Actually, it is the engineering designs and materials that dictate the safety a shelter can provide. This fact has ingrained into our cultural perception that below ground shelters are better. Q: Is it better to buy an above ground or below ground tornado shelter/safe room?Ī: Most early tornado shelters were below ground, like root cellars. Note: The NSSA was the first to set the standard of designing tornado shelters for 250 mph wind speed, the current guideline set by FEMA 361. The two terms are truly interchangeable, but many people use the term “safe room” to denote a shelter constructed within a building, and “tornado shelter” to denote a shelter constructed outside a building. Q: What is the difference between a tornado shelter and a safe room?Ī:The simple truth is the term tornado shelter was universally used in all publications until FEMA 361 guidelines started the use of the terminology “safe room” to be defined as providing “near absolute protection” from severe wind damage. The NSSA will assist the consumer in resolving differences with our members regarding quality and installation of shelters with our seal. The NSSA Producer members have pledged to be honest and fair in all aspects of their business. If you have an issue with the quality of the tornado shelter after the product is installed, it becomes an issue between you and the manufacturer.
NSSA emphasizes training and workshops to help our members openly discuss better installation procedures. Installation checklists, ongoing training of installers, foundation inspections, and proper anchoring procedures are all areas of concern. Installation of the tornado shelters, whether above or below ground, is critical to the ultimate reliability and effectiveness during a tornado or other extreme wind event. However, you will not have the assurance and benefit of an independent third party engineering review of all the documents, if the producer is not an NSSA member. If a manufacturer has impact testing results and registered engineering reports stating compliance with FEMA and ICC, you can normally rely on these reports. Please reference our "Homeowner FAQ" section below for more important guidance.Įnsuring that your chosen storm shelter meets the burden of compliance is your responsibility as the consumer.
#Metal storm shelter download#
You can download FEMA P-320, March 2021, by using the button below. P-320 discusses the proper location of a shelter on your home site, risk assessment for your geographical location, things to consider when weighing above-ground and below-ground shelters, and much more. While there is a lot of technical information in P-320 that is informative for engineers and compliance officials, there is also guidance for consumers.
#Metal storm shelter code#
The Standards and Guidelines set forth by the International Code Council (ICC 500) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA Pub-320) dictate the engineering design standards, debris impact testing requirements, proper installation practices, and inspection requirements that should be followed for the construction of all residential storm shelters or safe rooms.įEMA P-320, March 2021, Fifth Edition "Taking Shelter from the Storm: Building or Installing A Safe Room for Your Home" is available to consumers who are researching storm shelters and safe rooms.
The first, and most important, step in purchasing a storm shelter is to select a shelter that meets all of the compliance standards. We provide you a list of residential storm shelter producers and installers that we have vetted and allowed into membership with the NSSA, giving you confidence that you're getting a shelter that will keep your family safe. The NSSA is here to help you make the right choices and simplify the process by verifying the engineering, design, manufacturing, and testing requirements for storm shelters. It can be confusing and overwhelming when you begin looking for a storm shelter. Adding a storm shelter to your family's emergency plan is an investment, so you want to do careful research before you buy.
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