Barska Tall Fire Resistant Safe - 19.97 cu ft Interior, Keypad, 45-Gun Capacity, Black, AX12220

This is a large cabinet for a room, not a closet. The interior stands 56.1 inches high, 37 inches wide and 16.6 inches deep, which comes to 19.97 cubic feet, behind a fire lining rated for up to one hour at 1,200°F. There's room to stand tall things upright and still keep shelves of boxed files beside them.

It holds up to 45 long guns without scopes or accessories, and Barska state it is approved by the California Department of Justice for storage. The shelves and dividers are removable, so the inside can be set up for firearms, for files and equipment, or for both.

What it holds

Room for long guns standing in the rack, banker's boxes on the shelves beside them, and the rolled drawings or framed certificates that never fit in a drawer.

Specifications

Interior

56.1"H × 37.05"W × 16.6"D

Interior volume, calculated: 19.97 cu ft

Firearm capacity: 45, without scopes or accessories

Shelves and dividers: removable. Number of shelves not stated by the manufacturer.

Inner locking box: none

Door organizer: door pockets

Exterior & siting

59.06"H × 40"W × 22"D

Weight: 491 lbs

Anchoring: mounting hardware included

Access: front-opening door. Hinge side and door width not stated by the manufacturer.

Wheels: none

Security

Lock: electronic keypad, one PIN code

Override: two backup keys

Locking bolts: six live bolts and four deadbolts. Diameter not stated by the manufacturer.

Door assembly thickness: not stated by the manufacturer.

Wall: 0.08" steel with a gypsum board fire lining

Hinges: not stated by the manufacturer.

Alarm and lockout: lockout after repeated wrong entries, low-battery warning, silent mode

Firearm storage: approved by the California DOJ for storage, as stated by the manufacturer

Fire, water & media

Fire rating: up to 1 hour at 1,200°F, as stated by the manufacturer. Certifying body not stated by the manufacturer.

Media / data rating: Not a media safe.

Water rating: None claimed.

The rest

Power: four AA batteries, not included

Warranty: 1 year limited

Manufacturer part number: AX12220

UPC: 790272000043

Finish: gloss black

In the box: two backup keys, removable shelves and dividers, mounting hardware

The fire rating

Barska rate this cabinet for up to one hour at 1,200°F. A rating like this means a cabinet of the same design has been heated in a furnace, and the inside has stayed cool enough to protect paper for the full time.

The protection comes from the gypsum board in the walls. Gypsum holds water, and in a fire that water turns to steam and carries heat away from the interior. Once the water is used up, the protection ends. Heat also rises, so the cabinet will hold out longer on a ground floor than in an upstairs room.

The rating is for paper. Hard drives, batteries and optics are damaged at far lower temperatures, around 125°F, so don't rely on this cabinet to protect them in a fire.

Getting it in and setting it up

Measure the route before you order. The cabinet is 40 inches wide, so it won't go through a doorway facing forward. It goes through sideways, and then the 22-inch depth is the measurement that counts. That clears a standard 36-inch front door. Interior doors are usually 30 to 32 inches, and a dolly behind the cabinet adds several inches, so measure those doors and any turns in the hallway too.

It arrives by freight on a pallet and is left at the curb. At 491 lbs and nearly five feet tall, this isn't a job for two people and a hand truck. Hire a moving crew or a safe mover with equipment rated for the weight, and tell them about any steps on the route. Even three steps count as stairs to a mover.

Once it's in place, bolt it down. The mounting hardware is in the box. A standard house floor carries 491 lbs on this footprint, but if you can, set it near a load-bearing wall, and leave enough room in front for the door to swing fully open.

What this is not

Not fireproof. "Fireproof" is a trade term, and you'll see it on listings everywhere. What this cabinet has is a rating: up to one hour at 1,200°F.

Not a media safe. Media safes keep the inside below 125°F. This one is built to protect paper.

Not water rated. No water rating is claimed. A house fire is usually followed by a lot of water from the hoses.

Not a burglary-rated safe. No UL burglary rating is claimed. The steel is 0.08 inches thick, and most of the wall is fire lining. Bolted down and at 491 lbs, it will stop a casual thief. It isn't built to hold out against someone with tools and time.

One code only. The keypad stores one PIN. If more than one person needs access, they share the code or use one of the two backup keys.

Batteries not included. It takes four AA.

On the maker

Barska began in 1994 making sports optics, such as binoculars and riflescopes, and later added safes. For this cabinet they publish the steel thickness, the bolt count, and the conditions behind the gun count, printed right beside the number. That's the information you need to judge a safe like this, and it's why we're comfortable quoting their figures.

If you need a detail that isn't listed here, such as door thickness or which side the hinges are on, ask us and we'll put the question to Barska.

Questions

How many rifles will actually fit?

45 without scopes or accessories. With scopes, fewer, because a scoped rifle usually takes the space of two. Height isn't a problem: 56.1 inches of interior clears most long guns standing upright. Tell us what you own and we'll help you work it out.

Some listings show 18.88 cubic feet. Which figure is right?

The interior measures 56.1 × 37.05 × 16.6 inches, which comes to 19.97 cubic feet. The outside works out to 30.08. 18.88 doesn't match either, so we don't use it.

What's the difference between live bolts and deadbolts?

Live bolts move. They slide out when you lock the door and back in when you open it. In this trade, deadbolts usually means fixed bolts that stop the door being pried away on the hinge side. Barska list six live bolts and four deadbolts but don't say where each set sits. Ask us and we'll find out.

Can two people have their own codes?

No. The lock stores one PIN. A second person can be given one of the two backup keys.

Will it protect hard drives or scopes in a fire?

No. The rating is for paper. Electronics, batteries and lens coatings need an interior kept below 125°F, which calls for a media-rated safe.

Is the California DOJ approval current?

Barska state that it's approved for storage. The California DOJ publishes its own list of certified devices and updates it, so check that list when you buy.

Delivery

This cabinet weighs over 150 lbs and ships by LTL freight.

Basic freight shipping includes

Residential curbside delivery. The pallet is left at the end of your driveway. Moving it from the curb to where it will stand is up to you, so have the equipment or the help ready before the truck arrives.

Business curbside delivery. The pallet is delivered to the nearest accessible point, such as a loading dock or the curb. Moving it into the building is up to you.

The carrier delivers on a pallet. Inside delivery, unboxing and removal of packaging are not part of the basic service.

Inside delivery (additional charge)

If you need the cabinet brought inside, contact us before you order for a quote.

Inside delivery, ground floor only. The crew brings it just inside the first door, such as a foyer, garage or lobby. This doesn't include other floors or placement in a specific room.

White glove, ground floor only. The crew brings it into the ground-floor room of your choice, unpacks it, protects your floors and takes the packaging away.

Freight terms

Phone number. A working phone number is required at checkout. We use it to confirm delivery details, and the carrier uses it to schedule the delivery.

Delivery time. Allow 7 to 14 business days. The carrier will call before delivery to set a time.

Inspection. Inspect the shipment before you sign the proof of delivery (POD). If anything is damaged or missing, note it on the POD, take photos and contact us right away.

Please see our return policy

Special locations. For HI, AK, VI or PR, or for weekend or after-hours delivery, contact us for a quote. Extra charges may apply for rural or unincorporated addresses.