About Our NBC Shelters
ALL HAZARD SHELTERS™ • SHELTER COMPONENTS • CUSTOMIZING YOUR SHELTER
TRANSPORTATION & INSTALLATION • ORDERING PROCESS
© 1987 - 2012 Utah Shelters Inc. All rights reserved.
IMPORTANT SHELTER DESIGN ELEMENTS OF "ALL HAZARD SHELTERS™":
There are essential design elements you should consider before purchasing an "All Hazard Shelter™".
‘All Hazard Shelters™’ must withstand violent earth movement from severe earthquakes; high velocity winds from tornados and hurricanes; invasion from mobs; heavy overpressures from nuclear blast; all types of radiation; wild fires; and air contamination from fallout and chemical and biological war gasses. It is interesting to note that NBC shelters satisfy the entire scope of requirements for 'All Hazard Shelters™'.
Before purchasing a shelter, do a careful 'risk assessment' for your location (see 'getting started'), and design your shelter accordingly.
If you choose to purchase an 'All Hazard Shelter™', your shelter design must meet the following criteria:
- Does the shelter provide critical radiation attenuation properties for NBC shelters?
- Small diameter entrances.
- Entrances with both vertical and long horizontal components connected with a 90-degree turn, assuring the proper attenuation of gamma radiation.
- Long horizontal runs providing an area in the entrance for the required 6 feet of shielding assuring protection from initial radiation.
- Shielding over the shelter chamber equivalent to 4 feet of dirt cover for gamma radiation, and at least 8 feet of dirt cover in blast areas, for shielding against initial radiation.
- Is the shelter constructed of a material and geometry that will provide proper blast and earthquake protection?
- Proper depth of cover for MAXIMUM blast protection (depth of overhead cover equal to the diameter of the shelter) assuring blast protection from overpressures to 200 psi.
- Proper depth of cover to achieve stable and comfortable interior air temperatures, assuring survival from extreme weather conditions.
- Arched ceilings that will provide ‘Earth arching’, assuring protection from catastrophic failures associated with soil burdens and high blast overpressures.
- Construction material that will MOVE and BEND with earth motion, assuring protection from catastrophic failure associated with earthquakes and ground shock from nuclear blasts.
- Interior storage of primary water supplies and septic systems (no water or septic tanks at or near ground level), assuring protection from ground slap associated with nuclear blast .
- Steel air pipes and doors, assuring protection from wild fires, thermal pulse, high winds & flying objects.
- Blast valves for all penetrations (Air pipes, Exhausts, Wiring, Antennas, etc.) assuring blast protection and continual positive air pressure in the event of chemical or biological attack.
- Does the shelter provide adequate ventilation and air filtration capabilities?
- Both electrical and manual (backup) functionality, assuring continual air supply in long term power failures.
- Adequately sized air vents (4” – 6” diameter), assuring adequate supply of air and temperature control.
- Metered air volume, assuring critical residence time within the high efficiency particulate (HEPA) filter when processing chemical and biological war gasses.
- Pre-filters placed in line prior to processing of NBC contaminates, assuring protection of the HEPA filter from contaminates such as smoke, dirt, insects and larger radioactive particles.
- Ventilation and air filtration systems that have been tested and documented by a nationally recognized facility, assuring proper filter densities, air volumes, metering devices, blast protection, thickness of hose materials and metals and interior paints of the gas canister.
- Can this shelter be customized to your needs (localized threat, water tightness, size, depth of cover, interior furnishings)?
- Customized entrances and floor plans suited to your personal needs and desires.
- Handicap entrances where needed.
- Ample interior room for the storage of food, water and other supplies.
- Sufficient volume to 'shut down' air supplies for 5 hours, during fires.
- Has this shelter design been tested and approved by the Federal Government?
- Will the manufacturer provide documentation of tests?
UTAH SHELTER SYSTEMS CAN PROUDLY CLAIM AN
AFFIRMATIVE ANSWER TO ALL OF THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
© 1987 - 2012 Utah Shelters Inc. All rights reserved.
|