Accessibility is a major factor producers think about when designing storm safe rooms. A safe room has to be usable by everyone, and it can’t be designed with the expectation that every family member will be able-bodied.
Modern safe rooms are FEMA-compliant, which means they prioritize accessibility in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as per FEMA’s Publication P-361.
Today, we’re going to get into how modern designs not only emphasize, but improve upon accommodation for occupants with accessibility needs.
Features of An Accessible Safe Room
A 2025 tornado shelter has to follow strict regulatory guidelines ensuring it’s in compliance with the ADA. These guidelines were not put in place just to accommodate, but to improve functionality and ensure convenience for disabled individuals.
Some of these features include:
Low-Threshold Entry Points
Traditional doorways and raised thresholds can bar disabled users from entering a safe room. This is why most ADA-compliant doors are typically 36 inches wide or more, allowing wheelchair users, injured people being assisted and other disabled occupants to be accommodated.
A modern steel storm shelter will typically have low or no threshold designs which prioritize quick access, making the most of every second.
Additionally, most designers now include ramps for further accessibility, especially if the safe room will be installed in a basement. Most designers try to avoid reliance on stairs if it can be helped.
Lever Handles and Easy-Use Locking Systems
There can be situations where an able-bodied person is not there to navigate through a crisis and set-up locking systems. Perhaps the residence’s occupants are all seniors.
In high stress situations, which typically impair a person’s reflexes, swift action is extremely important. For this reason, accessible above-ground safe rooms feature lever-style door handles instead of knobs which require more precision. They feature intuitive locking mechanisms instead of complex ones that focus on easy, low-force motions which can be performed by anyone.
Emergency Lighting and Visual Aids
Modern safe room shelter in Dallas, TX are equipped with visual aids and efficient lighting. They come with built-in emergency lighting systems. These activate automatically in the event of a power outage. Such visual aids are LED based, focusing on efficiency and an extended battery life.
Even the lighting itself is placed with convenience in mind. It’s installed in key areas where the light can effectively illuminate the space. It’s important to have easily visible doorways, communication panels, labels and instructions especially in a community storm shelter with many occupants.
Easy & Effective Communication Systems
You can’t rely on an adult to always be there to work the phone. Families often ask for pre-programmed phones, voice-controlled intercoms or text-to-speech systems as additional features within the safe room. This is done to make it easier for anyone – regardless of age or ability – to communicate, call for help, and signal distress.
Get a Safe Room That Prioritizes
As you can see, accessibility is a non-negotiable characteristic for any modern saferoom. The aforementioned features don’t just make safe rooms more efficient, they also serve as an investment for homes with disabled individuals.
At Safe Rooms US, we pride ourselves on building FEMA-approved safe rooms that prioritize the needs of every kind of body – while ensuring top-tier quality that sets a standard in the industry.
If you want that kind of protection for your own home, call us today for a con
