Shelter Types

Closet Safe Room

Also known as: closet conversion, interior safe room, retrofit safe room

Engineering required

A standard interior closet has 2x4 framing and drywall — it will not stop a 2x4 hurled at 100 mph. P-320 closet conversions use plywood or steel sheathing, hurricane straps to the foundation, and a tested door assembly. A general contractor cannot eyeball this; the wall section must trace to a P-320 detail.

Anchoring without a slab tear-out

Existing slabs can be retrofit-anchored with epoxy-set threaded rod into the perimeter footings. Engineered solutions exist for crawlspace and basement homes too.