the key.
Pros
- Impact Resistant
- Large 1-inch live locking bolts
- Digital locking system
- Pry resistant hinges
Cons
- Cannot store long guns
- Securing the safe to the floor removes the waterproofing
- Non-rechargeable batteries used
Final Thoughts
This SentrySafe fireproof and waterproof safe is a great option for protecting those documents and valuables that you need to survive a natural disaster. It’s also a great option as a basic gun safe, providing room for multiple handguns and their accessories and magazines. It’s important, however, that you understand the limitations of this safe and that it isn’t meant to protect you or your belongings against a determined thief.
Those limitations shouldn’t dissuade you however. As a total package, this is a great deal and a highly economical and prudent choice for any homeowner and gun owner. Whether it’s protecting passports and some small valuables, or keeping your handguns away from prying eyes and curious hands, this safe excels at what it does. With the high fireproof rating and 24 hours of waterproofing, this safe will serve you and yours admirably.