Technical FAQ's

General FAQ's

1) How long will it take to get a file or safe once I place an order?
Answer: We maintain a quick ship program for our most popular models and colors which can be shipped the next business day. Please call your Schwab dealer for more information.

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2) Are all fire safe filing cabinets alike?
Answer: No, there are a lot of differences. The Schwab design is recognized as being superior in appearance, security and fire protection. At Schwab every file drawer is completely insulated, making each one independently fire resistant. If a drawer is accidentally left open and fire strikes, this feature will halt the spread of fire throughout the entire file. The Schwab files also have an inner-steel drawer jacket that prevents entry into a locked drawer from an unlocked compartment. It also keeps insulation dust from contaminating your files. One of the biggest differences in a Schwab file compared to others is Insulite™, the most effective insulation in the industry. Insulite provides maximum protection with thinner walls and less weight than competitors' insulation. Because Insulite does not contain free water it will not dry out and lose its ability to provide fire protection over a period of time as compared to competitor’s files utilizing gypsum as an insulating material. Gypsum being the same material as that used in drywall, makes it vulnerable to water and decomposition.

3) Why do I need a special product for computer media? Don't fire files and safes protect everything from a fire disaster?
Answer: Fire resistant files and safes are available with different ratings, because paper and media require different levels of protection. During a fire, paper is more durable than media and can tolerate a wide range of humidity levels and heat up to approximately 400°F before igniting. Media such as diskettes, CDs, and tapes cannot survive either the higher temperature or the humidity levels found in the paper rated products. They must be stored in an environment that will stay below 125°F and 80% humidity in order to be protected. Schwab media products are designed to meet these strict requirements.

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4) Why do I need a fire safe file from Schwab Corp? My standard files are metal - they won't burn.
Answer: Standard metal files may not burn, but they will directly conduct the fire's heat inside, where your records will ignite and burn. In a sense, your metal files become incinerators.

5) Does the Fire resistant insulation ever lose it's effectiveness?
Answer: Only Schwab's unique, chemically dry insulation will maintain its effectiveness over time, since it has no free water to evaporate. Upon heat the Insulite material goes through a reaction that generates moisture. Some of our competitor’s insulation loses its effectiveness over time. All insulation designated as "wet", "oven-baked" or "oven-dried" loses its free water over time, thereby compromising its fire-resistant capabilities.

6) Are these products theft or security rated?
Answer: Most Fire resistant products generally use relatively light weight steel, which in turn prevents the products from attaining a security rating. However, Schwab’s unparalleled seamless outer wrapper, sealed back panel, and inner steel drawer vault, is the only design that makes forced entry impossible to conceal. Security locks are also useful if you want to prevent someone from breaking into your file or safe without leaving obvious physical proof. We offer various Locking Options to increase security.

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7) What is the benefit of a product rated UL Class 350 or 125 when most fires exceed temperatures of 350 degrees F or 125 degrees F?
Answer: The Underwriter's Laboratories class rating signifies the maximum internal temperature allowed during the fire test. Depending on the length of the UL fire test, the external temperature to which the product is subjected will range from 1550°F to 2000°F; yet the internal temperatures cannot exceed 350°F or 125°F- for paper or computer media, respectively.

8) How adequate is a fire safe product rated for one hour during a fire?
Answer: The UL one hour rating indicates that a sample was heated in a test furnace by UL for one hour at temperatures reaching 1700 degrees.  As a necessary part of the test, when the furnace fire is extinguished, the sample must remain enclosed in the hot furnace until it cools enough to be handled. A typical fire burns at around 800°F. As it passes through the building, the fire's intensity changes as flammable items are consumed. Fires usually average only 20 minutes in any location. This intense burn is comparable to the burn portion of the UL test. After the flammable items are consumed in the fire, the overall temperature decreases, leaving items inside the fire to absorb the radiant heat. This part of the fire is comparable to the cool down portion of the UL test. Depending on the product being tested, the cool down portion of the test can last as long as 15-25 hours, during which the internal temperature and humidity levels cannot exceed the standards set forth by the test. Most products that fail the UL test fail during this cool down period. Be wary of marketing hype that says "tested to UL standards" - tested doesn't necessarily mean the product passed the test. A one-hour rating means the product will also survive the cool down period.

9) Why should I buy records protection products? After all I'm insured.
Answer: Insurance can and will only cover the portion of your losses that can be documented. Some records may be priceless to your family, or imperative to the survival of your business, and not easily reconstructed no matter what dollar amount insurance may award you. Real insurance is the use of protection products that will preserve rather than replace those valuable family keepsakes or business records.

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10) After a fire, how long should I wait to open the fire safe filing cabinet or safe?
Answer: For maximum protection, please allow the file or safe to cool completely, where you can comfortably rest your hand on the product before opening. Artificially cooling the outside by pouring water on the product will cool the surface temperature, but may give a false impression of how cool the insides are, so use extreme caution!

11) Can I reuse the Schwab Safe or Schwab Filing Cabinet after a fire?
Answer: Once the product has been exposed to fire, the insulation loses its protectiveness. There is no way to re-insulate the product, and it should be discarded. If you are the original owner of a Schwab file, record/media cabinet or safe, and have registered the product with Schwab Corp., you may be entitled to a free product replacement under our Limited Lifetime Replacement Warranty. Contact your Schwab representative for further information.

12) Are Schwab products water rated?
Answer: Water protection is a legitimate concern for most businesses and their vital records. Large amounts of water from fire sprinkler systems may be released even when smoke or fire damage is minimal. Schwab's filing cabinet design includes features that discourage water entry such as a seamless outer jacket, a sealed back panel and interlocking drawer head and cabinet jambs. Schwab's Trident® line of fire files are the world's first to be ETL verified for water protection.

13)Since Schwab products are rated by UL for fire resistance, why not have UL verify your claims for water protection too?
Answer: Underwriters Laboratories does not currently define a test standard or a UL rating for water protection of fire files.  In order to establish a viable, objective verification of water resistance in the absence of a UL standard, Schwab turned to Intertek for verification of its water protection claims.  Intertek is the world's largest independent testing, inspection and certification partner with specific expertise in electrical product safety testing and benchmark performance testing.  Intertek also verifies manufacturer's claims of product performance via the ETL Verified mark.  Intertek was selected by Schwab to verify its claims of water protection because of their unique position as experts in both verifying performance, but also in evaluating and verifying the credibility and value of the test methods.  In the absence of national standards, Intertek has established itself as a fair and critical evaluator of product conformance to realistic manufacturers' claims.  Their performance testing has included verification of claims for companies such as Sentry®Safe for water rated products including chests, files and safes.  Intertek is among the industry leaders in their scope of testing and accreditations.  With more than 70 offices and laboratories on six continents, Intertek is considered to be a global leader.

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Schwab Corp.
900 Linden Avenue
Rochester, NY 14625
Phone: 800-428-7678
Fax: 585-381-2940
Hours: Monday through Friday - 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST