[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: [BULK] Tornado Shelter

[Lawrence Lile]

Why did they decide on resistance heat in the tornado shelter?  
 
It is a regular sport here to go tour the "urban renewal by wind" areas.  Occasionally you'll see a slab-on-grade house that has been leveled to the slab by a twister. Right next door, there will usually be a house that is unscathed, not even a shingle out of place.  
 
--Lawrence

________________________________

From: Bob Klahn [mailto:home-nrg at dnaco.net]
Sent: Mon 1/15/2007 9:34 AM
To: Lawrence Lile
Subject: [BULK] Re: [Greenbuilding] [BULK] Tornado Shelter



re: Midwest code
Setting aside the quibble about whether Ohio is actually in the Midwest
(Great Lakes Region, technically), Xenia - which has had two serious
bouts of urban renewal by wind - has added a requirement for a tornado
shelter to the local building code.
For a while, Habitat was modifying the bathroom into a shelter; adding a
reinforced concrete room shell and a metal door.  The units I was
involved with also had resistance heat for that room, taking it out of
the duct system.  Initially, the bank vault effect of the door seemed a
bit odd but otherwise they were invisible until you entered the
crawlspace and saw the dedicated extension of the foundation.  I don't
recall the door latching provisions but I assume there was provision for
getting someone out who had locked themselves in.
I believe that they have changed the approach in later units.
Bob Klahn