Fire resistant closet in home office

I want to build a fire resistant closet in a basement office any suggestions??
Getting the details right for a wall assembly with the control layers to the exterior and lots of drying potential.
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Replies
How long does it need to resist fire? or is it supposed to me a safe room for document that is supposed to survive a fire?
A standard 2-hour fire wall or fire rated door means thatfire willnot burn through for two hours. on the other hand a fire safe is designed to survive a fire and keep the contents cool enough so they don't ignite.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I would like too have a placce thhat documents can survive, and maybe even a computer, as well as having a place to lock valuables. I wass thhinking maybe triple drywall withh a steel fire door. I dunno, i'm just fishin here. I don't want to make it too big o' deal but....
Learn to lay block?
A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
1. Fire rated wood studs or metal studs.
2. At least four layers of 5/8" sheetrock. 3 outside and 1 inside. Rock the ceiling.
3. 2 hour fire rated steel door. Rated threshold and sweep.
4. Tape and spackle inside and out and seal for smoke.
5. Resist the urge to attach shelving to the interior of the walls. That can create a path for fire to penetrate. Use freestanding bookcase instead.
6. Nothing should be directly on the floor in case water gets in.
Shouldn't cost too much except for the door.
Have fun..Buic
Edited 8/31/2006 3:02 am ET by BUIC
I agree with Bruce.
We did a document vault in a church office building, back in the mid 80's. About the same as he desrcibed, but only two layers of 5/8" f/c on each side and the ceiling for a two hour rating. We were not allowed any wall penetrations, so no recepticals inside on the vault walls. IIRC we had two ceiling mont florecent lights and the switch was outside the vault. Fire rated metal door and buck of course.
Dave
I think FastEddie rasied a key point:" you have to keep it cool in there. Read up on how they do fire resistent safes.
Fighting Ignorance since 1967
It's taking way longer than we thought
As a firefighter I would like to offer up one suggestion. Fire rating for a safe room is fine but in a basement after a real fire there could be a couple of feet of water at times. It only takes one plastic sack or one piece of clothing to block the floor drains.
We ran a call a few weeks ago where a guy had put the old upright freezer in the basement up on two concrete blocks and placed all of his records in it. Had a foot of water on the floor that got into it just inside the bottom of the door and melted off the gaskets but everything inside survived.
My point is that dont just think about the heat. Most of the damage we see is from smoke and water.
Heath