Safe room
A panic room (also called "safe room") is a fortified room which is installed in a private residence or business to provide a safe hiding place for the inhabitants in the event of a break-in, home invasion, or other threat. Panic rooms contain communications equipment, so that law enforcement authorities can be contacted.
Construction techniques
The simplest panic room is simply a closet with the hollow-core door replaced with an exterior-grade solid-core door that has a deadbolt and longer hinge and lock plate screws.
More expensive panic rooms, such as those constructed for celebrities and executives, have walls and a door reinforced with sheets of steel, kevlar, or bullet-resistant fiberglass. The hinges and strike plate are often reinforced with long screws. Some panic rooms may also have externally-vented ventilation systems and a separate phone line.
Panic rooms in the basement can be built with concrete walls, a building technique that is normally not possible on the upper floors unless there is substantial structural reinforcement to the building.
Features
Panic rooms contain communications equipment such as a cellular phone or land-line phone, so that law enforcement authorities can be contacted. There may also be a monitor for external security cameras and an alarm system. Panic rooms are typically stocked with basic emergency and survival items such as a flashlight, blankets, a first-aid kit, water, packaged food, self defense tools and a simple portable toilet.
Other meanings
The term "safe room" is also commonly used to describe a fortified basement room used as a refuge in the event of a tornado, hurricane or nuclear event.
A safe room can be quite elaborate or as simple as a corner of the basement. An effective safe room can be constructed from two concrete corner walls, two other sturdy walls and a stout ceiling, preferably thick reinforced concrete like the other basement walls. A stout door, secondary exit and good ventilation are necessary. A room like this makes excellent "cool, dry and dark storage" for things like wine or records. In a new construction, a room like this can be built quite inexpensively. It can be stocked with as much or as few supplies as the homeowner deems necessary.
Further reading
The Secure Home, Joel Skousen, Swift Learning Resources; 3rd ed, 1999 (ISBN 1-56861-055-6)
See also
- Blast shelter
- Fallout shelter
- Panic Room – a film by David Fincher featuring Jodie Foster
- Storm cellar