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Authors : Collective work
Title : Above ground home shelter
Year : *

Link download : Above_ground_home_shelter.zip

Protection is provided in an outside aboveground shelter. The shelter can be used as a tool shed or workshop. General information. This family shelter is intended for persons who prefer an aboveground shelter or, for some reason such as a high water table, cannot have a belowground shelter. In general, belowground shelter is superior and more economical than an aboveground shelter. The shelter is designed to meet the standard of protection against fallout radiation that has been established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for public fallout shelters. It can also be constructed to provide significant protection from the effects of hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes, and limited protection from the blast and fire effects of a nuclear explosion. 1/ It has sufficient space to shelter six adults. The shelter can be built of two rows of concrete blocks, one 12” and one 8”, filled with sand or grout, or of poured reinforced concrete. Windows have been omitted; therefore, electric lights are recommended for day to day use. The details and construction methods are considered typical. If materials other than shown are selected for example, concrete block faced with brick care should be taken to provide at least the same weight of materials per square foot: 200 lb. per sq. ft. in the walls and 100 lb. per sq. ft. in the roof. The wood frame roof over the reinforced concrete ceiling probably would be blown off by extremely high winds such as caused by a blast wave or tornado. However, the wood frame roof is intended primarily for appearance; the concrete ceiling provides the protection. When using the shelter for protection against high winds, DO NOT place the concrete blocks in the doorway or windows. This structure has been designed for areas where frost does not penetrate the ground more than 20 inches. If 20 inches is not a sufficient depth for footings, one or two additional courses of concrete blocks may be used to lower the footings. Average soil bearing pressure is 1,500 lb. per sq. f t . Most soils can be assumed to support this pressure without special testing or investigation. The baffle wall outside the entrance to the shelter is extended out 7’-4” to allow storage of lawn equipment such as wheelbarrows and lawn mowers. If additional space is desired, extend this dimension. Before starting to build the shelter, make certain that the plan conforms to the local building code. Obtain a building permit if required. If the shelter is to be built by a contractor, engage a reliable firm that offers protection from any liability or other claims arising from its construction. ...