Now this seems simple enough.  Should your box be placed so the  
handle is out or turned side ways so the long side of the box is  
facing the aisle.

Pro's and Cons

The box with the handle facing out is easier to grab and when you  
have a fire, the end of the box burns away quickly and your records  
waterfall or slough off into the aisle.  This creates a big fire fast  
and then triggers the water sprinkler to go off.  If the water  
sprinklers go off, the fire is put out.

(Unless it is arson.  No one is claiming they have a defense against  
arson fires. Unfortunately, all the big fires are arson. )

If you place the box sideways to the aisle (you need to label the  
sides now.) the face of the box burns away but the paper stays  
compact.  Held in place by other boxes and the end of the box which  
is not exposed as severely and therefore stays in place longer.  The  
paper does not water fall, the fire builds slower.  This provides  
time for someone to hear the alarm from the smoke detectors and fight  
the small fire by an extinguisher.  Or call the fire department.  The  
sprinklers will be delayed a little but the fire not building so fast  
has some advantages in that sprinklers can more readily put out the  
fire.

What do those who think is the better or safer approach?  What do you  
use in your records center?


Hugh Smith
FIRELOCK Fireproof Modular Vaults
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(610)  756-4440    Fax (610)  756-4134
WWW.FIRELOCK.COM



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