by Shawn Chesney | Apr 14, 2016 | Shawn Chesney Home Inspections Blog
Safe Rooms A safe room, also known as a panic room, is a fortified room that is installed in a private residence or business to provide a safe hiding place in the event of an emergency. Some Facts In Mexico, where kidnappings are relatively common, some people use safe rooms as an alternative (or a supplement) to bodyguards. In Israel, bullet- and fire-resistant security rooms have been mandated for all new construction since 1992. Since the 1980s, every U.S. embassy has had a safe room with bullet-resistant glass. Perhaps the largest safe room will belong to the Sultan of Brunei. The planned 100,000-square foot room will be installed beneath his 1,788-room, 2,152,782-square foot residence. Why are safe rooms used? Reasons include: to hide from burglars. The protection of a safe room will afford residents extra time to contact police; to hide from would-be kidnappers. Many professional athletes, actors and politicians install safe rooms in their houses; protection against natural disasters, such as tornadoes and hurricanes. Underground tornado bunkers are common in certain tornado-prone regions of the United States; protection against a nuclear attack. While structures near the blast may be incinerated, those far away may be shielded from radioactive fallout. This type of safe room, known as a fallout shelter and typically located outside the home, was more common during the Cold War than it is today; and to provide a temporary refuge in the event of a serious disease outbreak. Safe rooms have become a status symbol in wealthy areas such as Bel Air and Manhattan, where it is believed there are thousands of such rooms. However, it is difficult to estimate the...
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