What are Gun Safes Lined With? (Hidden Layers of Protection)
Did you ever wonder what gun safes are lined with? Read this article to know why a gun safe is strong enough to secure dangerous firearms.
Gun safes are essential in the gun community and those surrounding it. It contributes to every gun owner’s peace of mind.
Guns threaten the lives of many, which is why gun owners should be responsible enough to house them properly and securely.
Gun safes keep firearms and other valuables secure from theft and the reach of unauthorized persons, especially minors.
A quality gun safe is lined with layers of reliable protection to serve its purpose. It does not only deter strategic theft, but it also repels fire.
Continue reading to learn what the gun safe’s hidden layers of protection are.
Common Materials Used for Gun Safe Lining
It is crucial to study and become familiar with the materials used in building a gun safe to select or choose a better one from tons of available gun safes in the market.
Here are some of the materials commonly used for gun safe lining:
1. Carpeting
A. Carpets
Carpets are durable but soft. These may be woven or non-woven and are made of natural or synthetic fiber with nylon, polypropylene, or polyester.
Depending on the fiber material, carpets are either heat-resistant or moisture-resistant.
B. Vinyl
Vinyl is made of PVC, making it waterproof and moisture-resistant.
Vinyl is sensitive to sunlight. Vinyl carpeting will work fine as a lining in closed storage such as a gun safe.
C. Felt Fabric
Felt is a matted fabric consisting of textile fibers condensed and pressed together, traditionally made with wool or another animal fur. Some felt fabrics are made from acrylic or synthetic fibers.
2. Foam
Foam is made from natural latex taken from the sap of a rubber tree.
A foam is a dense cushion for heavy items. Foams are made with polyurethane, making them breathable.
3. Liner Panels
A. Wood
Particle boards or pine boards are the most commonly used wood as liner panels for gun safes.
B. Steel
Gun safes are lined with iron, carbon steel, or chromium steel alloy. The recommended steel thickness for a gun safe is from 12 gauge to 6 gauge.
Hidden Layers of Protection in Gun Safe Lining
Quality gun safes go beyond what is typical to add protection features. High-end gun safe manufacturers usually pick top-notch materials with higher content quality.
Additional layers of protection that can be added to the gun safe lining include:
1. Drywall Sheet
A drywall comprises gypsum paste, water, hardeners, and thick paper. It works like cement.
Drywall is a good material as it is insect-resistant, damage-resistant, and fire-resistant. It also helps the material it is covering repel rust.
2. Flame-Resistant Fabric
A. Fire-Retardant Fabrics
These fabrics are treated with a special coating. They still burn much slower than untreated standard fabrics.
B. Flame-Resistant Fabrics
These fabrics are made of synthetic fibers that do not burn, repelling ignition under prolonged exposure to flame or heat. Upon reaching a particular point, these fabrics melt.
3. Ceramic Panels
A. Ceramic Fiber Blanket
A ceramic fiber blanket is a lightweight and soft heat insulation material. It is made from ceramic fiber wool.
B. Ceramic-Coated Panel
Ceramic-coated panels are moisture-resistant. They also prevent mold build-up. You can find some of these that are made from recycled ceramics.
4. Steel Plate
A steel plate is a flat piece that can reinforce a gun safe body, making the gun safe more drill-resistant.
5. Bullet-Resistant Materials
Thieves will try everything to get into your gun safe, more so if nobody’s home. Lining your gun safe walls with bullet-resistant materials like ballistic acrylic or cell-cast acrylic, thick layers of concrete, or fiberglass with resin, will change your game.
Importance of Gun Safe Lining
A gun safe should be strong enough to deter theft and prevent accidents from happening.
A gun safe houses dangerous firearms to keep them from the wrong persons, especially children. Children are vulnerable to mishaps in the gun community because of their curiosity.
Accidents are preventable, and a responsible gun owner plays a big part in this prevention.
Although there is still no lining or combination of linings that can withstand all the horrors that can happen for an endless number of hours, a high level of safety and security can be attained considering a lot of things like locking mechanisms, high fire rating, password change, checking in on your gun safe and guns’ statuses from time to time, etc.
Gun safe lining exists for a reason. If your gun safe walls are reinforced with the standard and special layers of linings, each with its purpose of protection, you can achieve an excellent overall security rating.
Reinforcing your gun safe’s security with quality lining is a reasonable precaution and pushes your gun safe’s default performance higher.
How Safe Linings Can Shield Your Gun Safe from Damage
With layers of protection, a gun safe can protect even your firearms from damage like scratches and dents. A soft yet durable lining helps with this.
Rust and allergens can lower your guns’ and gun safe’s performance. Quality linings for your gun safe will decrease the probability of build-up of moisture and corrosion.
Conclusion
A gun safe lining should be one of the things to consider when choosing a gun safe. You cannot simply gut the gun safe walls, but you can ask your gun safe manufacturer about the materials used in its lining.
There are various materials and layers of protection available if you want your gun safe body reinforced: carpeting, foams, liner panels, drywall sheet, flame-resistant fabric, ceramic panels, steel plates, and bullet-resistant materials.
With all these materials, you might be worried about your gun safe tipping over. Read this article to aid you with your question in mind.
Choosing a gun safe with quality lining is also vital to ensure the protection and longevity of firearms. It is also recommended that you consider looking at your gun safe shelves.
Pick one with superb lining to maximize your investments and strengthen a gun safe’s security features.
FAQs
Are gun safes lined with fireproof materials?
Yes. Gun safes are lined with fireproof materials, but fire ratings differ across many gun safe brands, types, and models.
Are gun safes lined with steel?
Most gun safes, especially modern ones, are lined with steel for extra thickness and drilling protection.
What are the benefits of a foam lining?
A foam lining is breathable and water-resistant. If not sandwiched between steel plates, it can also be a cushion to your firearms inside, preventing scratches.
How do I know if a gun safe’s lining is sufficient?
There is no sufficient lining as gun safes’ fire and water resistance features are limited. Reinforcing your gun safe’s security with quality lining is a reasonable precaution and pushes your gun safe’s default performance higher.
Can I add additional lining to my gun safe?
Yes. You can use adhesives specific for the lining or a combination of linings you want to add to heighten your gun safe’s security. If you plan to drill bolts into your gun safe walls for extra steel plates, ask your manufacturer for advice, as this may affect your gun safe’s warranty.
Sources
Tailor, Jaydutt. “Gypsum Plaster: Its Properties, Advantages & Disadvantages.” GharPedia, 30 July 2019, https://gharpedia.com/blog/gypsum-plaster-properties-advantages-disadvantages/.
“Firearms Safety – Health Encyclopedia – University of Rochester Medical Center.” Www.urmc.rochester.edu, https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=85&contentid=P00833.
“What Is Steel Plate? | Clifton Steel.” Www.cliftonsteel.com, 16 Apr. 2021, www.cliftonsteel.com/education/what-is-steel-plate.
