Using a fire door to provide a reasonable and inconspicuous interior 'safe room' The idea is using a fire proof door with additional security features thus providing a retreat within a solid walled room. It is worth giving consideration to using this room to store items you have that would perhaps be needed during a SHTF situation. Let us forget the movies, and keep to some basic sensible options and reasoning.
View from outside.
Back home in South Africa a panic room or safe room can indeed be included into the planning of a new build, with home invasions an ever present risk with such incidents going into tens of thousands regardless of the electric gates, dogs, electric fence and alarm, home invasions do still happen often accompanied with extreme brutality and or death. Going off topic. Let us look at providing an adequately secure room in which to retreat, store kit and get organised with pre planning in place.
It's purpose?A safe retreat for limited time
A place to organise in relative safety
Somewhere to store essentials
A fire and smoke resistant room
Where?
Upper floor room
Solid walls
Bedroom, you would be in it at night
Lower floor? secure windows
Considerations
Alarm panic button
Telephone/communications
Store your 'kit' in the room
LINKS
Panic room tips
Create a safe room
The Fire Door
FD30 – 30 minutes. FD60 – 60 minutes. FD90 – 90 minutes. FD120 – 120 minutes
If you wish to avoid routing the door to fit your luminescent fire strip / smoke seal you can purchase it on a roll which is ready to stick on although the closure clearence must exist to allow for this. If using the self stick strip ensure you fit it correct first time, i found it cannot be removed once stuck down to adjust without destroying it in the process. Combined smoke / fire seals available.
If you are using secondhand doors, not those that have been in a fire obviously ! you will quite probably have the routing done already and even the strip fitted.
This is not intended to be a post on door fitting although just remember whether using either new or used doors that sizing, carpet clearance, latch / hinge fitting, adjustments all may need addressing, oh and being solid these things are heavy.
Alternative escape.
If you allocate an upper floor room for your 'safe room' remember to include an additional means to leave it such as a fire escape ladder. A lower ground room, especially involving reinforced glass and window locks ensure the lock key readily available and visible to all.
Link: About fire doors pdf
Remembering the direction of this post, to create a safer than standard room, which in basic is adding security to a solid internal door, it does not necessarily have to be a regulation fire door but if you are replacing a basic interior door it is an option giving some assured fire protection, correct fitting dependant.
So the basics.
A solid (fire) door with added security fitted to a solid walled room. A bedroom is a good option especially as you are likely to be in it at night. Alternative options may perhaps only be available or suitable to you.
What could compromise your room?
Chimneys, lightning can blast a fireplace into the room if it travels down one, or it could end up crashing through the roof in a storm.
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Flooding could make a ground floor room unusable.
Bed Linen Direct
Trees, that tree in the garden may, during a storm, decide to come indoors.
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Other factors could apply, take time to consider them all, rectify any likely faults, instigate a general maintenance plan and prepare for any likely problems outside of that.
Ground floor?
If you have no option other than ground floor the windows could be an obvious breach of security, ensure they are secure, and can be secured further. Double glazed is better, triple more so. Window locks. Window film still keeps you inconspicuous, ornate burglar bars i would like to say but not in the U.K. am not seeing them on residential properties.
Windows ground floor.
Numerous suppliers of window film, including Ebay and Amazon,self fit or company fit, i have self fitted several windows with no problems, i did not actually need this regarding our room of retreat but have fitted elsewhere.
The door
Getting back to the door, what i did using a thirty minute fire door
1x Cable lock, can be locked from in/outside
1x Panic button to home alarm /auto dial
2x Rack bolts bolt directly into the frame
3x Bolt brace
2x Surface bolts central and into floor
Intumescent fire / heat sealing strip
Smoke seal
Additional hinge
2x Hinge braces
2x Hinge bolts for hinge side security
1x Door closer
I tried two types of door closer, picture below, both overhead (right) and central (left) i used the central mounted type, rated BS EN 1634-1. Centre of picture another central mount although fits into the door, another option. Bear in mind you want fast access to your room and fast close and secure. Note i have not dealt with 'latching' in relation to closures, which is fire door related and another topic. If you require the door to prove secure when you are not in the room your own options will need to be introduced.
Other thoughts
Consider your storage options and additions for the room, storing your kit or supplies are worth a thought, especially if lockable from outside, connected to the home alarm perhaps, it would not be advantageous to be away and find your gathered kit gone upon return. Taking it further communications options and such.
The door.
THIS POST DOES NOT REPRESENT THE
FITTING OF A REGULATION FIRE DOOR
All posts are shared in good faith with no responsibilty taken for following any information
contained within either in part or in full
'Safe Room' ?
Londons Hatton Garden safe deposit box heist, diamonds, gold, jewellery amounting to tens of millions of pounds stolen. Sure if somebody wants to get in they will, but being small fry they will hopefully move on.
