FAQ

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Things to Consider and FAQ’s When Planning to Purchase a Safe Room
Which is better...an underground shelter or an above ground shelter?
Studies have shown that you are just as safe in an approved/certified above ground safety shelter as in
a below ground shelter and in certain situations you could be safer.
Cons for underground shelters:
• Susceptible to stresses and strains of the soil freezing in the wintertime.
• Susceptible to floating if the high water table is too high.
• Expensive to dig if bedrock exists.
• Could flood from rain or broken water pipes.
Pros for above ground shelters:
• Less ground preparation required.
• Can be entered easily.
• Less chance of flooding from rain and broken pipes.
• Less expensive to install in most cases.
Safe Rooms and Storm Shelters?
There is no law or regulation that requires a manufacturer to have their shelter tested and certified.
Some shelter manufacturers are producing storm shelters or safe rooms that are not certified. The
buyer should always ask if the manufacturer’s products have been tested to FEMA and ICC
requirements for Safe Rooms and/or verified by NSSA (the National Storm Shelter Association).
It is logical that debris impact testing would be more important for above-ground shelters, and ground-
stress testing would be more important for below-ground shelters. Since most communities would
require a building permit for such a project, a family would need to have a building inspector examine
plans for the shelter. Requirements can vary from community to community may require the approval of
a professional engineer. The Swisher ESP Safety Shelter does qualify as a FEMA Safe Room based
upon compliance with ICC-500, FEMA 361 and FEMA 320.
The Texas Tech National Wind Institute is the only facility approved by FEMA to perform debris impact
testing. ESP Safety Shelters have passed all tests at Texas Tech NWI and underwent rigorous design
analysis to withstand 250 mph winds from any direction as seen in an EF-5 Tornado.