Gardall used to be a major player in the safe industry. While they are nowhere near as big as they once were, they still make quality burglary and fire safes at affordable prices. In these Gardall MS 1-Hour Fire Safe Review, I will explain why these are safes you should avoid.
Lock – Gardall MS 1-Hour Fire Safe Reviews
Un-Rated Electronic Lock
First and always most important for any safe is its lock. The Gardall MS 1-Hour Fire Safe comes standard with an electronic lock and LCD display or key lock. This lock carries no certifications or burglary ratings. I always recommend purchasing a safe with a UL Rated high security electronic or mechanical lock from NL, SecuRam or S&G. There is no second best. Unfortunately this safe does not have that and automatically moves it to my not recommended list. In addition, it does not have a hard plate or internal re-locker which are two essential security features.
Security – Gardall MS 1-Hour Fire Safe Reviews
The Gardall MS 1-Hour Fire Safe has no burglary ratings or testing. It is not certified by UL or even CA DOJ. This is a simple fire safe and not meant for burglary protection whatsoever. It has two very tiny bolts and overall is not very pry resistant. I would not recommend this safe for burglary protection. Finally, they do not list or mention the steel thickness anywhere which is a huge red flag. I would estimate this safe around 16 gauge steel.
Fire Rating – Gardall MS 1-Hour Fire Safe Reviews
The Gardall MS 1-Hour Fire Safe is fire rated for 1 hour at 1700 degrees. This is the one really good thing about this safe. This fire rating is the UL fire rating which is an independent laboratory who verifies the claims of safe companies. This is the hardest fire test to pass and includes a 30 foot drop test after the safe burns in the furnace. Gardall is one of only three companies to build a safe that passes this test. All the other companies only perform factory tests where we have to trust them and take their word for it.
An intumescent door seal is included that expands up to 7 times its size during a fire to seal out smoke and heat from entering the safe.
Style and Function
The Gardall MS series are finished in a two-tone powder coat gray paint. Hardware includes a plastic silver handle. Inside you’ll find a slide-out tray. This interior is all metal with no carpeting. Overall, I think the styling is pretty good but not the best. Finally, a counter sunk bolt down hole is located on the bottom of the safe with all mounting hardware included.
Warranty
The Gardall MS series comes with a lifetime warranty on fires where they will replace the safe at no cost to you if it ever experiences a fire. Gardall also provides a 1 year warranty. Unfortunately, the warranty is very unclear on what is covered or who pays for installation and service. For me, that is a red flag and usually the company will only provide parts but then not pay for drilling, installation and other various labor.
The Bottom Line
Would I buy a Gardall MS 1-Hour Fire Safe to store my valuables? No, I would not. This safe has no burglary rating, an electronic lock with no certifications or rating and an unclear product warranty.
There is a safe with a detailed product warranty that has even better features that I do recommend. The American Security BFS Home Safes feature a UL RSC Burglary Rating, UL Approved Lock, thick 1/2″ steel plate door, thick steel plates in the body, a much more attractive finish and is made by a reputable and long standing American company. I would recommend buying an American Security BFS home safe instead of this.
