A systems administrator is procuring a new safe for a datacenter. The safe's primary purpose is to store LTO backup tapes and external hard drives on-site, ensuring their survivability in the event of a fire. Which of the following is the MOST important specification for the administrator to consider for this requirement?
A Residential Security Container (RSC) rating
A UL 72 Class 125 rating
A Sargent & Greenleaf (S&G) Group 1 mechanical lock
The correct answer is the UL 72 Class 125 rating. This Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standard specifically certifies that a container will keep its internal temperature below 125°F (52°C) and humidity below 80% during a fire. This is critical because magnetic media like LTO tapes and hard drives can be damaged and rendered unreadable at temperatures far lower than what would be required to destroy paper.
A UL 72 Class 350 rating is incorrect because it only ensures the internal temperature stays below 350°F (177°C), which is suitable for protecting paper documents but is too high for digital media. A Residential Security Container (RSC) rating pertains to burglary resistance against common tools for a short period and does not address fire protection for media. A Sargent & Greenleaf (S&G) Group 1 lock is a high-security lock mechanism, which is a component that provides access control but does not define the container's ability to protect its contents from fire damage.