[Greenbuilding] tornado shelter

[Elizabeth Seiler]

I want to build a garden shed that can double as a tornado shelter.

I have read that ICF works great, but what about ICF.  Isn't this a 
petroleum based product? 

Then there's concrete.  It seems aerated concrete may not be strong 
enough to withstand large flying debris.

What about Faswall and/or strawbale for shelters.  I like the idea of 
having steel running through the buffering agents for strength.  With 
Faswal you get that inner concrete skeleton.  I could use flyash in that 
concrete.

What about cordwood?  I thought perhaps building a steel framework, 
filling in with cordwood, then clamping a steel beam along the top of 
the wall (forget the term for that beam).

I had even looked ito a monolithic concrete poured dome, but I really 
don't have enough space if I also want to install shelved, etc. for my 
books, etc.

What about a roof system?
I had thought the steel frame could be bolted to concrete footers, 
extend up through the frame and through the roof to hold the roof on 
(instead of a roof just being tacked onto the top).  The roof would not 
have overhangs (any windows would have their own overhang).  How about a 
sod roof? 

Of course earth shelters are cool, but I don't have tons of space.  I 
could bank up earth on two sides.  What walls are best to support 
banking of earth?

So many questions....

Elizabeth M. Seiler