New ANSI Standard Available on Storm Shelter Design
The International Code Council and the National Storm Shelter Association (NSSA) teamed up to develop new guidelines for the construction of community storm shelters and safe rooms inside residential establishments. The result is ICC 500-2008: ICC/NSSA Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters, available now at www.iccsafe.org/e/prodshow.html?prodid=7026S08.
The standard, which has been approved by the American National Standards Institute as an American National Standard, combines previous references to storm shelter and safe room construction published by NSSA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Red Cross. The new standard increases minimum wind resistance requirements and provides basic safety and health requirements.