Safe Rooms vs. Storm Shelters: What’s the Difference?

When you want to protect your family from the dangers of severe storms, you have several options to consider. After all, many products on the market offer advanced protection from the harsh elements. Here, we’ll discuss the differences between safe rooms and storm shelters, and what you need to know to make an informed decision for your loved ones.

Safe Rooms

It’s important to refer to the FEMA, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency, guidelines when determining what makes a safe room. This agency has several subsections of guidelines for manufacturers to follow in order to classify a product as a safe room.

Safe rooms adhere to the requirements in publication 361, which delves deeply into performance expectations and has very stringent engineering and testing expectations. As such, these enclosed room-like structures can withstand the intense rigors of a storm and provide almost absolute protection for everyone inside.

Storm Shelters

Storm shelters offer superior protection from storms, except they aren’t held to the same standard as safe rooms. These models comply with ICC 500, another set of rules from the FEMA. This series of guidelines greatly overlap with publication 361. However, they aren’t as demanding in some areas. As such, they’re much like safe rooms but with varying attention to certain FEMA regulations.

Tips for Choosing Between Them

While safe rooms and storm shelters are incredibly similar, and the terms can even be synonymous, certain things make them different. As such, it’s crucial to pick carefully when making the purchase. Find a manufacturer that adheres to the FEMA guidelines religiously and always clarifies the product in question. Keep in mind that safe rooms can also be storm shelters, but this might not be the case the other way around. Asking pointed questions can get you the answers you need to make this crucial choice.

Regardless of what you call these units, Swisher provides premium models for you to install in your home. Our metal storm shelters and safe rooms consist of highly durable refined steel and can withstand the force of EF5 tornados. We go the extra mile to fabricate bunkers with the highest possible reliability and will instruct you on installing them. There’s no question they’ll keep you and your loved ones safe in a crisis.