Certification

Fire protection classes for safes: Defined fire protection

LFS 30 P, S 60 DIS or S 120 P: which fire protection class really protects your documents, how they are tested in the fire chamber at 1,090 degrees, and why a burglar-resistant safe is not automatically fireproof.

Last reviewed on 10. August 2026 4 min read by Tim Herberger, Fachredaktion bei Bremer Tresor

Fire protection classes define how long a safe protects its contents from heat. The most important thing to know right from the start: not every burglar-resistant safe is also fireproof. These are separate tests with separate certificates.

Despite the composite material of steel and concrete, the high thermal conductivity of the metal can lead to extreme temperatures inside in the event of a fire. A safe without a certified fire protection class can reach temperatures of over 700 degrees Celsius inside, completely destroying its contents. Paper and documents disintegrate at these temperatures even without direct fire exposure.

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How to identify genuine fire protectionOnly the test label on the inside of the door counts. It states the certified fire protection class. If it is missing, the safe is considered fire-untested, regardless of how solidly it is built. Terms like fireproof, fire-safe, or fire-retardant are not legally protected and mean nothing without a standard.
Class in 2 questions

Which fire protection class do I need?

You do not need to know the standard designations for this. Only two things are decisive: what needs to be protected and how severe the loss would be.

Overview

All fire protection classes compared

Two standards are relevant: EN 1047-1 for comprehensive testing including drop tests and EN 15659 for lightweight fire protection cabinets. The letter at the end indicates what it was tested for: P stands for paper, DIS for data media.

Protection duration Certification Max. internal temp. rise Suitable for Safes
Fire-retardant no test standard undefined Avoids direct fire contact. High internal temperatures can occur. View safes
30 minutes LFS 30 P according to EN 15659 150 °C Paper View safes
60 minutes LFS 60 P according to EN 15659 150 °C Paper View safes
60 minutes S 60 P according to EN 1047-1 150 °C Paper, testing includes drop test View safes
60 minutes S 60 DIS according to EN 1047-1 30 °C Data media like hard drives and CDs, testing includes drop test View safes
120 minutes S 120 P according to EN 1047-1 150 °C Paper, testing includes drop test View safes
120 minutes S 120 DIS according to EN 1047-1 30 °C Data media like hard drives and CDs, testing includes drop test View safes
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Data media require a separate classThe difference between 150 and 30 degrees is the most important in this table. This refers to the permissible rise in internal temperature compared to the starting value, not a guaranteed upper limit in an actual fire. Paper can withstand heat; a hard drive cannot. If you store data media, you need DIS certification. A P-class is not sufficient for this, even if it has been tested for longer.

You can find our certified models under fireproof safes.

Test procedure

Fire protection according to EN 1047-1: the fire chamber

This standard tests protection against fire, extinguishing water, and the resulting toxic fire gases. Depending on the target class, the safe is exposed to fire for 60 or 120 minutes.

The fire chamber is heated to 1,090 degrees Celsius. Temperature sensors are located inside the safe. Starting from an initial temperature of 20 degrees, the interior may rise by a maximum of 150 degrees, and by a maximum of 30 degrees for data media. Measurements are taken not only during the burning process but continuously for up to 24 hours afterwards. This is critical because the heat stored in the material continues to take effect long after the fire.

Safe in the fire chamber during fire protection testing, glowing furnace opening
The safe in the fire chamber at 1,090 degrees
Recovery of the safe from the fire chamber after the test time has elapsed
Recovery after the test time has elapsed
Safe after the fire test with visible signs of heat exposure
The safe after the fire test
Documentation of fire protection certification after passing the test
Documentation of certification
Test procedure

The 9.15-meter drop test

Fire protection alone is not enough. In the event of a fire, a safe must also remain stable if the building around it collapses. Therefore, EN 1047-1 additionally tests mechanical stability after heat exposure.

Immediately after the standardized time in the fire chamber, the safe is dropped from a height of 9.15 meters onto a bed of gravel. This simulates a house collapse where the safe falls from the third floor.

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Passing means: it still provides protection afterwardsThe drop test is only considered passed if the safe retains its fireproof properties after the impact. A housing that survives the fall but then allows heat to pass through fails the test.
Preparation for the drop test immediately after the fire chamber
Preparation immediately after the fire chamber
Safe on the drop rig at a height of 9.15 meters before the fall
The safe at a height of 9.15 meters
Drop rig of the testing facility during the drop test
The drop rig of the testing facility
Safe after impact on the gravel bed
After impact on the gravel bed
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Tim Herberger
Tim Herberger
Fachredaktion bei Bremer Tresor

Tim Herberger schreibt die Ratgeber von Bremer Tresor. Er bereitet Normen, Vorschriften und Praxiswissen so auf, dass daraus eine klare Kaufentscheidung wird, und gleicht jeden Text mit unseren Fachleuten aus Beratung und Service ab.

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Frequently asked questions

Is a burglar-resistant safe automatically fireproof?
No. Burglary protection and fire protection are two separate tests with their own certificates. A safe with resistance grade 2 may have no fire protection at all. The same applies vice versa. Only a test badge with a fire protection class confirms tested fire protection.
What does the P or DIS at the end of the class mean?
P stands for paper, DIS for data media. The difference lies in the permissible internal temperature rise: a maximum of 150 degrees for P, and a maximum of 30 degrees for DIS. Starting from an initial temperature of 20 degrees, this corresponds to a maximum of 170 degrees and 50 degrees respectively inside the safe. Anyone storing hard drives, backups, or CDs absolutely requires a DIS class. A P class does not protect data media, even with a longer test duration.
What is the difference between EN 1047-1 and EN 15659?
EN 1047-1 tests at 1,090 degrees and includes an impact test from 9.15 meters. EN 15659 tests lightweight fire protection cabinets at 840 degrees (30 minutes) or 940 degrees (60 minutes) and does not include the impact test. EN 1047-1 is therefore the significantly tougher test.
What happens in a safe without a fire protection class?
Due to the thermal conductivity of steel and concrete, temperatures inside can exceed 700 degrees. Paper and documents disintegrate at these temperatures even without direct contact with fire. The contents are then completely destroyed.
Does the fire protection last even after the fire?
The test measures exactly that. The temperature inside is documented continuously for up to 24 hours after the burning process, because the heat stored in the material has a long-lasting effect. A safe only passes if the limit values are maintained even during this cooling-off phase.