What's the difference between StormCloset and ClosetVault?
StormCloset is a storm
shelter designed to protect you and your family from
injuries from tornadoes. StormCloset is a fully
qualified tornado shelter (tested and evaluated by
approved independent testing and engineering firms)
meeting all requirements of the National Storm Shelter
Association Standard (see www.nssa.cc).The StormCloset
door has a NSSA qualified door/frame/hardware assembly.
ClosetVault is an in-residence safe room vault
which protects its contents from fire, burglary, and
storm damage from hurricane force winds and missile
impacts. The ClosetVault door is a burglar- resistant
steel door with multiple latching devices which meets UL
specifications for a 14 gauge three hour fire door, but
is not designed to resist the force of a 15 pound 2X4
impacting at 100 mph nor the pressures from a 250 mph
tornado wind.
Then, isn't
ClosetVault a storm shelter for storms less than tornado
intensity?
ClosetVault resists
debris missile impacts as required by the Standard
Building Code and Florida Building Code for hurricane
shelters, but does not meet NSSA or FEMA standards for
tornado shelters. StormCloset resists 250 mph wind
forces and meets NSSA pressure and tornado debris impact
requirements for above-ground tornado shelters.(15 pound
2 x 4 board impacting at 100 mph) ClosetVault has
withstood 18" diameter tree drops, car and junk steel
drop impacts, and is anchored to provide the same
resistance to uplift, overturning or lateral movement as
StormCloset. However, ClosetVault is designed and
intended for protection of contents rather than for
providing personal storm protection even though it is
able to resist hurricane and blast forces.
Is StormCloset
accepted by state agencies administering FEMA grants as
a qualified above-ground tornado shelter?
Yes. The StormCloset
tornado shelter is qualified to receive funding under
FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program in states where
this program has been funded. Shelters meeting the NSSA
Standard are recognized by FEMA as having been designed,
tested, and constructed by a standard which exceeds the
federal standards. National Storm Shelter Association
Member's shelters are also required by NSSA to be
installed by qualified and fully trained installers, in
accordance with specific installation or assembly
instructions, who further must furnish a Certificate of
Installation to NSSA certifying compliance with the NSSA
Standard.
Is RemagenSafeRooms a
member of NSSA?
Yes. RemagenSafeRooms
is a founding member of NSSA. Jim Waller, is currently
serving as NSSA President and was instrumental in
founding NSSA and developing the Standard which was
adopted by the membership. The International Codes
Council is developing the ICC/NSSA standard for storm
shelters.
How are StormCloset
and ClosetVault anchored and finished?
Both safe rooms are
anchored to concrete floor slabs with expansion anchors
at the corners and each side of the door, and walls are
connected to the floor slab at 4" intervals along the
wall with concrete anchoring screws. Both safe rooms may
be finished with drywall on both faces of the walls if
fire protection is required or clad with other finishing
materials which the home owner might choose. A single
layer of 3/4 inch CD plywood is bonded to the roof of
the StormCloset.
What size safe rooms
are available from RemagenSafeRooms?
Two standard size safe
rooms are available. Outside plan dimensions are 4'-6"
by 7'-10" or 7'10" by 7'10" both with an outside height
of 7'-8". They will fit into the average height room of
an existing residence. Custom sized rooms may be
designed using the planning template on this
site.
Do you include the
gypsum wallboard and 3/4" plywood?
No. Fire-rated gypsum
wallboard and 3/4" plywood are available from nearly
every local building supply store. These stores deal in
large quantities of this material and can supply you
much more cheaply than we could ship it to
you.
Can other interior
finishes such as paneling be used and still have fire
resistance?
Yes, as long as the
finish material is placed over the fire rated gypsum
wallboard.
What is included when
I buy a StormCloset or a ClosetVault?
All steel portions of
the enclosure are provided, including adhesive, screws
and anchoring hardware. The tornado door or vault door
is included. Doors come with lockable, mortised lever
latch set, two dead bolt locks (locks are keyed alike)
and three heavy duty hinges with non- removable
pins.
Does RemagenSafeRooms
assemble and install its safe rooms?
Yes. Remagen has
trained and qualified dealers who install its safe
rooms.
Can your safe rooms be
installed by the customer?
Yes. Illustrated
assembly instructions are furnished with each unit sold.
Many customers install their own safe rooms. We have
received very positive feedback from customers who have
done this.
Can I control
RemagenSafeRoom's environment to be the same as in my
home?
Yes. Safe rooms are
furnished with protected steel vent ducts in ceiling
panels which permits heating, cooling, or forced air
ventilation to be provided to the interior of safe
rooms. Since safe rooms are rooms which can be occupied,
provisions for electrical wall outlets are required.
Therefore, dehumidifiers or other appliances may be
operated within the enclosure. This permits greater
temperature and humidity control than is available for
even gun safes.
Can Remagen safe rooms
be installed upstairs in buildings?
Yes. ClosetVault was
designed to provide great strength with the least amount
of weight. Therefore, its finished weight is
approximately one-half of the allowable load for
residential occupancies (40% of the minimum floor design
load for office occupancies). Models are available for
anchoring to concrete floor slabs and for installation
in upper floor wood frame construction. StormCloset must
be installed on a concrete floor slab in order to
provide tornado protection meeting FEMA and NSSA
requirements.
Can Remagen safe rooms
be erected in new buildings?
Yes, Remagen safe
rooms can be built into new or existing buildings.
Because they may be assembled entirely from within the
enclosure, Remagen safe rooms may be built into existing
closet space. It may also become a separate room which
is accessible through a broom closet, for example, so as
to hide the door. Its flexibility lends it to virtually
all situations.
How does ClosetVault's
price compare to that of a gun safe?
ClosetVault space
costs 15% to 20% of typical gun vault space. ClosetVault
also provides superior protection for firearms,
gunpowder, and cartridges.
Can I get locked in
ClosetVault or StormCloset?
Not if the door and
hardware are correctly installed. The locking system can
only keep someone from opening the door from the
outside.
Do I need to install a
threshold under the door to get the fire
resistance?
No. However, there is
sufficient space to install a threshold if it is
desired. A threshold is not necessary for fire
resistance. Carpeting under doors does not reduce fire
resistance.
Will Remagen Safe
Rooms provide protection from lightning?
Yes. The steel
enclosure behaves as a "Faraday Box," an enclosure which
shields the interior from ionization from the outside,
acting similar to the skin of an automobile or aircraft
in shielding occupants from lightning.
Do I need to provide
special grounding for Remagen Safe Rooms to get
protection from lightning?
No. The safe room and its 110 volt
circuits are required to be grounded to the "house
ground." Electricians know how to do this. An automobile
provides protection from lightning and it is not
grounded. The Lightning Institute advises using only the
house ground.
Do I have to drill
holes to install screws when assembling ClosetVault or
StormCloset?
Only for the door
frame installation. All holes are pre-punched in the
steel frames and panels. This assures proper screw
placement; all holes provided are to have screws
connecting the members. A manual, electric, or pneumatic
ratchet with socket is all that is needed to drive the
self-tapping screws. Two 3/16" diameter holes must be
drilled to mount the welded door frame and this frame
must have 7/32" diameter holes drilled to install dry
wall door frame.
How is electrical wiring routed through the walls and ceiling?
Matching 7/8" diameter
holes are located in all steel tubes and enclosure
panels so that 3/4" flexible conduit can be routed
throughout the enclosure. Switch boxes, outlet boxes,
and light fixtures are attached directly to the steel
framing. Panic alarm system wiring is also easily placed
in the walls and ceiling.
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