Door Assemblies and Components

The following links are maintained by their respective organizations and provide lists and information on safe room door assemblies and components that have passed previous missile impact testing criteria. The UL site also lists required design pressures and test-rated pressures, while the Texas Tech University site notes “ICC 500 Pressures” when the listed component assembly has demonstrated compliance. Depending on the year and expected application of the products listed, the current pressure and impact criteria may be different than at the time of testing, so these lists are intended to be used as a resource to provide a starting point on what door assemblies and components could be considered for safe room use.

• Information on debris impact testing, including reports on doors and components that have passed missile impact testing, can be found at the Texas Tech University National Wind Institute website.
• After linking to the UL Online Certification Directory, enter ‘zhla’ in the UL Category field and ‘ICC 500’ in the Keyword field for safe room-tested products.

Please note that FEMA does not endorse, approve, certify, or recommend any contractors, individuals, firms, or products. Contractors, individuals, or firms, shall not state they are, or produce products that are "FEMA approved" or "FEMA certified."

For more information and guidance on finding an adequate door for residential tornado safe rooms, please see the Residential Tornado Safe Room Door Fact Sheet.

The information is also covered in FEMA P-361, “Safe Rooms for Tornadoes and Hurricanes: Guidance for Community and Residential Safe Rooms.”

Publication resources for safe rooms:

• FEMA P-320. Fourth Edition, 2014. Taking Shelter from the Storm, Building a Safe Room for Your Home or Small Business. [Free]
• FEMA P-361. Third Edition, 2015. Safe Rooms for Tornadoes and Hurricanes: Guidance for Community and Residential Safe Rooms. [Free]
• ICC 500. 2014. ICC/NSSA Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters. [For purchase and download]
• Highlights of ICC 500-2014 [Free]

Webpage links for safe room information:

• FEMA P-361 History and Relevant FEMA Building Science Activities
• Example Operations and Maintenance Plans
• Legacy FEMA P-361 Case Study
• Wall Sections that Passed Previous Missile Impact Tests
• Previous Missile Impact Tests for Wood Sheathing

Return to FEMA P-361 - Safe Rooms for Tornados and Hurricanes: Guidance for Community and Residential Safe Rooms.

Questions? Click on the "Frequently Asked Questions" link to view FAQs about design and construction of safe rooms. If you need additional information about the design and construction of safe rooms, contact the Safe Room Helpline by emailing Saferoom@fema.dhs.gov or calling (866) 927-2104.