Commercial Articles
If you watch the weather, you’re probably wondering two things right now: Is 2026 going to be a bad tornado year?Do businesses really need a shelter now, or can this wait? The answer to these questions boils down to three forces converging at once: a sharper understanding of shifting tornado risk, code and standard updates that create…
The 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS) returns to Orlando, Florida, February 17-19, bringing together more than 70,000 building professionals and 1,700+ exhibitors for North America’s largest residential construction event. This year’s show promises to showcase the latest innovations in home building, from cutting-edge technology to essential safety solutions. About IBS 2026 IBS 2026 is…
You want to know what tornado shelter liability for businesses really looks like–because leadership, insurers, or maybe even your gut is asking if the risk is worth the cost. What are your obligations? The short version: liability from tornadoes, or other severe weather events, flows through three channels: OSHA enforcement, employee injury systems, and civil…
What Civic Leaders Should Know About FEMA P-361 & ICC-500 StandardsEF5 tornadoes, with wind speeds exceeding 250 mph, are rare but devastating. As nature’s most violent storms, they represent a disproportionate share of tornado-related deaths and are capable of flattening entire neighborhoods. While no structure is fully tornado-proof, community storm shelters designed and installed to…
Why Community Shelter Sizing Matters More Than You Think The size of a community shelter can be a matter of life and death during severe weather events. Overcrowded shelters have led to dangerous conditions. During recent tornado outbreaks, some shelters reported turning away dozens of people due to a lack of space, forcing families to…
Why Tornado Shelters Are More Than a Legal RequirementTornado shelters in schools aren’t just about checking a legal box; they are a life-or-death safeguard for students, staff, and the wider community. The U.S. experiences around 1,000 tornadoes each year, the highest frequency globally, resulting in hundreds of injuries and dozens of fatalities. In 2024 alone, tornadoes injured…
When it comes to protecting people from the devastating effects of storms, having a well-designed tornado shelter is crucial. While FEMA 320 provides valuable guidance for homeowners looking to build or buy individual tornado shelters, FEMA 361 takes things a step further by offering extensive guidelines specifically for commercial and community safe rooms. The document,…
Having a reliable commercial tornado shelter is important, but it’s not just about picking and installing a shelter. First, you must make informed decisions to ensure the safety and well-being of your team, customers, or anyone on your commercial site. There are many factors to consider that will impact the effectiveness of your shelter.In this…
If you’re looking for a tornado shelter company in your area, it can be hard to know who to call. After all, you have choices. Should you go with a regional supplier or one with a more national presence? You can always roll the dice and Google this information, but there is probably no comprehensive,…
Imagine this scenario:Dark clouds are gathering rapidly in the sky, a warning siren is howling in the distance, the wind is picking up an ominous speed and you have a building full of employees and customers.Tornado shelters are an essential part of staying protected against severe weather. That is no less true during the hours…
Imagine being at work, all day you’ve heard the sound of driving rain, the skies are dark and now it’s starting to hail. While it’s bad weather, you can’t just leave work every time the sky looks threatening. You’ve just heard that the National Weather Service has upgraded your area from a tornado watch to…