The 2015 update to the International Building Code (IBC) includes an updated ICC 500 section, which requires certain buildings in high-risk areas to incorporate tornado-safe rooms into their construction. So if you’re designing any new schools, first-responder facilities, or select community centers in 250 mph wind zones, a safe room must be a part of your plans.
The safe room and all its windows and doors must comply with the International Code Council (ICC) 500-2014 standards. For those unfamiliar with the ICC 500 rules and regulations, here’s an explanation of what’s required and how it differs from past versions of the rule.
What Are ICC 500 Rules and Regulations?
The most significant change to the ICC 500-2014 from 2008 is that it requires materials used in shelters and safe rooms to be certified and labeled by a nationally recognized testing lab. Previously, manufacturers were able to submit test reports that met the ICC500-08 requirements. The liability for those products actually meeting the requirements fell on the architect and owner, so essentially they could use whatever qualifications they felt were sufficient.
The ICC 500-2014 sets a specific standard for what type of testing must be done for materials to be used in tornado shelters in high-risk areas and even goes a step further by requiring these materials be labeled and certified to have met those standards.
What Must a FEMA Safe Room Include?
A FEMA safe room that meets the ICC 500 standards must stand up to testing for high wind speeds, rainfall rate, flood loads, general stress, and debris. Specifically, the debris impact test missile is a lumber 2×4 traveling at speeds up to 200mph. The standards that you’re required to meet in different areas of testing depend on whether you’re building in a tornado zone, hurricane zone, or area with other hazards.
Overall, the ICC 500 rules and regulations are intended to make buildings safer, especially in high-risk areas, and make sure community members who rely on these buildings for shelter can safely do so. So if you’re a builder or architect who’s concerned about code requirements and want to build the safest structure possible, you need to familiarize yourself with the testing requirements and standards of this code. Then, you need to find a company that manufactures safe-room windows, doors, and other materials that have been tested, certified and labeled, not just tested.passed testing.
There’s a cost involved with getting materials ICC 500 certified, so not all companies that manufacture safe room products offer items that are up to those standards. Insulgard is one company that creates safe room doors and windows that have been rated and certified to meet the requirements of ICC-500 and FEMA361 through certification by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). So you can be sure that our company’s products will live up to strict code standards and help you create storm shelters and safe rooms that will save lives.
