How to Build a Safe Room Shelter Design
- 1). Select a room that lends itself to easy conversion into a safe room. If you plan to use your safe room as a storm shelter, you'll want to choose a lowest floor, interior room away from windows. However, there are arguable advantages to having a safe room with at least one window, because the opening to the outside world allows you to survey the area and signal for help. Bathrooms, basement rooms, bedrooms and large walk-in closets are frequent choices for safe rooms.
- 2). Make sure the room can accommodate your needs. For example, if you have a family of six, you'll need a space that can comfortably accommodate each person and still have room for emergency supplies. Keep in mind that, if you anticipate using your safe room for any extended period of time, you'll need access to bathroom facilities. For this reason, a bedroom with an adjoining bathroom is often ideal for conversion into a safe room.
- 3). Replace the interior door with a solid exterior door. Since most interior doors are designed for privacy rather than protection, they can be easily broken through in the event of an attack. An exterior door will make it significantly more difficult for an intruder to kick in the door and invade your safe room. Installing a solid door will also provide additional protection during a tornado, as doors are often a weak point in the room's structure.
- 4). Add multiple locks on the new door. Not only do multiple locks help deter intruders, they also ensure that weight from the other side of the door is evenly distributed across the door's frame, which helps keep the door from being torn down.
- 5). Install a watertight, fireproof safe. In the event of an emergency, you'll want to protect both your valuables and your important documents. Store birth certificates, health records and Social Security information for the entire family in the safe.
- 6). Replace any windows with tightly sealed, bullet-proof glass. Not only will the windows help protect you in the event of a home invasion, they'll make it less likely that the glass will shatter due to winds or flying debris of a tornado.
- 7). Establish a way of communication. Keep an extra cell phone charger and a battery-powered two-way radio in case you need to call for help.
- 8). Devise a way to seal the room from the inside in the case of a chemical or biological attack or industrial accident. If you have the budget, room pressurization is ideal for ensuring contaminants don't enter the room. Otherwise, keep plenty of duct tape and several large sheets of plastic so you can seal off windows and doors if necessary.
- 9). Stock the room with emergency supplies. Keep a radio, flashlight, can opener, pocket knife, first aid kit, whistle, dust masks, batteries, plastic bags, tools and fire extinguisher inside your safe room.
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Keep everyday supplies on hand. Include nonperishable food, clothing, water, prescription medications, personal hygiene items, sleeping bags and pet food easily available. - 11
Make the safe room safe for non-emergencies. While a safe room can give shelter in an emergency, most if not all of the time you spend in it will be using it for normal day-to-day functions. Keep any weapons securely locked in a safe, and make sure small children can't accidentally lock themselves inside your safe room with you on the outside wishing you hadn't made it quite so impenetrable.
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