American Security (AMSEC) Home Safe - 3.81 cu ft Interior, keypad lock, 45 min ETL Fire Rating, AM3020

American Security - AM3020E5 - External Dimensions - 30"H × 20"W × 20"D - 230lbs

A tall home safe with nearly four cubic feet inside and a 45-minute fire rating, independently tested by ETL. It stands 30 inches high on a 20-inch-square footprint, so it fits in a closet or at the end of a cabinet run without taking over the room.

The body is 12-gauge steel lined with fire-protection panels, and the door is a quarter-inch steel plate recessed into the frame. An electronic keypad and five chrome-plated 1.25-inch bolts on three sides hold it shut. There's room for a couple of handguns alongside the papers and valuables, which is what American Security (AMSEC) built it for.

What it holds

Room for a row of ring binders standing upright, two pistol cases on the shelf above, and the watch you only wear to weddings.

Specifications

Interior

27.25"H × 17.25"W × 14"D

Interior volume, calculated: 3.81 cu ft

Two shelves

Interior finish: gray fabric lining

Exterior & siting

30"H × 20"W × 20"D — allow about 2" more depth for the handle

230 lbs

Anchoring: four pre-drilled anchor holes; mounting hardware included

Security

Lock: ESL5 electronic lock with illuminated keypad

Locking bolts: five active 1.25" chrome-plated steel bolts, three-way boltwork

Door assembly thickness: 1.125" recessed door — a 0.25" solid steel plate with fire-insulating material

Wall thickness: 12-gauge steel body lined with fire-protection panels; overall thickness not stated by the manufacturer

Hinges: adjustable, ball-bearing

Lock protection: drill-resistant hard plate

Handle: L-handle

Fire, water & media

Fire rating: 45 minutes at 1200°F, independently tested by ETL

Media / data rating: Not a media safe.

Water rating: None claimed.

The rest

Warranty: one year, parts and labor

Manufacturer part number: AM3020 (also listed as AM3020E5)

Finish: deep blue textured powder coat, black nickel hardware

The fire rating

ETL is an independent testing laboratory, so the 45-minute rating comes from outside American Security's own factory. The 1200°F figure is the furnace temperature outside the safe. The test is passed if the interior stays below 350°F, safely under the temperature at which paper chars.

Heat gathers near the ceiling in a house fire, so a fire safe is better off low down. A ground-floor closet floor suits it well.

Delivery and Siting

At 230 lbs it is too heavy for parcel shipping, so it travels by freight and is delivered to the curb by a liftgate truck. This is free. This safe travels by freight truck, and the carrier will call ahead to arrange a delivery window, so someone will need to be home. The driver lowers it by liftgate to your curb or the end of your driveway. Freight drivers don't bring deliveries inside, up steps or into the garage.

Two or so people with a stair-climbing appliance dolly can bring it indoors, or a local safe mover can do it for you.

If you'd like it brought inside and positioned, contact us after you order and we'll help you arrange it with a safe mover near you. That service is priced separately.

What this is not

It is not a media safe. The rating protects paper. Hard drives, USB sticks, discs and film need an interior kept below 125°F, and this safe makes no such claim.

It is not water rated. No claim is made. A house fire usually brings a great deal of water from the hoses, so keep papers in sealed bags inside if that matters to you.

It is not a long-gun safe. The interior is 27.25 inches tall, which is too short for a rifle or shotgun. Handguns fit; long guns need a taller cabinet.

It is not a UL burglary-rated safe. No burglary listing is claimed. A recessed steel door, a hard plate over the lock and bolts on three sides make it slow work for a thief, but it is a home safe, not a commercial one.

On the maker

American Security make safes in Fontana, California, from small home units through to high-security commercial safes. The AM series is their home range. If you need a figure we haven't listed, ask us and we'll put the question to American Security.

Questions

Will it fit through my door?

Yes. It's 20 inches wide, against 30 to 32 inches for a typical interior door. Allow about 22 inches of depth with the handle.

Will it hold a rifle?

No. The interior is 27.25 inches tall, too short for a long gun. It suits handguns, papers and valuables.

Is the fire rating independent?

Yes. It was tested by ETL, an independent laboratory, to 1200°F for 45 minutes.

Will it protect hard drives or USB sticks in a fire?

No. It's rated for paper. Digital media needs a safe rated to keep its interior below 125°F.

Does it need bolting down?

We'd recommend it. There are four pre-drilled holes and the mounting hardware is included.