Your firearms are valuable, so safety should be your biggest priority. Collectors and lovers of firearms know how crucial it is to keep their weapons safe. The best approach to store them is in a fireproof gun vault. Now, a gun vault can safeguard your firearms against thieves and fire.
It is better to store guns horizontally or with the barrel facing down. Why? Sticky films can form in the action of firearms when you store them upright because gun oil naturally flows down into the mechanism. Also, oil can seep into the stock and grease the wood.Key Takeaways
- Gun safe rooms have more customization options than a traditional gun safe
- The iron-carbon steel alloy is the industry standard for building gun rooms
- A basement is your best bet for putting a fire resistance vault door
- Safes and vaults serve the same purpose, although vaults are larger, more permanent, and unique to their location
Using the right tools and techniques, you can construct a reliable and secure gun room that will provide some much-needed relief from worry. In this guide, we'll go through how to build a fireproof gun safe to keep your guns.
How to Build a Fireproof Gun Vault
Think of a gun safe room as a personal arsenal. First, a hidden place for a gun safe that is out of sight from the public to store your firearms.
Concrete blocks are a common material for vault walls. Why? They don’t cost much and are remarkably sturdy when fastened to a concrete slab. The best part? When you add a fire-resistant steel door to the exterior walls, you get a fortified concrete block room.
Now, to make this project a reality, you need to plan and prepare by following these easy steps:
1. Choose a Spot to Build Your Private Gun Vault
Pick somewhere out of the way, like the mechanical room or basement as a secure place for a gun safe. It’s okay if the gun vault room is far, provided you don’t intend to use it as part of your panic rooms in case of an emergency.
Ensure the space can serve as a gun room. Secure a gun safe in your apartment by choosing a room that your family uses frequently. Plus, find a spot with built-in protection from fire, like a concrete outer wall—like the basement.
If you plan to convert an existing room into a fireproof gun vault, choose a spot with limited access and no pipes or windows. It makes armoring and installation possible at a minimal cost.
2. Plan Window and Wall Armoring
Choose a space with few potential entry points, such as a small room with few walls or a basement with a concrete wall. You should install high-security panels, such as level 3 ballistic fiberglass, to protect your walls from intruders who could try to break in using a knife or other blunt weapon.
Plus, replace regular windows with high-security choices of P6B level or above, built to withstand 30-50 ax attacks, and protection from combustion.
3. Pick the Vault Door
In contrast to a panic room, a gun safe room requires a regular locking arrangement. The door to the gun room must lock securely from the outside, without a spindle turned from the inside to release the safe's bolts.
It’s essential to get a security door covering that complements the style of your home. The most significant feature of your door will be its resistance to forced entry attempts.
4. Plan For Ventilation and Fire Protection
A gun vault room has more customization options than traditional gun safes. So, prioritizing wall armoring made of steel or ballistic fiberglass, which is fireproof and can withstand significant impacts, is necessary.
Put up fireproof materials like type-x drywall. Use flame-retardant caulking and foams to seal any openings around pipes and ducts. Reduce the number of explosive pieces of furniture and drapes in the gun room, and use flame retardant sprays as needed.
5. Weapons Display Planning and Feature Installation
Before beginning to fortify gun walls, measuring the amount of space you expect along the wall is crucial. Invest in a steel modular gun rack system that can withstand fire. Start by making a tally of the number of weapons and other oddly shaped items you plan to exhibit.
Find out how much room you’ll need to set up the display modules. Now, to maximize gun safe space, placing many weapons in a vertical stack on the system will be ideal.
The aesthetic value of your gun safe room increases when you equip it with LED lighting, security cameras, shelves, and other necessary fixtures.
If you take the time to put these safety features in the room, you'll be able to monitor it when you're not there and have greater freedom of movement when you are there.
Now, it's best to work with a professional contractor for feature installation. High-security doors and features are typically within the expertise of companies that also install standard doors and windows.
6. Train Your Family Members
Double-checking all the procedures for unlocking the gun room’s door is essential. Also, ensure that no children or visitors can open the gun room door from the outside without a combination code or key.
If other family members can access the gun room, make sure you agree on a system to ensure the door gets closed whenever no one is in there.
What Is the Difference Between a Gun Safe and a Gun Vault?
They differ significantly because of the installation and building processes. Vaults are permanent fixtures in a building, while safes are portable.
In most cases, a vault will have a secure door made of steel and other security features, much like any other room in your house.
Vaults serve the same purpose as safes but are typically larger, more permanent, and unique to their location. They also carry more items.
Most safes are compact and built from steel. They are portable, and you can secure them with a code or a digital lock. Plus, safes are more easily accessible and readily available in homes and smaller enterprises.
Who Uses Vaults and Safes?
Banks, jewelry stores, casinos, credit unions, and similar businesses are typical vault tenants. A vault is an excellent investment for any company with large sums of money, valuable artwork, weapons, or other things of significance.
The primary distinction is that vaults feature extra security measures like alarms and secret doors. Now, a safe is the best option for most non-commercial and small business uses. It’s cheaper, smaller, and easier to install and customize.
FAQs
Are Fireproof Safes Fireproof?
Not really. Even though a fireproof safe is available, nothing is truly impervious to fire. Fireproof safes can safeguard valuables against the exact conditions outlined in the ETL fire rating for the safe.
Can I Turn a Closet Into a Gun Safe?
Yes, you can convert a closet into a SecureIT gun storage. Adding a gun closet to your property can improve its value. Plus, there’s plenty of room to conceal a sizable gun safe. A hidden entrance increases gun safety from criminals and nosy visitors.
What Materials Make a Safe?
Iron and carbon steel alloy is the standard material for safe construction. Iron’s strength lies in its hardness rather than its tensile strength. Adding carbon to iron results in steel, which is resistant to cracking under pressure because it can flex while resisting forces.
Is It Better to Store Guns Vertically or Horizontally?
It is better to store guns horizontally or with the barrel facing down. Why? Sticky films can form in the action of firearms when you store them upright because gun oil naturally flows down into the mechanism. Also, oil can seep into the stock and grease the wood.