Setting Up A Security Safe Room - Info And Guide

A safe room, more commonly known as a panic room, is exactly what it sounds like, an entire room that serves as a safe or vault.

Such rooms have been around for quite some time but Jodie Foster really made it well-known in the eponymous movie. This is not a new concept, but it seems to be gaining in popularity as time goes by.

It used to be that only the wealthy could afford this type of safe. Today, though, this can be accomplished for about the same price as any other room addition or remodeling project. If it's not feasible to build an addition for whatever reason, you can just as easily convert an existing room. Each will cost you some money, but the designs are similar.

A safe room will be built with fortified walls and ceilings, and obviously, the door should be impenetrable. The room can also be equipped for habitation and communication as well.

The standard 2 x 4 skeleton with drywall construction is not sufficient for the walls of a safe room. If you have the budget for it, walls that are reinforced with steel will make a strong fortress. A choice that is suitable for those on a tighter budget is fortifying it with bricks or cement. When undertaking a construction of any kind, you must pay attention and check with the zoning restrictions and local guidelines for buildings.

Cement or brick reinforcement is not suitable for ceilings due to weight bearing issues. Sheets of tin or heavy wood is also used at times to reinforce this section. For many, the ceiling is not so important as few homes have areas such as a skylight that allows for easy penetration into the home.

Obviously, the door should be given the greatest consideration. It should be as close to impenetrable as you can make it. Many office buildings are equipped with double core metal doors that should work for this purpose. Finish by adding a heavy duty deadbolt lock system.

In the event you need to use the room as some type of shelter in the future, there are a few other things to consider. A water supply and a toilet, as well a small amount of food should be added in case you have to spend several hours there.

Other things to include are a telephone, for sure, and possibly a video camera system to see what's going on outside. The telephone is essential for keeping in contact with local authorities, as well as family and other loved ones.

In addition to the uses mentioned above, a panic room can also provide shelter form a house fire in the event there is no way out. Of course, this will only work if your room is constructed correctly. The panic room can double up as a room that stores your treasure and important objects. The panic room is capable of doubling up as a shelter against natural disasters like tornadoes.

We all hope it will never come to this, but your safe room can be used to protect you from intruders if you can get to it quickly. There are statistics given by the FBI that one case of rape occurs every 5 minutes in the country. Sad to say, many of these cases do take place within a place of refuge for many - the home. Even worse is that out of these, many are committed by people you know or live with.

It's not as expensive as it sounds to create a room like this. Check it out and you might just want to set one up today.