Note: The Steel Door Institute is a non-profit association and does not sell doors. This document has essential information and resources on these products. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has published a fact sheet entitled Residential Tornado Safe Room Doors. Even experienced contractors should closely follow all installation instructions provided with the door assembly. If they have not previously worked with shelters but say, “I can build anything,” you probably do not want to hire them. Hire a contractor who is experienced with tornado shelters. Sadly, this has resulted in preventable catastrophes. With the growing popularity of YouTube and online how-to guides, some homeowners take on the challenge of constructing their own tornado shelters. Never mix and match tornado door components. Only those precise components assembled together are certified to be tornado resistant. Tornado-resistant doors are tested as an assembly, which includes the door, hinges, frame, frame to wall anchors and latching hardware. These are the only two certification agencies that can assure compliance with ICC 500. Do not accept any other warranty or “safety rating”-the door protecting your family should have a UL or Warnock Hersey label on it that ensures it is a certified product. Tornado doors should have a label from a testing agency such as Warnock Hersey or UL showing that the tornado door assembly has been tested in accordance with the requirements of FEMA 320 and ICC 500. Neither are the “storm doors” that are often paired with the front door of a residence. Standard steel doors are not tornado resistant. Our aim with this guide is to help with the selection and installation of tornado safe room door assemblies. The main elements of a shelter are the walls and door. Unfortunately, missing a small detail in the product selection or installation process can result in it not being able to withstand the violent debris of a tornado. Properly installed tornado safe room doors can save lives. People in their homes are often unable to get to a public shelter that quickly, which has enticed many residents to construct their own tornado shelters.

The average lead-time for tornado warnings is just 13 minutes.

Metal storm shelter doors