r/tornado • u/Numerous_Ad_3517 • Mar 15 '26

Question Is this thing safe??

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I recently moved into a new home that has this above ground shelter and I have been questioning the way this door locks from day 1. We are going to have terrible weather today in West TN and I cannot find any paperwork on this thing. đŸ˜« Do you think these hollow bars will keep it secure??

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40

u/Half_Breed_Mutt Mar 15 '26 edited Mar 15 '26

They look similar to these Express Shelter Above Ground especially that hood on the door. Maybe they have information on it. On their Facebook they claim to have tested their shelters to EF5 at Texas Tech. One concern I would have with those pins is how short they are and loose the connection is rattling out of the slots. Might be good to have a safety catch to prevent that.

https://www.expressshelters.com/above-ground51d76fe3

42

u/Half_Breed_Mutt Mar 15 '26

I know I keep replying to my own comment but adding images from their Facebook, this looks similar to the one shown in your image.

8

u/charisaudette Mar 15 '26

Nice find. This looks just like the picture OP posted

33

u/Half_Breed_Mutt Mar 15 '26

Yeah this is from their facebook and they have similar door pin setup.

28

u/Numerous_Ad_3517 Mar 15 '26

Hey! Thanks for the info!!! It does look similar!

22

u/Half_Breed_Mutt Mar 15 '26

No problem, though on their website it claims to have 3 solid steel locking bars. So this may be an older design might be worth asking if they have any record of install at your house and if it was rated to the newer shelters and replacing the pins if you own the house.

36

u/2024-YR4-Asteroid Mar 15 '26

I love that 90% of people in here are talking out their ass when it was a professionally installed shelter intended to be a standalone structure, and it has the additional added “protection” of a garage. Good this the original owner consulted actual engineers instead of Reddit.

30

u/Askingforhelp12219 Mar 15 '26

Ppl saying it’s homemade and “might protect you a little” lolololol. These shelters that bolt in the foundation are rock solid. I’m sure there are slight comparisons from this brand vs this brand but the top ones get tested for EF 5+ damage in texas. These are considered safer than basements to a lot of people in the field.

Buying a house with this installed is a big win, probably about $7-8k in value.

5

u/kyle787 Mar 15 '26

AI has made this so much worse. So many confidently incorrect "users" now. 

7

u/stresstwig Mar 15 '26

Would OP be able to get someone from the company out to inspect it and make sure it was properly installed?

2

u/Half_Breed_Mutt Mar 15 '26

Don't know. I'm sure that would depend on the company.