Hi all looking for advice/insight into a conversion project I'm looking at. When I moved into my place a few years ago the previous owners had finished the cold room, dry wall, raised hardwood floors, lighting etc. my wife claimed it as a darkroom/photo lab, but has never used it. My gun collection is growing and I've decided use it or lose it! I was wondering what legal merits a gun safe has to have to be legal? I'm assuming foot thick concrete walls suffice and obviously a type of indoor security door. I'm assuming the ceiling is simply drywall, would I have to reinforce this? And what about temp/humidity control? Is this even legal? Any insight/advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Cold room / gun safe conversion ?
- Thread starter Kev70
- Start date
Pretty much.... From your description I'd say install a decent solid wood or metal door with a deadbolt and you're good to go. I assume there's power inside, a dehumidifier would be a good idea. Legally a locked closet is good enough for non restricted firearms.
Weapontech
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- On my way to Hell in a handbasket
I did exactly what your intending before we sold our last place. The cold-room was located directly behind and below the front concrete steps.
It was 1 foot thick solid concrete on 4 walls (one 4" outdoor vent that was filled-in with reinforced concrete). I built a door using 3 sheets of 3/4" plywood epoxy laminated & lag bolted together.
The door was hidden by a sliding false wall in the furnace room - unless a person knew it was there, I doubt anyone would find it.
The only weak area would have been the ceiling (if you knew it was there, you could cut through the kitchen floor above). I simply drilled rebar to the fooring joists every 4 inches.
It was framed; wired for electrical, alarm and IP Camera; spray foam insulated, drywalled and painted. I will say it looked amazing when it was done.
It more than met any "normal" person's interpretation or opinion of the regs; but remember that opinions are like a$$h--es - everybody has one!
It was 1 foot thick solid concrete on 4 walls (one 4" outdoor vent that was filled-in with reinforced concrete). I built a door using 3 sheets of 3/4" plywood epoxy laminated & lag bolted together.
The door was hidden by a sliding false wall in the furnace room - unless a person knew it was there, I doubt anyone would find it.
The only weak area would have been the ceiling (if you knew it was there, you could cut through the kitchen floor above). I simply drilled rebar to the fooring joists every 4 inches.
It was framed; wired for electrical, alarm and IP Camera; spray foam insulated, drywalled and painted. I will say it looked amazing when it was done.
It more than met any "normal" person's interpretation or opinion of the regs; but remember that opinions are like a$$h--es - everybody has one!
Nice, thanks for the input. The room is already wired, lights and 2-3 outlets . My father in-law is in doors and windows so I'm going to see if he has any steel reinforced security doors I can get a decent price on. It's not a very big room 4x8 would be pushing it so I'm thinking any portable dehumidifier should do the trick. Maybe even see if I can set up a reloading station on one side depending on how I design the other to fit the maximum number of firearms, not that I have a ton of them.....yet.
Doubt there's much that would be harder to break into than 4" plus of concrete. There is no legal definition of either a safe or safe storage. A lockable door on the room is enough.
I'd put a hygrometer in the room before buying a dehumidifier. Not all 'cold rooms' are wet. Mind you, I'd likely be easier and less expensive to find a dehumidifier. A light bulb left on all the time will keep a small room just warm enough to prevent rusting too.
You do have to tell us how taking your wife's dark room works out. snicker.
I'd put a hygrometer in the room before buying a dehumidifier. Not all 'cold rooms' are wet. Mind you, I'd likely be easier and less expensive to find a dehumidifier. A light bulb left on all the time will keep a small room just warm enough to prevent rusting too.
You do have to tell us how taking your wife's dark room works out. snicker.
