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5.30.2013

Tornado Safe Room Design

With the Rash of Tornadoes and Extreme Weather Conditions we have had recently in the US.  

I put together a few Tornado-Hurricane Safe Room Designs and Options.  

The first Drawing outlines the basic components of the exterior walls and ceiling for building a safe room in an existing basement using CMU-Concrete Masonry Units generally called Concrete Blocks-Steel Door and Frame, Reinforced Poured Concrete Ceiling.  



Complete plans, Design-Build Assistance for adding a Safe Room to your Building contact Scotts Contracting at the Contact Form on the Right.


CAD Safe Room Design for an existing Basement-8in CMU, Steel Door, 6in Reinforced Concrete Ceiling
CAD Safe Room Design for an existing Basement-8in CMU, Steel Door, 6in Reinforced Concrete Ceiling
When Building a CMU structure it is highly advisable to add Steel Reinforcement- In the case of building for Tornado or Hurricane Safe Rooms substitute No.4 Vertical Rebar for No.5 size rebar.
how a CMU Block Wall is Reinforced.  Simple CAD Drawing showing the suggested Metal Reinforcement.Scotts Contracting
How a CMU Block Wall is Reinforced.  Simple CAD Drawing showing the suggested Metal Reinforcement.
Building the Concrete Ceiling-Structural Reinforcement Suggestions.
Build Notes-Hurricane and Tornado-Safe Room Build Suggestions #5 Rebar at 12in MATT-Dowel Into Existing Concrete Wall, Attach MATT to Existing #5 Verticals in CMU Wall-, {For Added Reinforcement for this area ADD 2ft "L" Bar and Wire Tie to MATT and Verts, 4in Min Concrete Ceiling Suggested 6in Thick Ceiling, All CMU Voids filled with Mortar {Be Sure to ADD the "L" Bar before the Voids are filled with Mortar.
Concrete Ceiling-Structural Reinforcement Suggestions. Build Notes-Hurricane and Tornado-Safe Room Build Suggestions-Scotts Contracting
Concrete Ceiling-Structural Reinforcement Suggestions.
Build Notes-Hurricane and Tornado-Safe Room Build Suggestions
Added April 7, 2014
  • I'll be honest there has always been something that bothered me about the Tornado Safe Room design that FEMA suggested. I was never worried about the Structural Ability of the Safe Room Design to not withstand a Severe Storm-it is the fact of being trapped in a Safe Room- like Jodi Foster in Panic Room.  Maybe I've watched too much tv?  I'd rather be safe than sorry.
  • The fact that 2 exits are not available-as is required of almost any home/room design was the Red Flag going off in my mind and when I finally figured it out I made some notes and a quick sketch.  When I got home this evening I sat down and made a couple of quick CAD drawings of the idea to help you get a better idea of what I'm talking about.   
  • There is also the added benefit in the building of the safe room with an exterior point to bring the building materials into the safe room.  This will help keep the labor costs lower as it will speed up the job production by reducing the man hours.  
I now feel that I have a Safe Room Design Build Plan that I would build in my own home and am comfortable sharing and discussing the project in detail.  

Feel free to email or call me for any design build assistance in building a Tornado shelter in your Home. 
CAD design by Scotty-Safe Room Emergency Exterior Exit
Safe Room Emergency Exterior Exit

CAD Design by Scotty-Safe Room CMU Basement Steel Door Location
Safe Room CMU Basement Steel Door Location

CAD Design by Scotty-Safe Room Exterior Exit Point
Safe Room Exterior Exit Point






Taking Shelter From the Storm | FEMA.gov

Taking Shelter From the Storm











The safe room construction plans and specifications from FEMA P-320, Taking Shelter From the Storm, are available in DWG format. 

To view and download those files 

and other CAD Storm Shelter Drawings 

click here.

Limit of Liability:  The designs in this booklet are based on extensive research of the causes and effects of windstorm damage to buildings. Safe rooms designed and built to these designs should provide a high degree of occupant protection during extreme windstorms (tornadoes and hurricanes). Any substitution of either materials or design concepts may decrease the level of occupant protection and/or increase the possibility of personal injury during an extreme wind event.

Important Legal Notice


Because it is not possible to predict or test all conditions that may occur during extreme windstorms, or control the quality of construction, among other things, the designer does not warrant the design.
The designer neither manufactures nor sells safe rooms built from this design. The designers have not made and do not make any representation, warranty, or covenant, express or implied, with respect to the design, condition, quality, durability, operation, fitness for use, or suitability of the safe room in any respect whatsoever. Designers shall not be obligated or liable for actual, incidental, consequential, or other damages of or to users of safe rooms or any other person or entity arising out of or in connection with the use, condition, and/or performance of safe rooms from this design or from the maintenance thereof.




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5.29.2013

Residential Solar Will Never be the Same: SMA's Sunny Boy TL-US



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5.24.2013

Even the Birds are Doing It-Are You

While attempting to Lead by Example encouraging Plastic Recycling for the StLouis area.  I've received a little help from the neighborhood winged friends in recycling the plastic from the community.


While cleaning up the yard from the extreme storms that passed thru Missouri the other night I found this in the bushes in the Front Yard.  Finally another use for Plastic Litter.

Even the Birds are Doing It-Plastic Recycling


Future updates will be forthcoming: Type of Bird, Number of Eggs, etc.  Scotty


Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotts Contracting- St Louis Home Improvement Projects and Energy Reducing Needs Get Your Green Building Tips and Resources at St Louis Renewable Energy Green Blog

5.22.2013

Gunman meant to shoot the Girl not the Guy


 
Additional Details on 

Gun Violence hitting close to Home-
StLouis North Side


When writing articles and posts about #Construction ,#energyefficiency , and #homerepairservice   the words and sentences I use seem to automatically jump from my fingers and onto the screen.  I've found that when I'm writing about this sort of  #GunViolenceTragedy  that hit so close to home I have a very, very difficult time.

#May22    Update with additional details I learned yesterday.  It is very disturbing for me to learn that this Incident involving Guns and Violence started via a#Facebook  post.  Working backwards I'm going to share with you what James told me yesterday, 5/21/13-

**At the time of the Suspects arrest on 5/21/13- the#gunman  told the #StLouisPolice  that: "He didn't mean to shoot the Guy, he meant to shoot the Girl".  The Guy who was shot was an innocent bystander who lived next door to the intended Victim.

**The Violence started over a #Facebook  posting between two girls.

**Gunman swore revenge and said he'd be looking for the Girl and then for two days cruised the area searching for the Girl.

**On the day of the shooting the Gunman drove down the street and opened fire, shooting towards the Girls House and mistakenly was shooting up the Houses that were adjacent to the Girls house.

**Victim is at #BarnesHospital , Bullet is lodged in the spine in the neck area, and Doctors are evaluating surgery that would remove the bullet but may leave Victim paralyzed.

**Additional Info on the Victim:  1) He held two jobs at#BuschStadium  and a Hotel chain.  2) Following James (his father) advice who encouraged him to get into the computer business-He moonlighted for Expedia.com as one of the people who brings people the great deals on Airfare and Hotel Stays.  His second job at the Hotel chain he worked in the computer/scheduling/web services IT department.

Over the weekend my Girl +sharon wendel and I will be having a BBQ for the Victims Family and I'll post any additional info about the incident and the status of the Victim. 


Scotty


Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotts Contracting- St Louis Home Improvement Projects and Energy Reducing Needs Get Your Green Building Tips and Resources at St Louis Renewable Energy Green Blog

5.21.2013

Gun Violence hitting close to Home-StLouis North Side

This past weekend while sitting on a front porch talking with family and friends in the North Side of StLouis one of my Green Teams Members Son was hit by a stray bullet that nicked his Spine.

The 22 year old is in critical condition and is in the hospital now.  Doctors report that the stray bullet nicked the spinal cord and it is too early to give any diagnosis on recovery.

James the Sons father was just telling me that his son worked two jobs and was a productive member of Society.  He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

In the photo below James, the Sons Father, is learning how to lay Ceramic Tile on a project we did together in Downtown StLouis.

James, Green Team Member and Father to Son who was shot by a stray bullet.
James, Green Team Member and Father to Son who was shot by a stray bullet.
 
We all have our fingers crossed and praying for a speedy recovery.  Scotty


Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotts Contracting- St Louis Home Improvement Projects and Energy Reducing Needs Get Your Green Building Tips and Resources at St Louis Renewable Energy Green Blog

5.07.2013

Tuckpointing Stage2 Benton Project Warehouse Walls

Tuckpointing- Its not as glamorous as the carpentry aspects of my profession. But it is just as important and since St Louis has so many brick buildings it is a must have skill!


The above photo shows the mortar joints grinded out 1/2in or more deep. This will allow the new mortar pointed into the joints to fully adhere to the brick and give the Masonry Wall another 100+ years of Life!








Read More on the Benton Rehab Stage 2 Construction Project:

Thank you for stopping by St Louis Renewable Energy. Feel free to comment in the section below or contact Scotts Contracting- St Louis Home Improvement Projects and Energy Reducing Needs Get Your Green Building Tips and Resources at St Louis Renewable Energy Green Blog

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