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What once may have been considered an acceptable storm shelter area just a
few years ago, in all probability does not meet current Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) guidelines. FEMA has developed guidelines
for
tornado safer areas that are intended to provide “near absolute
protection” from 250 mph winds. This means minimizing the probability of
death and injury during a tornadic event.
PBA Architects has been in the forefront of tornado shelter design for
more than ten years. Corey Schultz, of PBA, has designed nine shelters for
elementary schools, one of which was a case study for the “Design and
Construction Guidance for Community Shelters” (FEMA 361). He was also on
the review committee for the FEMA 361 and the benefit cost analysis
software that is part of the FEMA 361. Corey has recently been selected to
serve on the International Code Council (ICC) Consensus Committee on Storm
Shelters, which regulates “the design, construction and installation of
safe, reliable and economical storm shelters.”
PBA Architects is uniquely positioned to offer a full array of tornado
shelter design services to concerned building owners, including site
assessments of existing facilities, design analysis of existing refuge
areas, determination of options for owners and design of new tornado safer
areas.
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