Safe Rooms
Building a dream home involves many new and exciting decisions – from choosing a spacious kitchen layout that fits your family’s needs to selecting the perfect storage space for all your storage woes. But where will you build your new dream home? Many areas in the world are prone to natural disasters of varying degrees. Therefore, adding a safe room to cottage house plans or southern home plans should be on the top of the list.
A safe room is a designated space designed specifically for family members to retreat for high protection from whatever nature decides to throw your way. When building new, the safe room can play double duty, often serving as a master closet or spacious bath. For retrofitted homes or those desiring a more designated space, it is also a possibility to add on a safe room. Either way, safe rooms of varying sizes all require the same basic components:
• Smaller interior room that is located above grade
• Must be quickly accessible from major living spaces
• Should be tested and able to withstand storm forces of the highest degree yet experienced
• Must be able to withstand penetration by storm forced projectiles
• Anchored securely with special grade anchor bolts to resist overturning despite the force placed upon it
• The door requires three or more latches
• Door locks must work so that no person is locked in or out
• Must be operable by all family members (within reason)
For homeowners with basement foundations, it is possible to place your safe room in the basement. However, keep in mind family members that may experience accessibility issues. Tornadoes are known for appearing quite suddenly and the safe room is only functional if it can be reached hastily. Additionally, safe rooms in flood prone areas should never be installed in the basement. It is also important to note that safe rooms are not suitable in flood situations; evacuation is crucial in these natural disasters.
Safe rooms are not required in building codes, but your region may offer incentives if a safe room is included in your building plans. Even easier, prefabricated safe rooms are widely available and built according to FEMA standards. These safe rooms are highly recommended for those on a budget or those who may not possess the knowledge of safe room construction.
Natural disasters can occur at any time and any place in the world. For those homeowners living in the middle of the United States where tornadoes most often occur, incorporating a safe room to cottage home plans or southern living home plans is a great way to relieve the mind and provide a space in your home that is safe for your entire family – no matter what nature throws your way.
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