NEW OUTDOORS / INDOORS TORNADO SHELTERS
Please read before you buy
We offer under-ground outdoor shelters for clients who live in mobile homes or do not have a garage.
New Features!
First Feature -Hybrid Shelter
Since the onset of 2022, Torshel has been installing these shelters with an optional 6′ x 8′ x 8″ thick extended slab. This way, the client can install a 4×6 above-ground safe room, a small shed, or an outdoor coffee table later on. In addition, some clients buy an in-ground unit but later decide to include an above-ground shelter for their neighbors, the elderly, or someone who has claustrophobia or finds it hard to use the inground version.
Second Feature -Carport Concrete Slab and Storm Shelter
For an additional fee, we can make a two-in-one investment. While we install your shelter, we can extend the concrete slab to a 10’ x 20’ x 4”, so you can use the remaining space of concrete slab for a bigger shed, carport, or whatever you want. The shelter will be installed in a corner, enclosed with the entire concrete slab.
Third Feature -Renders
Send us some good-quality pictures of the job site, and our Product Development teammates will prepare some renders so you can have a clear idea of what the final product will look like.
Torshel’s in-ground storm shelters are designed to provide your family with maximum tornado protection. Such units can be installed anywhere in a new house, regularly in a closet, as a panic room, and/or as a safe vault.
The shelter installed in the garage or other covered area protects it from the tornado’s climate. In addition, underground installations allow residents to get into their shelter without running through wind, hail, rain, or other dangerous weather conditions.
In-ground shelters are not recommended for people who live in flood-prone areas, near a river or lake, and/or in areas with high water tables. They are also not recommended for those in wheelchairs or clients over 60 years old.
A safe room will be the best and cheapest option if you live in an area known for having lots of solid rocks, a high-water table, or near a lake or river.
Those who live in a mobile home can opt for an outdoor in-ground shelter.
Before buying your in-ground shelter, you must call 811 to request free location services to ensure no buried utilities are in the chosen installation area.
TORSHEL’S NEWEST AND HIGH TECHNOLOGY FEATURE!
You can use the tornado shelter to lock valuables. Our shelters come with a deadbolt lock on the door, which you can open and close using a key. However, you cannot lock a person in because, inside the unit, a knob opens and closes the lock. You can remove this deadbolt lock and install your locking mechanism.
A Great Choice for New Houses
This will be a good option if you are building a house and need a storm shelter. It can be a secret room; you can cover it with a mat. Some clients have installed it in the closet, under the bed, under the kitchen aisle, or in the garage.
There are two methods to proceed with the installation:
- The builder is asked to leave a form without concrete for our team to install your shelter. The form will be 8 inches bigger than the size of the shelter purchased. For instance, a 5′ W x 8 ‘L in-ground storm shelter will require a 5′ 8″ W x 8’ 8″ L x 5’4″ D “pit.”
- Torshel’s installation team arrives at the site before the concrete is poured. The installers excavate, install the shelter, and pour 2-3 cubic yards of concrete. Then, the company that will deliver the concrete finishes pouring around the shelter.
In both scenarios, Torshel covers the unit with a tarp or plastic that should only be removed once the house is finished. This will keep water and dirt out of the unit. The jack, lights, and other items that come with the unit will be handed to the homeowner, who can later install them.
Can This Be Installed in An Existing Garage?
We used to install them, but we no longer offer the service because they are time-consuming and challenging.
Will My In-Ground Storm Shelter Float?
Installation Method (1)
To stabilize and secure the underground shelter, Torshel anchors it along with the pit with ten (10) or more iron rods. The installing team drills 3” holes (10-30, depending on the size of the unit) on the side of the concrete and inserts 12” long pieces of rebar to ensure no movement. These rods also allow space between the ground and the cement used before inserting the shelter to prevent flooding during heavy rainy seasons. Our anchoring technique is very different from many tornado installation services that don’t anchor shelters to stabilize them. At Torshel, safety is the number one priority. To ensure this, extra time is taken to anchor the shelter properly for added stability.
Installation Method (2)
If the unit is galvanized, it does not need concrete poured all around the shelter’s perimeter; concrete can be poured on the short sides where the flaps are located, working as a counterweight. In this way, any floating of the unit can be prevented.
If the shelter is coated with epoxy, it can be installed fully encased with premix concrete or concrete counterweights on the short sides. In such case, we suggest a minimum of 40 concrete bags of 80 lb. each, of 3,000 PSI, which should be sufficient to offer counterweight on the flaps: 20 concrete bags per short side.
*Important Note:
Depending on the type of terrain and region, different methods and solutions can be chosen regarding the concrete mix and reinforcements; in this case, for very muddy and unstable terrain, we suggest pouring concrete on the unit’s upper surface + rebar reinforcements.
ADVANTAGES USING THIS METHOD:
- It allows for the minimization of the use of heavy machinery in the working site, such as a premixed truck.
- Facilitates the logistics using smaller equipment for transportation and on-site raw material application.
- It reduces costs and speeds up the installation process.
CORROSION PROTECTION
First Shield of Protection
Our steel underground storm shelters are leak-proof, seal-welded, inside, and out. The exterior of the units is covered with coal tar epoxy to prevent corrosion for many years. This epoxy is used in underground pipelines and marinas to prevent corrosion. The interior is also powder-coated.
Second Level of Protection -Walls and Floor of Concrete
The 4” concrete walls will prevent the unit from floating and add many years of protection to your investment.
Lifespan of the Unit
If all the above prevention steps are present, the shelter should last over 50 years.
Ventilation
Built-in ventilation (air vents on the sliding door’s short sides) and battery-powered fans (provided) offer plenty of airflow for all the occupants inside the unit.
Bullet Resistant Window
To avoid a claustrophobic feeling when inside the unit, the sliding door has a 12” W x 20” L window of 1” thickness, which is made of polycarbonate bullet-resistant material.
Flaps and Counterweights
We designed this unit for ease of installation and safety. The 10” L bottom flaps anchor the unit to the ground using premix concrete poured on top of it.
Will I Get Trapped Inside?
Underground shelters come with two top lids to help you open the doors more easily if debris is on top of your shelter after a storm. Our in-ground garage shelters have a sliding door (hatch) for easy access during a storm. In addition, they all come with an 8-ton hydraulic jack with a stand just in case a car or some debris prevents exiting the unit.
Torshel recommends the placement of whistles inside the units as part of your basic disaster preparedness.
These units come with removable stairs to help create more space when the unit is in use. Handrails are also included in the shelter. In addition, Torshel installs a carpet and an aluminum bench, thus giving you a fully functional floor.
The sliding door opening on all our in-ground indoor shelters is 35” Wide x 40” Long.
