Above-ground shelters are commonly built from steel and can withstand significant damage during a tornado. They minimize the risk of flooding and are easier to quickly enter and exit in an emergency. If you’re looking for easy access to the safe room, you should choose above-ground shelters. Installing a concrete bunker in the basement is a more reasonable choice. If you want to install a storm shelter underground, you’ll likely be better off choosing a concrete bunker.Īreas such as Oklahoma and Norman, which have an increased risk of storms and tornadoes, often contain concrete basements in houses. Above ground or undergroundĪn important decision to make when installing a safe room on your property is the location. Hence, they last for a more extended period. The steel safe rooms are typically more resistant to moisture. Steel safe rooms might be initially more expensive, but the rigid metal walls made of steel provide maximum protection. You need to consider that cracks in concrete walls will allow moisture inside, which might decrease the quality of the safe room overtime. However, concrete is very brittle and can easily crack or crumble, so you might need to spend extra money to properly reinforce the safe room and ensure it protects you during a storm. Safe rooms made of concrete are cheaper than those made from steel. While you want to provide the maximum protection for yourself and your family if a tornado strikes, you also need to consider the cost of installing a safe room. Choosing between a concrete and a steel safe room can be challenging, so here are some tips to help you decide. Storm shelters are commonly made of either concrete or steel. However, it can be difficult to decide which type of storm shelter will be the best choice for your safety. Storm shelters offer greater protection from tornadoes and are a safe place for you and your loved ones to take refuge from high winds and flying debris during a storm. The best way to protect yourself and your family from these natural disasters is by having a storm shelter installed in your home. But if it is cellar or unfinished I don't see why it would be considered habitable.Īnyone know specifically what sections of code might allow such a space or if a case could be made that this meets IRC2009 code (the version we are on)? If I have specific code to reference I may get some traction with the plans review.If you’re living in Oklahoma City, Texas, you need to be prepared for tornadoes and storms. But one dimension is less than 7' required for a "habitable room". It is about 130 sq ft so over the 120 minimum. Minimum room size might be the main issue. That may not be too hard to meet - does that just mean running a duct run in? What electrical is required? Just a light? This room will have a door into the rest of the walkout basement so the egress issue I think is met. The alternative is to build the same room inside the basement - seems like duplication to build a slightly shallower room under the porch and fill it with gravel just to have another one inside the basement. Proposed room would be 6 x 28 (actually that's the outside of the foundation so room will be close to 5' x 26'). The space would not inherently need insulation, but would need to meet minimum room size, electrical and ventilation. Based on FEMA guidelines, this safe room holds up to 9 people, so there is. The safe room is poured in as one piece, so we are able to anchor it straight into the ground. This safe room can be installed anywhere access allows. A friend at work is building an ICF basement with an ICF saferoom. Keep your family safe from severe weather in our 5×7 concrete above ground storm shelter. Lbear Veteran Member Posts:2721: 01:11 AM: Quad Deck/InsulDeck roofs are very rare. If the space is labeled as ‘Unfinished’ or as ‘Cellar’ then you would have to show that it meets the requirements of the 2009 IRC. Any rule of thumb on the costs of the Quad Deck roof Concrete is 100 a yard in my area. I stated it was impractical to meet all those requirements for a residential space and that perhaps I should have called it a "cellar". Not sure if that documentation is easily available but the use of 6" hollow core for a porch with 6' span is clearly overkill and much stronger than 4" poured in place that is acceptable to them. And the use of premanufactured concrete panels would require an ICC report or signed and sealed plans that show the construction was in accordance to ACI318. When I called it a "safe room" AHJ stated it would have to be in compliance with ICC/NSSA-500. We will use it for storage and tornado shelter (and perhaps a wine cellar). Plans person says they have tried it before and AHJ would want the whole room to be insulated - the reason they gave was the top was exposed to the outdoor temperature. Wanting to do similar but getting pushback from various people. Previously I put a room under the porch and topped it with hollow core concrete and poured the final concrete over that. I am planning a house with a walkout basement.
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