This family fallout shelter, designed primarily for homes without basements, is a permanent home shelter to be placed in the yard. It is designed to have a protection factor of at least 40, which is the minimum standard of protection for public shelters throughout the United States. This assures that persons inside the shelter will be protected against radioactive fallout following a nuclear attack, and will also have some protection against blast and fire effect of nuclear explosions.
Following are detail drawings of the shelter, which is capable of housing six adults. It can be built of poured reinforced concrete, precast concrete slabs, or a combination of concrete blocks and poured concrete. If it is built as detailed with the top near ground level, the roof slab can be used as an outdoor patio. The shelter is accessible by a hatch-door and wood stairway. Fresh air is provided by a hand-operated centrifugal blower and two ventilating pipes that extend above ground level. In areas where there is poor drainage or where the ground water table is close to the surface, the fourth modification on page 5 should be used.
Before starting to build the shelter, make certain that the plan conforms to the local building code. Obtain a building permit if required. If the shelter is to be built by a local contractor, engage a reliable firm that will do the work properly and offer protection from any liability or other claims arising from its construction.
I was just looking this. With all the wicked weather in my neck of the woods the wife started talking about tornado shelters. Since I was going to have a large patio installed, and have no basement, i thought why not add some more concrete and create a multi use shelter. Any Ideas on this subject.
Well a place for prep storage for one. I'm not very far from Joplin. That storm that hit them hit my area also. Had rotation close enough for us to empty out the very very small closet in the kids bedroom. It's one of the two only rooms with out exterior walls. Both being tiny closets. It got me thinking how screwd we are in our home. Most homes in my area do not have basements. No protection for family or our preps. I have zero storage space. I do have a large garage but our stuff is to visable. (even after trying to contain it). God forbid a storm or worse happens it can all be blown away in an instant.
I am getting close to building a large patio between the house and the pool so I was thinking and underground shelter with steps. entry from inside garage, convient for storage, convient for sheltering through the worst. Best part it was not my idea. My wife has been gun safe shopping, and the size we would like is expensive. She sugested an above ground shelter that can be used as a vault also. I figure for a few grand more I can solve a visable food storage issue, visable ammo issue, shelter issue and patio issue. But how far to take it is the issue. I would want easy entry, well lit, maybe even with a small ac/heat chico unit. Secure with one of those bullet proof coded locks. Seperate escape tunnel etc. Ideas? *sorry for spelling errors, cant get iespell to download.*
Your plan is sound IMO. In particular since it was the wife's idea. I tend to run with them when she hits a good one, gets me some points for doing my ideas
In your neck of the woods a well built shelter could well be a life saver. All the other uses just icing on the cake.
Something to look into, around this area there is a company that make septic tanks and they advertise pre made concrete storm shelters. Not sure of their sizes, but might be worth reasearching.
Last edited by bacpacker; 06-11-2011 at 03:57 PM.
Reason: addition
Well i have to have a patio poured anyway. It will be raised because my back yard is sloped. I was considering blocks, but my brick/block laying skills are lacking. My front mail box, which my buddy and I pit in, has a kind of cat in the hat swagger to it so i better get a pro. I'm looking up the ventilation aspects simple to start but upgradeable so I can have it filtered after I save up some cash. Has anyone tried this yet? I would also like my gen. incorporated into this also. Outside installation, bolted to patio. My biggest problem is how loud it is. Has anyone added mufflers to theirs?
In your case I wouldn't be real concerned about OpSec. There have been so many tonados around this year, someone putting in a "tornado shelter" would raise much attention, with a patio. Should you choose to go with block, I would suggest all that are below grade be poured with rebar for strength. That's they way they did my basement and we have had zero issues even from cracking in the motar joints. On the inside, we painted the block with Damtite. It a poweder you mix with water till you get the right consistancy then put it on the blocks. 2 layers and it will keep water from seeping thru. Outside we did a french drain at the base, then 2 layers or tar and plastic before we backfilled. We never had a issue with water coming in. Our house is on a bit of a slope as well.
No expereince with fitlering or gen's.
Backpacker, was the tar and plaster on the wall? Any condensation issues? Great info. Your right about the op sec. I'm sure I'm not the only one with hind sight lately, even if I have other motives. I'm going to start some rough sketches with a list of building requirements. When they are ready i'll try and post them for some feedback. I hate "building remorse". Put a large garage on the house a few years ago and the wife said "why don't you put a room above it?" I said "this garage is huge!, not need." AAANNND I'm out of space. All about advice now.
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