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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- How strong is an above ground shelter?
- How does the shelter stay attached to the slab and not blown away? The bolts appear to be glued down. Is that safe?
- How thick is the steel?
- How do you breathe?
- Why is it important that the door opens inward and not outward?
- How does it lock?
- Can I take the shelter with me if I move?
- How long to order and install a shelter?
- What is the warranty?
- Can you install on post tension cables?
How strong is an above ground shelter?
Our shelters are designed to withstand F5 Tornadoes with winds in excess of 260 mph. They have been tested at the Texas Tech Wind and Science Institute to exceed FEMA
320/361 standards, as well as ICC 500 building code requirements. The roof of a Storm Dorm is capable of supporting over 100,000 lbs of weight.
How does the shelter stay attached to the slab and not blow away? The bolts appear to be glued down. Is that safe?
Each above ground safe room uses the Hilti Fastening System to secure the shelter during an F5 tornado. The system uses a 2 part high tech epoxy and a series of 4" steel anchor bolts.
Each installer has been trained by the Hilti Corporation. A series of 3 1/2" holes are drilled in the concrete floor of the foundation or garage floor. (4x6 has 13 bolts, 4x8 has 18 bolts)
The holes are vacuumed clean of concrete dust and scrubbed with wire brushes. The epoxy is added to the drilled holes and the bolt is inserted. After 1 hour the epoxy is harder than the concrete we drilled out and the shelter is ready to withstand an F5 tornado.
How thick is the steel?
1/4 inch steel plate. Seamlessly welded on all outside vertical walls and on the interior of the roof panel.
How do you breathe?
Two ventilation plates on the front door of the shelter provide 16 inches of ventilation as well as a 1 inch space at the bottom of the door providing up to an additional 36 inches of ventilation, exceeding FEMA requirements.
Why is it important that the door opens inward and not outward?
Our door is physically larger than the outside door opening, making it impossible for it to be torn off. Doors that open outward are subject to being blocked by debris, trapping your family inside.
How does it lock?
There are five locks inside the shelter. One deadbolt, and four 1/2 inch steel L-shaped bolt locks. All five locks can be unlocked from the outside after unbolting the ventilation plate. (See installation video)
Can I take the shelter with me if I move?
Yes. The shelter can be unbolted and relocated to your new home.
How long to order and install a shelter?
In stock items usually arrive within 10-14 days and take 2 hours from the time we arrive to install. Custom orders take 3-4 weeks.
What is the warranty?
Lifetime warranty.
Can you install on post tension cables?
Our crews carry scanning equipment to locate post tension cables and insure that they are not damaged during installation.
