ARTICLE

Storm Shelters: For Severe Weather & More

Do you want to provide your employees and building occupants a safe place to go in the event of a tornado or other high-wind event? Adding a storm shelter to your new, or existing, facility will help you be prepared when severe weather strikes.

Storm Shelter Requirements

When designing storm shelters to protect a building’s occupants, designers and engineers utilize what is known as ICC 500, Standard for the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters. It is used as a guideline to meet the minimum design and construction requirements necessary.

ICC 500 requires a tornado shelter to be structurally adequate to resist 250 MPH winds as well as wind-driven and falling debris, which are the biggest dangers during a tornado or high-wind event. 250 MPH winds generate almost 8 times the force of typical wind conditions.

High winds can cause roofs to be lifted off their support walls. The support walls, which were braced by the roof, can then fall on the occupants inside. The progressive collapse also exposes occupants to dangerous wind-driven debris.

Building codes in some jurisdictions require critical emergency operations, such as 911 call centers, fire, rescue, ambulance and police facilities, to have storm shelters built into them. PreK-12 schools with an occupant load of more than 50 must have a storm shelter of sufficient size, to house all occupants, designed in accordance with the current code.

Level of Protection

You may have a designated shelter space in your facility, but it’s important to know if it was specifically designed to be a storm shelter. If the space wasn’t designed in accordance with ICC 500, it should be called a “best area of refuge” because the shelter structure may not survive a high-wind event and the occupants may not be protected to the level that a “storm shelter” label would imply.

To increase the safety of your facility’s occupants, it’s important to know what level of protection your designated shelter area can provide.

Building designers and engineers can help evaluate your existing designated shelter area to assess its construction and location. They can also assist in planning and designing shelter upgrades including construction of a new storm shelter room.

Multi-Use Spaces

Storm shelters can be more than just unutilized space when constructed inside your facility. There are options for spaces to be multi-use—they can be designed as storm shelters, but also be used as restrooms, conference rooms, break rooms or locker rooms. If there is enough available height inside the building, the roof of the storm shelter can also serve as additional occupied space when a stair is provided.

Industrial Architecture Engineering Structural
WORKING ON TOMORROW
CONTACT US

Do you want to make sure you have a safe space for your employees and building occupants during severe weather?

Follow our journey.

#workingontomorrow

Our structural engineers recently assisted JLG Architects with this middle school addition in Alexandria, MN. Learn more about the project here.

#origindesign #creatingabettertomorrow


Chris Huseman is celebrating 30 years at Origin Design! We're so lucky to have you on our #origincrew! Happy Anniversary, Chris!

#origindesign #creatingabettertomorrow #itstartshere

#workingontomorrow

We partnered with Logistics Park on the design and construction of a new tower at their East Dubuque operations. 3D scanning was utilized to create a point cloud model of the existing tower. 

Check out these completed photos of the project & learn more here: https://origindesign.com/.../logistics-park-conveyor...

Happy Administrative Professionals Day!

Today (& everyday), we celebrate the administrative professionals who keep Origin Design running smoothly. Your hard work and dedication are appreciated! We truly couldn't do what we do without you!

#AdministrativeProfessionalsDay #origindesign #creatingabettertomorrow

#workingontomorrow

Ever wondered what a storm water pumping station looks like while under construction? Check out these photos from the Maquoketa Storm Water System Improvements project.

Origin Design partnered with the City of Maquoketa and East Central Intergovernmental Association [ECIA] on this project which received funding from Public Assistance Grants from the US Economic Development Administration.

Learn more about the project here.

#origindesign #creatingabettertomorrow

Meet our Architecture team!

At Origin Design, we believe architecture and creative design extend beyond the building to capture the spirit of its surroundings, personality of its users and the needs of our clients.

Our architects work directly with our clients to design spaces that are visually exciting and creative, secure, efficient and innovative.

We're lucky to have this talented group of individuals on our #origincrew!

#architectureweek #creatingabettertomorrow #origindesign #itstartshere

#workingontomorrow

Check out these photos of the Smith Street Bridge over Bear Creek in Shellsburg, Iowa!

Our transportation team worked with the City of Shellsburg to help determine the best outcome for this historic bridge. The result being the addition of a new vehicular bridge downstream, while the existing bridge was rehabilitated into a pedestrian bridge.

Learn more about the project here.

#creatingabettertomorrow #origindesign #itstartshere

Happy 5th Anniversary, Mike McNeil! We're so lucky to have you on our #origincrew! Join us in congratulating Mike on reaching this milestone!

#origindesign #creatingabettertomorrow #itstartshere

#workingontomorrow

Check out these finished photos of the Business 151 project we completed in Platteville, Wisconsin. This 2.1-mile-long project was funded with HSIP funds to create a safer corridor of Business 151 from Staley Avenue to Insight Drive including the signalized intersection of Business 151 with State Highway 80/81.

Learn more about the project here.

#creatingabettertomorrow #origindesign #itstartshere

Happy Land Surveyors Week!

Our team of Professional Land Surveyors and Surveying Technical Specialist round out our Land Survey Team!

Land surveyors ensure precise property boundaries, prevent legal disputes, and provide critical data for safe, compliant construction. They navigate zoning laws, use advanced tech like GPS and drones for accuracy, and help promote sustainable development. Surveyors are essential to every successful project!

#LandSurveying #Surveyorsweek

#workingontomorrow

Origin Design's Land Survey team recently assisted with The Key Hotel site. We presented various options for modifying the parking lot, ultimately reconfiguring it for better flow in and out of the project site. An interim design was also created to support operations until full funding is secured for complete reconstruction.

Learn more about the project here

#creatingabettertomorrow #origindesign #surveyorsweek

Meet our Land Surveying Technicians: Jeff Winter, Chris Huseman, and Mark Nickolas! 

With over 90 years of combined experience, they help collect data for locating land, infrastructure, and property boundaries. They take measurements, record notes, and assist with marking land for construction using tools like GPS and total stations. The job also involves drafting maps, researching legal documents, laser scanning structures, and handling equipment while working outdoors in various weather conditions. They ensure accurate measurements for projects and support engineers and builders with reliable data.

#surveyorsweek #origindesign #workingontomorrow

See all posts