On this page
A fire resistant filing cabinet is worth it for an office that keeps a lot of paper it cannot easily replace, such as client files, contracts, signed originals or patient records. It stores far more hanging files per square metre than a fire safe, keeps them in a familiar drawer layout for daily use, and in our range carries ratings from 60 to 120 minutes. What it usually does not offer is strong burglary resistance, so it suits documents more than cash.
This guide covers when a filing cabinet beats a safe, how ratings and drawer counts compare, what to check about weight and floors, and which businesses benefit most. For the full picture of fire protection options, start with our fire-resistant safe guide.
When a Fire Resistant Filing Cabinet Beats a Safe
A fire safe is a box with shelves. That works for passports, a few folders and backup drives, but it is awkward for an office that pulls files all day. A filing cabinet makes sense when:
- You store files in hanging folders. Drawers are built to suit them, so nothing gets crushed or stacked.
- Staff access files constantly. A drawer that opens smoothly gets closed again. A heavy safe door that is a nuisance tends to be left open, and an open unit offers little fire protection.
- Volume is the main problem. A four-drawer cabinet holds a lot of paper in a small footprint.
- The contents are documents rather than cash. Most filing cabinets focus on fire, not burglary.
A safe is usually the better choice when you need a cash rating, when you store small high-value items, or when most of what you protect is digital media.
Fire Ratings and Drawer Options in Our Range
Fire-resistant filing cabinets are tested the same way as fire safes: the unit goes into a furnace and the inside must stay under a set temperature for the rated time. For example, the Platinum Fire Guard series is listed with an NT Fire 017 – 60 Paper certification. If you are unsure what the minutes and classes mean, our article on how fire rating minutes are tested explains it.
Here is how the main options in our range compare. Prices are a guide from our current catalogue and change over time.
| Range | Drawers | Fire rating | From (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guardall GDF 2000 / 3000 / 4000 | 2, 3 or 4 | 60 minutes | $1,399 |
| Guardall GDF 2002 / 3002 / 4002 | 2, 3 or 4 | 120 minutes | $1,986 |
| Diplomat 1 Hour and 2 Hour File Cabinets | 2 or 4 | 60 or 120 minutes | $1,464 |
| Platinum Fire Guard FG2 / FG3 / FG4 | 2, 3 or 4 | 60 minutes | $1,475 |
| Locktech SF680 | 2, 3 or 4 | 90 minutes | $1,702 |
| Chubb Fire File | 2 or 4 | 60 or 120 minutes | $1,999 |
You can compare every model, including lock types, in our fire-resistant filing cabinet range.
How many drawers do you need?
Count the files you must protect today, then allow for growth over the next few years. Most offices underestimate how fast paper accumulates. If you are close to the limit of a three-drawer unit, buy the four-drawer. Some cabinets also have a deeper “legal” drawer depth, so measure your largest folders.
Two smaller cabinets can sometimes be better than one large one. They spread the weight across the floor and let you separate active files from archives.
60, 90 or 120 minutes?
For a typical suburban office, 60 minutes is a reasonable minimum for important paper. Choose 90 or 120 minutes for originals that cannot be recreated, for records you are legally required to keep, or for premises a long way from a fire station. The price step from 60 to 120 minutes in the same range is often modest compared with the value of the records.
Weight, Floors and Placement
Fire insulation is heavy, so a full four-drawer fire cabinet weighs much more than a steel office cabinet. Check the weight on the specification sheet before you order and think about:
- Floor loading. Ground-floor concrete slabs are rarely a problem. Upper floors, mezzanines and older timber floors may need advice from the building manager or an engineer.
- Access. Stairs, lifts, tight corners and doorways all matter on delivery day.
- Tip risk. Fully loaded drawers pulled out together can shift the centre of gravity. Open one drawer at a time.
- Location. Keep cabinets away from kitchens, heaters and stored chemicals, which raise the fire load around them.
Our team handles the heavy lifting with a safe relocation service that covers office moves and stair carries. Our article on what affects the cost of moving a heavy safe explains the main price factors, which apply to filing cabinets too.
The Burglary Limits of Filing Cabinets
Most fire-resistant filing cabinets are not burglary rated. They have locks to keep honest people honest and to keep drawers shut, but they are not built to resist a determined attack. Do not keep cash, jewellery or high-value items in them.
If you need both fire protection and a cash rating in a drawer format, look at a filing cabinet safe. The CMI Filing Cabinet Safe FP2, for example, combines a 60-minute fire rating with a cash rating in the $10,001 to $20,000 band, from around $4,337. For cash handling, see our commercial safe guide or our overview of commercial safes for retail stores and offices.
Who Uses Fire-Resistant Filing Cabinets?
The businesses we see choosing them tend to share one thing: a large volume of paper they are responsible for.
- Accountants and bookkeepers: client source documents, signed returns and engagement letters.
- Legal practices and conveyancers: original wills, deeds, signed agreements and client files.
- Medical, dental and allied health clinics: paper patient records that have not been digitised.
- Property managers and real estate offices: leases, key registers and original contracts.
- Schools, clubs and not-for-profits: membership records, minutes and financial paperwork.
Many of these businesses also keep digital backups. A filing cabinet does not protect hard drives well on its own, so pair it with data-rated storage for backup drives or a data insert made for your cabinet. Retention rules differ by profession, and our guide to keeping business records safe from fire covers the ATO’s general requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are fire-resistant filing cabinets the same as fire safes?
They use the same principle: insulated walls that keep the interior below a set temperature for a rated time. The difference is the layout and security. Filing cabinets have drawers for hanging files and usually little burglary resistance, while safes have shelves and are more likely to carry a cash rating. Choose based on what you store and how often you access it.
How much does a fire-resistant filing cabinet cost?
In our current range, two-drawer cabinets with a 60-minute rating start from around $1,399, and 120-minute models from around $1,986. Four-drawer and higher-rated models cost more, with some reaching around $5,000. Prices change with supplier pricing, so check the product page or call us for current figures and delivery costs.
Can a fire-resistant filing cabinet go upstairs?
Often, yes, but check first. Fire cabinets are much heavier than standard steel cabinets, and a loaded unit concentrates weight on a small area. Confirm the floor’s load capacity with the building manager or an engineer, and measure stairs, lifts and doorways. Professional movers with the right equipment reduce the risk of damage to the cabinet and the building.
Can I store hard drives in a fire-resistant filing cabinet?
Not safely unless the cabinet or an insert is rated for data. Standard filing cabinets are tested to protect paper, which tolerates much higher temperatures than digital media. Some ranges, including Guardall, offer a data insert that fits inside a drawer and provides a separate insulated compartment for drives and USB sticks.
See Fire Cabinets in Our Showroom
Opening the drawers is the best way to judge capacity and build quality. Our Tullamarine showroom at 38 Barrie Rd has over 350 new and used safes and cabinets on display. Call 0409 860 011 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or ask us for a filing cabinet quote, including delivery and placement.
