How temperature and humidity can affect items stored in a safe

A safe has a very simple objective, to keep our valuable items protected from theft, fire and environmental damage. These can be items that are valuable in a financial sense, a commercial sense, a legal sense or a sentimental sense. A safe has various qualities which help in this respect, in terms of being robust and durable and having an effective locking system. These prevent unauthorised access and protect the safe and its contents from being stolen and from the effects of fire, but environmental damage is a factor that is often overlooked when researching the best safes available.

The contents of your safe can be impacted by heat and humidity. This can create moisture and temperature fluctuations which, over time, can lead to corrosion and the possibility of a safe structure weakening and posing a security risk.    

The effects of temperature on a safe and how it performs

It is true that cold climates can have an adverse effect on safe performance. Metal components can contract in freezing temperatures and can also make locking mechanisms stiff, or start to corrode. You can also experience lower battery life in cold temperatures, which could be an issue for some digital locking mechanisms. A prolonged exposure to the cold can also lead to moisture build-up which can affect items stored inside a safe, such as photographs or documentation, and can lead to the safe’s structure deteriorating through corrosion.

Extreme heat can have a similar effect on a safe. It can expand metal components and locking mechanisms and can weaken materials over time. Paint deterioration can occur if a safe is exposed to extreme heat or sunlight for a length of time, and this can also lead to corrosion and rust.  

How extreme temperatures can affect the contents of a safe

The impacts listed above are mainly relating to the structure of a safe. Of course if the integrity of a safe has been compromised, this exposes the contents to theft, fire and environmental damage. But climactic conditions such as high humidity can also affect what is stored in a safe.

• High humidity can lead to increased moisture and condensation. This can damage any item stored inside, but particularly paper or card items such as contracts, a birth certificate, a passport or photographs.
• Humidity can help the corrosion process and could make internal components weaken faster. This can also lead to rust on valuable metal items such as jewellery or a coin or medal collection, for example.
• Some safe interiors are made of felt or fabric, if these come into contact with moisture they can develop mould and cause stored items to deteriorate, change colour or to smell.
• Moisture can lead to electronic component failure, which could mean that digital safes, and their contents, can’t be accessed.
• Low humidity can also have a detrimental effect on contents. This creates dry air which can cause items to go brittle and tear, particularly paper or card items, while it can also cause leather or wooden items to shrink or split.

How to prevent temperature damage to a safe

Although the temperature-related damage can occur in various ways, there are a range of preventive measures which can be taken to avoid damage to your valuable contents. These include:

• Buy a safe with a good insurance rating. This will mean the walls of the safe are thicker and more robust, and hence will be more susceptible to the effects of temperature, humidity and moisture.
• Invest in a waterproof safe which is designed to withstand any levels of moisture. Fireproof safes also use materials which have been tested to withstand extreme temperatures. These types of safe will have water-resistant seals and fire-rated insulation to help protect your contents.
• Choose a storage location for your safe that is not exposed to extremes of temperature, and therefore has a stable and well-maintained temperature. Avoid storing in an outside garage for example, or in a conservatory, an attic or a cellar.
• Consider silica gel packets or ‘damp traps’/dehumidifiers inside the safe to take moisture out of the air and to absorb any moisture which could damage your contents.
• Regularly inspect your safe and its contents and react to any signs of moisture or deterioration. Clean it thoroughly and look for signs of moisture, rust or corrosion.
• Think about storage packing such as archive-quality boxes and airtight boxes. These prevent moisture ingress and air getting trapped which could damage an item, unlike a plastic bag, for example.

For robust and durable safes and a range of fireproof and water-resistant safes, check out our range of safes at MB Direct.