Emergency Preparedness: Fireproof Your Important Documents

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Have you ever thought about what would happen if your company experienced a devastating fire? What would it be like to show up at work one morning and find the entire office reduced to ashes? More than likely, it would have a grave effect on the business. In fact, according to FireKing Security Group, research shows that 50% of organizations that experience a fire are unable to resume normal operations and go out of business within 6 months. That's right-­­ losing your vital information in a fire can truly cost you and your company everything. 

A fire can dramatically affect business revenue and the lives of employees. It's the job of every individual to do their part to prevent fires and make preparations so that, if the worst happens, recovery can be as smooth and painless as possible. While some things may be out of your control (like whether or not your building has a sprinkler system), there is one simple thing you and your company can do to protect your important documents: store your important information in a fireproof file cabinet.

FireKing Security Group states that 59% of business owners believe standard filing cabinets and safes are fireproof. This statistic is incredibly worrying! Take this opportunity to investigate the filing system at your office and see if you're protected. If not, now is the time to make the investment in a fireproof cabinet.

Fireproof cabinets are specifically designed to protect your important paper files and documents for up to one or two hours in severe heat (1700-degrees Fahrenheit on average). They also protect against damage from water and humidity. These cabinets are set up just like ordinary filing cabinets; they allow you to organize paperwork and have the same locking mechanisms available. However, they won't prevent computer disks and CDs from melting during a fire, so be sure to store backups of your system off-site. You can also purchase a media insert for your filing cabinets, which fits right inside a drawer and can even be locked separately for added protection. These provide an extra layer of defense against fire and are ideal for storing hard drives, USB and portable devices, flash drives and backup media.

When shopping for a fireproof cabinet, you'll want to be aware of the fire resistance rating system, which indicates how long and at what temperature a cabinet will protect its contents.

How do I choose the right fireproof cabinet?

When shopping for a fireproof cabinet, consider the following:

1. How much room do you have? Think about the space where you will keep the cabinet.

2. How much storage space do you need? Consider the number of important documents you currently have.

3. How much storage space will you need in the future? Is your business growing? If so, how will this impact your storage needs?

4. How far is the nearest fire department? If your business is located in a rural area, it will probably take the fire department a longer amount of time to reach you. When shopping for a fireproof cabinet, you'll want to choose one with a greater fire rating.

5. How much do you have to spend? Be aware that disaster prevention is expensive, but a worthwhile investment. It's better to pay a little more to know that you're getting a quality product. After all, if disaster strikes, you only have one shot to get it right.

What documents should be stored in a fireproof safe or filing cabinet?

The simple answer to this question is: anything considered vital to business operations and/or irreplaceable files should be stored in a fireproof safe or filing cabinet. What is considered essential? Think about storing the following items in your fireproof cabinet:

• Contracts
• Bank and credit card records
• Deeds
• Loan paperwork
• Insurance paperwork
• Tax records
• Client information
• Legal documentation
• Employee records
• Audit records
• Sales and purchase records

To find the best deals on fireproof cabinets, visit Quill's website today. Quill offers the FireKing brand as well as their own brand. Quill also offers free delivery on fireproof file cabinets.

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