Constructing a Wood Tornado Shelter (5 of 6)

How to build a tornado shelter made of wood using readily available building products.
This video introduces phase 5: Building and Hanging the Door.
Construction guide available at www.fpl.fs.fed... Produced in collaboration with Home Innovation Research Labs.

[@asuarezjd]

I appreciate these videos. It does help the beams and the plywood are glued together, the way each part if grooved and glued and the anchors and hurricane ties. Do not listen to the idiots criticizing and giving examples of house blowing up, they don't understand that those houses are not anchored the same way, nails are a joke and they are almost glued with saliva to the slab. And, the key is once one of the sections (a wall or the roof) lets go the rest collapses. The way they are constructed is counting on gravity to push down and not pulled upwards. Besides, it is a solution for homeowners to build something which beats a bathtub or a closet any day of the week. And, some people don't understand that cinder blocks crack but wood, if thick and sturdy enough can absorb impact.
We know those idiot keyboard warriors would run inside this shelter and none would stay in their living rooms. Again, thank you! I love this design! is feasible.

[@justinnnnnn209]

My main concern with the design, is the swing out door. In a tornado event, you might not be able to get the door open, due to debris. All the commercial in building shelters seems to have swing in doors. But this design does not lend itself to making that change simple, as the walls help hold the door closed. The door is bigger than the door way and overlaps. The locking hinge is just to prevent the pressure difference from pushing them open. I'm looking for options in my existing basement, and living in tornado alley.

[@BB-nn9en]

I agree. I believe the room could be constructed with the same materials in the same locations except using a different method of construction for an existing room. A different door could also be used.

[@rosewoodsteel6656]

I would either install a small secondary "hatch" or just keep a battery pack chainsaw in the shelter. It could remain charged with a trickle charger. On second thought, just keep a few wrenches, a hammer and a punch (or metal rod) in the shelter. the lag bolts securing the door hinges can be removed from the inside and the lag bolts can be tapped out with the hammer and punch.

[@ShakespeareCafe]

Keep a battery operated chainsaw inside cut your way out when the inevitable debris blocks the door from opening. I like how that guy is overtightening the lag bolts so they just spin. Use a driver with a torque adjustment or a socket to get the bolts just right.

[@rosewoodsteel6656]

Great minds think alike! :)

[@JW-gc5ve]

FEMA offers a different set of plans for P-320 shelter.

[@localsitesgo5961]

how thick is the plywood for the door?

[@rightwinggunslinger1]

Any links and part numbers for the latches and hinges?

[@dougcollison1213]

Is there an alternative to having the hinges on the outside? As a saferoom it wouldn't take an intruder much to cut them off.

[@rosewoodsteel6656]

It would take an intruder less time to chainsaw through the wall. Most intruders wouldn't have angle grinders or chainsaws with them, so I wouldn't be too concerned. If you are still concerned, just keep a firearm in the shelter.

[@xsteel3292]

I would like to see the video test with projectiles on this shelter, please. Where may I see these.

[@Skynet307]

here is a video of them testing the shelter ruclips.net/video/kuhh2EdPLzk/видео.html

[@Retired_SeniorChief]

Is there a Bill of materials for this I'd like to get some pricing?