A safe room is a hardened structure specifically designed to meet criteria that make it “nearly indestructible.” These requirements vary depending on the scenarios that you plan for in your home or business. A safe room can be designed to withstand anything from extreme weather to home invasion. The solutions will vary but should incorporate specific attributes including indoor-air-quality, durability, and comfort.
If this is a space you think will be a refuge for an extended period of time, you may want to design for a minimum of 50-100 sf per person. If the purpose of the room is to ride out a short extreme weather event, perhaps 20-40 sf per person is enough. Just remember when you are planning, the larger the room, the more expensive to build and difficult to make is secure.
A safe room can be located above or below ground. Typically the below ground solution will give the most protection against everything except flooding. It does add to the difficulty of getting access and fresh air into the space.
The entrance door to the space is probably the most important detail and the hardest to secure. Using a hollow core metal door filled with sand is an economical answer to create a solid door.
A safe room should have provisions for food and water storage to be effective in a long-term event. Consideration should also be made for a secondary escape path. Also for an extended stay design, restroom facilities are critical.
Remember to have the appropriate supplies in the safe room (first aid kit, flashlight, batteries, change of clothing), a means of communication, and a plan in place for the time frame the room can remain functional. It is also a good idea to have a way to see out to determine if the threat has passed. This could be a peep-hole in the door or a remote camera system (which could easily be compromised).
All it takes in our industry to create change is for one person to step forward and lead with passion. Others will follow if the outcome is seen to make a positive contribution. The goal should not be more, rather the goal should be the best quality. CSI needs you to be involved to be the best organization possible.
Yesterday we posted this picture asking for your thoughts on the building science issues. Here are the issues we found:
Notice that the home owners have extended the downspout in an effort to fix this problem, but issues still exist.
There is fungus growing on the exposed rock indicating the drainage is not right. Water is pooling next to the foundation which could lead to moisture issues in the crawl space. It could also undermine the foundation wall over time as the ground dries out through different seasons.
There is also landscape complications with bushes that have become overgrown. This will tend to push moisture onto the wood siding and hold it there. Wood siding will absorb the moisture, pushing / pulling it into the wall system. If there is insulation in the cavity, there is a good chance it will get wet diminishing the effectiveness. Enough moisture could also lead to rot and mold growth if not allowed to dry out.
Another issue is the stone foundation. This is a hard issue to correct, but should be monitored. The old stacked stones work well to give a solid foundation when done right, however, the rocks will wick water into the wall system without fail. This leads to rot and mold issues if it is not allowed to dry.
There is also a good chance that termites can get into the walls without detection as their tunnels can be built between rocks on the inside or outside of the foundation wall.
Anything else I missed, please add your thoughts in the comments section!
This high performance Penn Laird home continues to be built by Trost Custom Homes. Here is a pictorial update of the project. Here are the past updates Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
Over the past few weeks I have been reminded multiple times: the most important element in building is having a good plan in place before starting construction.
“BY FAILING TO PREPARE, YOU ARE PREPARING TO FAIL.” ~ Benjamin Franklin
It is hard for many to justify the expense of developing a good plan before starting construction. After all, budgets are tight for everyone these days! There are many websites dedicated to providing home plans for you that will save you thousands of dollars on design fees. There are ‘drafters’ in the area that can modify them to make them what you want. Perhaps even your builder is willing to “mark up” the plans to make the modifications you need.
Unfortunately, this approach to construction leaves out a very important step – DESIGN. Design matters and you get what you pay for almost without exception. A good planning process up front that includes the builder and architect will result in the most efficient, functional, and comfortable home for you. A balanced team understands how to use your resources (money and materials) efficiently to produce a design the fits your goals. Design Matters.
