How To Install A Safe Room At Your House

By Author: Anna Shawn
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The history of safe rooms goes back to medieval feudal lords, when they constructed such rooms in their forts to protect themselves from the siege. Safe rooms are used for protection against intruders, kidnappers and also natural disasters like tornadoes, floods and storms. The type, construction and location of the safe room at a house depends upon the purpose for which it is built. As evident from its objective, such a room must have a completely pick resistant lock installed with the help of reliable mobile locksmith services along with the highest endurance walls.

Purpose of a safe room

The purpose of a safe room is to protect you from any danger you might face, from a person or nature. The word ‘panic room’ suggests a high tech metal walled room, in short an ugly room. In reality, a safe room doesn’t have to be ugly. A safe room can be constructed without destroying the décor of your house, the room can be utilized for normal purposes and the safety equipment doesn’t necessarily have to show. Any room with concrete walls, ...
... a single access and a reliable lock, preferably installed by professional locksmith services can function as a safe room. The safe rooms are supposed to be ultimate in safety. They are built to protect their occupants from nuclear and biological attacks, hurricanes, tornadoes and home invasions. The rooms for protection against tornadoes and hurricanes are built on the ground floor or basement, and they are properly reinforced and have enough supplies to keep their occupants alive for as long as a month. However a safe room for floods should be constructed on the first floor or roof top. A panic room against intruders should preferably well concealed and not in the common knowledge of anyone except house occupants. Many panic rooms are built to protect things like hard drives, rare books, collections etc rather than people.

Depending upon the level of safety required, the amount of money you are willing to spend, panic rooms can have different levels of safety features. The more supplies you put in your panic room, the more homely you make it.

Safe room supplies

A safe room will not be safe for long if it is not loaded with life saving supplies. Careful thinking is needed when putting in supplies. There are a few basic needs such as non perishable food, clean water supply, first aid kit and basic medicines, important documents, sanitation supplies, blankets, flashlights, battery powered radio and extra batteries, gas masks, pepper spray for self defense, duct tape and so on. The most important equipment for a panic room is the phone to contact the authorities or call for help. A cell phone might not work if the safe room is too well fortified or is in the basement. You can get an underground phone line installed.

What does a panic room need?

A panic room is basically a fortified box with an opening. For protection against invaders and disasters alike, fortify the walls and ceiling with Kevlar panels, and then reinforce the walls with plywood. Kevlar panels are also blast proof. A cement reinforced foundation and steel reinforced ceiling will protect you from all sides. Safe rooms are also used to conceal their occupants, so a hidden entrance will be preferable. The only weak spot of the fortified box is the door, so even if your walls are not steel paneled, get a steel door installed. The door should have at least three latches, the door locks should be such that nobody is locked in or out. The door locks must be operable by all family members, regardless of the age. The dead bolt should protrude at least 2 inches into the wall. The safe room should not be locked with a key, as the keys can be lost or stolen, it should preferably be an electronic lock with a code or a retina or fingerprint sensor. It would be better to call upon locksmith near me services for the installation of a secure lock.