One of the scariest things that could ever happen to you is being present in the middle of a break-in. As most home intrusions happen in the middle of the night, chances are that you will be upstairs in your bedroom. This means that your only option will be to barricade your door and hope that the intruder can't break through until the police come. If they do manage to make their way in, all you can do is jump or fight. That is unless, of course, your home security system includes a panic room.
Steel safe rooms, commonly referred to as "panic rooms", provide you and your family an ultra secure place within your home to hide out in should a break-in occur. It can also act as protection from a terrorist threat, tornados and other natural weather phenomenon, depending on where it located in the house. For example, a safe room on the top floor may not be effective tornado protection, so you may want to prepare a second safe room in the basement for that occasion if tornados are a problem in your area.
The construction of panic rooms varies. Some are made from several inch thick concrete walls, acting as a place to store valuable jewels and cash as well a hideout during a home invasion or disaster. You can also make a simple safe room by choosing an interior room or large closet with no windows or skylight to install a solid core wood or steel door on. It's important that the installation of this door is hung so that the door opens outward. Reinforce wood doors with steel angle iron to prevent the door from being kicked in. Protect the security of this door by choosing a keyless Grade 1 deadbolt so that access to the room can't be granted by lock picking or the intruder finding an extra set of keys lying around.
The interior of your safe room should be equipped with cellular phones and a place to keep them charged so that you can call the police. You can also have a video monitor installed and a home alarm keypad so you can inform your home security provider of the break-in. A safe room should also be equipped with things like emergency tools, a battery-powered radio, a change of clothing and footwear, blankets and sleeping bags, a three-day supply of water and nonperishable food items, a first-aid kit, a flashlight and plenty of extra batteries in the event of disasters such as tornados, hurricanes or a fire. Also make sure that any prescription medicine or equipment needed for healthy-related reasons are stashed in your safe room in case it needs to be administered.
In order to prepare for a home invasion or a natural disaster, always practice emergency procedures with your family for each type of event. The magnitude of any event that would lead to necessitation of a panic room is too serious for taking chances with improvisation.
Steel safe rooms, commonly referred to as "panic rooms", provide you and your family an ultra secure place within your home to hide out in should a break-in occur. It can also act as protection from a terrorist threat, tornados and other natural weather phenomenon, depending on where it located in the house. For example, a safe room on the top floor may not be effective tornado protection, so you may want to prepare a second safe room in the basement for that occasion if tornados are a problem in your area.
The construction of panic rooms varies. Some are made from several inch thick concrete walls, acting as a place to store valuable jewels and cash as well a hideout during a home invasion or disaster. You can also make a simple safe room by choosing an interior room or large closet with no windows or skylight to install a solid core wood or steel door on. It's important that the installation of this door is hung so that the door opens outward. Reinforce wood doors with steel angle iron to prevent the door from being kicked in. Protect the security of this door by choosing a keyless Grade 1 deadbolt so that access to the room can't be granted by lock picking or the intruder finding an extra set of keys lying around.
The interior of your safe room should be equipped with cellular phones and a place to keep them charged so that you can call the police. You can also have a video monitor installed and a home alarm keypad so you can inform your home security provider of the break-in. A safe room should also be equipped with things like emergency tools, a battery-powered radio, a change of clothing and footwear, blankets and sleeping bags, a three-day supply of water and nonperishable food items, a first-aid kit, a flashlight and plenty of extra batteries in the event of disasters such as tornados, hurricanes or a fire. Also make sure that any prescription medicine or equipment needed for healthy-related reasons are stashed in your safe room in case it needs to be administered.
In order to prepare for a home invasion or a natural disaster, always practice emergency procedures with your family for each type of event. The magnitude of any event that would lead to necessitation of a panic room is too serious for taking chances with improvisation.