Why is it not code for all buildings to have a tornado safe room?

Question

Especially in Americas mid-west. How hard or expensive could it be to begin each structure with a simple in ground cinder block room with a steel ceiling to keep debris out?

Answer 1

If a tornado hits your house you are far more likely to file a claim against your homeowners insurance policy if you live through it. Then the Insurance companies will have less money to pay to stock holders and for contributions to political campaigns.

Answer 2

Well, the reasons why it is not code for "all" buildings are pretty well listed above. Not all buildings are at the same risk for tornados - just as not all are prone to floods, tsunamis, etc.

Even just looking at this at the state level not all areas in a single state are as prone to tornado activity as others. This really does need to be a "community" item. If you feel your community needs to mandate this added safety feature - do something about it - start a petition, talk to your community's elected officials.

I feel I need to add something here tho.... I do not know of a SINGLE area that requires tornado shelters to be built in homes (let alone public buildings) where they will accept "cinder block" construction. I've traveled extensively over the mid-west and I've seen tornado shelters as they go in the ground... they have ALWAYS been poured concrete (sometimes with a heavy steel roof), or totally welded steel enclosures. The steel is usually 1/4" thick, minimum - and yes, Ive seen thicker.

I recall a video of a test fire, shown to school kids -- They fired a 2x4 stud from a pneumatic 'cannon' to get it to the velocity it could travel in a tornado -- and it punched thru the cement block wall -- Please folks -- If youre going to have a storm shelter - don't build in false security -- do it right.

Be Safe

Answer 3

While it is a good idea, think about what would be implied by that. No room can be 100% guaranteed tornado safe. Let's say the family in the house ran into their "tornado safe" room during a tornado but died anyways. Can you imagine the lawsuit that would result against the builder that guaranteed it safe during a tornado?
Theoretically, it's a great idea. However, it opens up the local building department and other branches of government up to the opportunity to be sued if their code fails. It puts a contractor that follows that code at risk. If you're having your own home built, you could probably find plans your contractor could add in that are supposed to be safe during a tornado. But, I doubt he will guarantee it as nothing can be completely guaranteed.

Answer 4

Tammy Z is funny.

In some areas, I'm sure it is code. Most states, even in the Midwest, have large areas that are not at all prone to tornadoes, so they don't make such code requirements into state-wide law. Local municipalities then just don't want to impose the financial burden or extra red tape on their fellow residents.

International building codes obviously have no reason to require tornado (or flood or hurricane or earthquake) measures for buildings in every region of the world. It takes safety-minded people on the local level to add to the basic code with proper requirements. You should talk to members of your local government if you believe it would be a good idea to add to your local code.