Why should I buy a special insulated fire resistant filing cabinet?  The filing cabinets I have now are all steel and won’t burn.

To protect your critical documents from burning up in a devastating fire, a UL^® Certified fire-resistant (insulated file) is required to keep the internal temperature of the cabinet below 350°F for one hour.  A standard steel filing cabinet has no insulation whatsoever and as a result, your vital information will go up in flames during a fire.

Our company has a lot of files.  How do we decide what should be stored in a fire-resistant file?

Continuity planning should be a key priority for business of all sizes.  All businesses and organizations have information stored on-site that is considered vital information.  Please consider what information you’ll need to get your operation functioning again the day after a fire has destroyed your facilities.  Surveys indicate that 50% of all businesses that sustain a devastating fire are out-of-business within 6 months.  And it’s staggering to realize that 90% are gone within 18 months.

To ensure a successful recovery you should be storing the following crucial documents in a Gardex^® fire-resistant filing cabinet or safe:

• Any records required to be able to prove your losses to your insurance provider
• Proprietary intellectual property
• Employee records. For example, employees dismissed with documented cause have been known to legally pursue their former employers who have suffered a fire because they believe all HR records have been destroyed in the fire.
• Accounts receivable and other accounting information.  Will all of your customers be honest and pay exactly what they owe and on time following your disaster?
• Important notes from client meetings and client contracts
• ANYTHING else you believe is important to re-starting following the disaster.

What’s different about protecting electronic media vs. paper records in a fire?

Electronic media and paper files have very different requirements to be safely protected in a fire.  Paper records must be kept below 350°F and in a moist environment so the paper doesn’t dry out and become fragile.  Moisture trapped in our exclusive Gard-Lite insulation is released as steam during a fire.  This process not only helps cool the interior of the file, it also provides the necessary moisture to save your documents.

On the other hand, Gardex^® Electronic Media Safes have been proven to maintain the internal temperature below 125°F and the humidity below 80%.  These are the two key requirements for protecting electronically-stored data in a fire.

Why do Gardex^® filing cabinets and fire safes have the UL^® 350 rating for 1-hour in a fire?

Testing and certification by UL^® is a declaration that Gardex^® filing cabinets and safes have met certain universally-accepted standards for document protection during a fire.

Is a one-hour rating enough?

As a fire moves through a burning facility, the flammable material in a given area is consumed in about 20 minutes, on average.  The one-hour rating from UL^® is the industry standard because it has been consistently proven successful in protecting vital information in devastating fires.

Why do I need to protect my paperwork anyway?  Our company is well-insured.

In our experience, all organizations of all sizes have files stored on-site that are considered to be vital to the operation and functionality of the business.  Try to imagine how incredibly difficult it would be to re-start your business operations without client files and meeting notes … without HR records … without accounts receivable information … without your contracts … without any record of your intellectual property and proprietary information.

Your insurance policy will cover lost assets, but you will be required to provide some proof of what you had and that’s impossible if it’s all burned beyond recognition.  Moreover, no insurance can replace your critical documents.

How do I choose between a vertical file, a 44"W lateral or a lateral that is 38 ¾"W?

That decision will be based on a few factors including your capacity requirements, the floorspace you have available for the file(s) and size of the files to be stored.

For example, if you have a large quantity of letter-width files, a 44"W lateral is a good choice because it will allow you to store 3 rows of files in front-to-back orientation in each drawer.

Please consult with your reseller and/or Gardex^® customer service to help determine the best solution for your needs.

Is the information stored in my Gardex^® file also protected from theft?

Not really.

Gardex^® files include a standard push lock (and we have other lock options available) but they are really designed to help honest people remain honest.  If you need burglary protection as well as fire protection Gardex^® sales and customer service staff will work with you and your reseller to specify the correct solution available from a sister-company, Securifort Inc.

I know that Gardex^® filing cabinets are quite heavy.  How do I get it delivered safely?

You are correct that proper installation of a fire-resistant file is not the same as having a regular piece of office furniture dropped off.  Chances are that the reseller you are purchasing the file from will have a solution for installation so please check with them.

Can I obtain parts if something ever needs to be replaced?

Gardex^® has been in business since 1978 so we no longer have every replaceable part still on hand.  Nonetheless, most replaceable items are fairly common throughout our history so chances are that we can help you.  Please call customer service to discuss a solution and even arrange for a technician to take of the repairs if necessary.

Customer service can be reached at 1-800-480-4441 or 450-432-1081 or via e-mail at info@gardex.com.

Can I choose a special colour different from the 9 standard options?

Yes. Please contact customer service to discuss specific details (1-800-480-4441 or 450-432-1081).  Basic costs include $500 for set-up and $50/file.