This shelter is impressively overkill. The durability of this design lies in the fact wood can flex so against impact it is comparitively good as reinforced cement and occupants will be safe from tornado debris and winds. Cement has high compressive strength but requires steel rebar to give it any adequate structural performance. Steel alone will resist any forces if properly designed but cost is extreme if you wanted something this large and tough enough to not pierce. Just my $.02 after building this. I would build another in the position im in but feel buried steel inside a reinforced cement tomb 3 feet deep is the best defense if you can spring it. High water table and price tag was my reasons not to do that. And im worried about tornados not rocket attacks.
I am very confident in this design and is feasible, clean to build as well because you can bring in the materials and take your time without a lot of mess. One thing though, my concern (a bit) is the anchoring, I would if possible have at least four of those anchors go deeper, , drill the concrete with a hole saw and then auger down three feet or so, fill with cement and a J bolt. Also, the door bar bolts should go through the door and not just screwed just in case. The washers on the hinges should be wider so that anything hitting the door sideways (unlikely) won't rip them off (highly unlikely). Yet, on the structure itself is very safe, wood absorbs and distributes impact, and honestly, it is way thick, three 2x8s, then four 3/4 plywood panels, which ties them all together and on top of it glued and nailed/screwed, super....and of course it beats jumping inside a bathtub or a closet, ha!
Was this 2x4 cannon tested?? The door should open to the inside. Personally would want one made from concrete block and a little larger with provisions for a cot or 2, small fridge, shelf storage for food and a 5 gal bucket for waste. Really going to stuff 9 people in 49 sq ft---This enclosure is way too small for 9 occupants. This is not much larger than a sheet of plywood. 1.5 to be closer. More tax dollars at waste
An 8x8 room means 7 square feet per person if you put 9 people in it. Three chairs on each of the non-door walls is more than adequate space for the short time you would be in the shelter. It isn't a 'home', it is an emergency safe room for the duration of a tornado; likely 3-10 minutes. Now, if you have a family of 9 and would prefer to sleep in it during weather outbreaks, you may have a problem ... but, you could still fit 6 cots, 3 high, on two of the walls, partition off a space for a 5 gallon bucket toilet or a camp toilet, and put shelves across from it to store things such as tp, water, some canned food/MREs, flashlights/lanterns, and a few games (cards, board games) and books. Make the two top cots so they fold up while the bottom serves as a bench. You could tuck in a table with folding legs and hang it on the back wall between the toilet and shelves when it isn't in use. Honestly, I fail to see how this is tax dollars wasted. We're constructing our entire home using the 2x8 beams on a slab foundation, so adding this in as an interior safe room makes perfect sense. To each their own I guess.
Would love to see a video to show this shelter being tested. It does look impressive.
th-cam.com/video/kuhh2EdPLzk/w-d-xo.html
FEMA has plans for a safe room similar to this, but this one is far stronger built. I believe the FEMA one was tested for up to F5.
And for the latches on inside use bolts to bolt em not screws sorry .
Is this room considered safe by other testing labs such as those that test metal shelters?
This shelter is impressively overkill. The durability of this design lies in the fact wood can flex so against impact it is comparitively good as reinforced cement and occupants will be safe from tornado debris and winds. Cement has high compressive strength but requires steel rebar to give it any adequate structural performance. Steel alone will resist any forces if properly designed but cost is extreme if you wanted something this large and tough enough to not pierce. Just my $.02 after building this. I would build another in the position im in but feel buried steel inside a reinforced cement tomb 3 feet deep is the best defense if you can spring it. High water table and price tag was my reasons not to do that. And im worried about tornados not rocket attacks.
I am very confident in this design and is feasible, clean to build as well because you can bring in the materials and take your time without a lot of mess. One thing though, my concern (a bit) is the anchoring, I would if possible have at least four of those anchors go deeper, , drill the concrete with a hole saw and then auger down three feet or so, fill with cement and a J bolt. Also, the door bar bolts should go through the door and not just screwed just in case. The washers on the hinges should be wider so that anything hitting the door sideways (unlikely) won't rip them off (highly unlikely). Yet, on the structure itself is very safe, wood absorbs and distributes impact, and honestly, it is way thick, three 2x8s, then four 3/4 plywood panels, which ties them all together and on top of it glued and nailed/screwed, super....and of course it beats jumping inside a bathtub or a closet, ha!
Was this 2x4 cannon tested?? The door should open to the inside. Personally would want one made from concrete block and a little larger with provisions for a cot or 2, small fridge, shelf storage for food and a 5 gal bucket for waste. Really going to stuff 9 people in 49 sq ft---This enclosure is way too small for 9 occupants. This is not much larger than a sheet of plywood. 1.5 to be closer. More tax dollars at waste
What tornado shelter style do you have?
An 8x8 room means 7 square feet per person if you put 9 people in it. Three chairs on each of the non-door walls is more than adequate space for the short time you would be in the shelter. It isn't a 'home', it is an emergency safe room for the duration of a tornado; likely 3-10 minutes.
Now, if you have a family of 9 and would prefer to sleep in it during weather outbreaks, you may have a problem ... but, you could still fit 6 cots, 3 high, on two of the walls, partition off a space for a 5 gallon bucket toilet or a camp toilet, and put shelves across from it to store things such as tp, water, some canned food/MREs, flashlights/lanterns, and a few games (cards, board games) and books. Make the two top cots so they fold up while the bottom serves as a bench. You could tuck in a table with folding legs and hang it on the back wall between the toilet and shelves when it isn't in use.
Honestly, I fail to see how this is tax dollars wasted. We're constructing our entire home using the 2x8 beams on a slab foundation, so adding this in as an interior safe room makes perfect sense. To each their own I guess.