8/17/2023 0 Comments Residential safe room doorsOne method of demonstrating compliance is through labeling by third parties, such as UL (Underwriters Laboratories). Consumers should request documentation from the supplier and/ or installer to verify the door assembly’s compliance with the most current versions of FEMA’s safe room publications1 (FEMA P-361 and FEMA P-320) or ICC 5002 for a tornado wind speed of 250 mph. FEMA does not certify products, but the manufacturer(s) of safe room door assemblies must certify their products have passed ICC 500 testing to meet or exceed FEMA safe room criteria. What is different about a tested safe room door versus a standard door? For safe room doors to reliably provide life-safety protection during a tornado, they must be rigorously designed, constructed, and tested. FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. The most current version can be found at link provided under “Resources” section at end of Fact Sheet. 2 ICC 500, ICC/NSSA Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters. The most current versions can be found at links provided under “Resources” section at end of Fact Sheet. FEMA Publications provide criteria based on code recommendations and post-disaster field observations, but do not regulate or set standards in building codes. 1 FEMA P-361, Safe Rooms for Tornadoes and Hurricanes: Guidance for Community and Residential Safe Rooms and FEMA P-320, Taking Shelter from the Storm: Building a Safe Room for Your Home or Small Business. UL tornado safe room door label In addition to having passed required testing for tornado missile impact and pressure, the door assembly should be easily locked and unlocked so that access to and from the safe room is quick and easy. In reality, there is no substitute for a tested tornado safe room door assembly! The good news is these door assemblies are readily available today. ![]() Such terminology can give consumers a false sense of security that the less expensive doors provide an adequate level of tornado protection. Sometimes door suppliers market levels of safety Residential safe room with corresponding pricing door (Moore, OK, 2013) (“good,” “better,” “best”). Consumers need to be sure the door they are buying is part of a tested tornado safe room door assembly, as some door suppliers offer non-tested “storm door” assemblies for use in safe rooms. Only door assemblies designed and tested to resist tornadoes can provide life-safety protection for you and your family. ![]() There is a common misconception that a steel “storm door” with three locks and three hinges can provide tornado lifesafety protection: it cannot. ![]() Not all doors are the same Steel doors commonly used in residential and commercial construction cannot withstand the impact of the wind-borne debris, or “missiles,” that a tornado can propel, and their failure has resulted in serious injury and even death during tornadoes. When careful selection and installation of the safe room door assembly is overlooked, the safe room door opening can leave occupants at great risk of injury or death during tornadoes. Just as the walls and roof of a safe room are designed and built to protect against extreme winds and wind-borne debris, so must the safe room door. Like any other room, safe rooms must be accessed through an opening or door. of 2 Residential Tornado Safe Room Doors Residential safe rooms are becoming more popular as families seek protection from violent tornadoes. ![]() Fact Sheet Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration September 2014
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |