Construction and Safety
Learn about how Storm Dorms tornado shelters are fabricated to ensure your safety
Where are Storm Dorms tornado shelters made?
All Storm Dorms tornado shelters are fabricated by expert welders at our shop in Garland, Texas.
What are the features in a Storm Dorms tornado shelter?
• Storm Dorms tornado shelters are constructed from 1/4" steel, seamlessly welded for maximum durability and protection.
• Each Storm Dorms tornado shelter comes equipped with five locks, including a bolt lock for safety.
• Each Storm Dorms tornado shelter has two in-door vents to ensure proper air flow.
• The in-door vents can be removed from the outside, in the event that you are unable to open the door.
• The doors on a Storm Dorms tornado shelter swing inwards, to ensure that you can open the door even if debris has piled in front of it.
How big is the standard Storm Dorms tornado shelter?
The standard size of a Storm Dorms tornado shelter is 4' x 6', with a height of 6'6". You can choose the placement of the door to ensure that it is easily accessible in your space.
What if I want to customize my Storm Dorms tornado shelter?
Do it! We fabricate the Storm Dorms tornado shelters at our shop in Garland TX, so can accommodate custom sizes as small as 2'6" x 4' or as large as 10' x 20', increase the height of the tornado shelter or custom fit a space in new construction.
If you have a unique need, we are happy to discuss it with you to find a way to best accommodate you..
All custom builds are quoted to your specifications.
Do you offer wheelchair-accessible Storm Dorms tornado shelters?
Yes, because we manufacture our units, we can customize storm shelters with accessibility features such as wider doors and ramps.
What is the ventilation like in a Storm Dorms tornado shelter?
Storm Dorms tornado shelters have two in-door air vents; the top vent includes a small shatter-proof window. The vent covers are sloped downward to prevent debris from entering the shelter in a storm. Dust will be able to come in through the vents, so we recommend keeping good quality dust masks for use in these circumstances.
What keeps the door on Storm Dorms' tornado shelters from opening in a tornado?
Storm Dorms tornado shelter doors are reinforced to withstand pressure. Storm Dorms tronado shelters have five heavy-duty locks, including a bolt lock for safety. We use the Hilti fastening system, and reinforced hinges to prevent doors from opening during extreme weather.
Can the door on my Storm Dorms tornado shelter be locked from the outside?
Yes, we provide a key lock to secure it from the outside. We do not keep copies of the keys we provide, and will not be able to replace it if lost. We recommend you make additional copies of the key as a backup.
How do Storm Dorms tornado shelters protect against flying debris?
Storm Dorms tornado shelters are built with reinforced walls and doors designed to withstand high-impact debris, preventing structural failure.