Fire resistant file cabinets and safes, and method of manufacture thereof

Abstract

Fire-rated file cabinets and safes manufactured by positioning sections of rigid, fire-resistant board into a fire-resistant frame.

1 . A fire-resistant filing cabinet or safe comprising rigid pre-formed fire-resistant boards retained by a fire-resistant framework to form an enclosed fire resistant volume within an exterior shell, wherein, 
 the boards comprise fire-resistant material of thickness and composition sufficient to provide a desired degree of fire resistance in combination with the framework and the shell,    the framework comprises fire-resistant material of thickness and composition sufficient to provide a desired degree of fire resistance in combination with the fire resistant boards and the shell, said framework providing structural strength sufficient to retain the boards in place and maintain the shape of the filing cabinet or safe sufficient to obtain the desired fire resistance, and    the shell covering the exterior of the filing cabinet.    
     
     
         2 . The cabinet or safe of  claim 1 , further comprising a divider forming an enclosed volume within the cabinet or safe.  
     
     
         3 . The cabinet or safe of  claim 2 , wherein the framework further comprises members to retain the divider.  
     
     
         4 . The cabinet or safe of  claim 2 , wherein the divider is held in place by fire-resistant adhesive.  
     
     
         5 . The cabinet or safe of  claim 1 , wherein the boards are received into openings in the framework.  
     
     
         6 . The cabinet or safe of  claim 5 , wherein the openings are slots formed by U-shaped channels or frame parts positioned so as to form a slot for receiving a board.  
     
     
         7 . The cabinet or safe of  claim 1  wherein the boards comprise gypsum.  
     
     
         8 . The cabinet or safe of  claim 1  wherein more than one layer of board is used.  
     
     
         9 . The cabinet or safe of  claim 8  wherein at least one layer of board is attached to the outside of the framework and at least one layer of board is received in openings in the framework.