Assessing the interior design of storm shelters on a university campus

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess whether the current design and space plan of a primary storm shelter in an educational building located on a large mid-western university campus in “Tornado Alley” is safe according to suggested safety standards established by Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The buildings and shelters included in the study were chosen based on construction dates, shelter occupant loads, type of building, and access to buildings. An assessment tool was developed and used as the primary means of evaluating the spaces in regards to hazardous elements and obstacles to accessibility requirements. The findings show that the shelter spaces did not comply overall with the standards developed by industry leaders. Therefore, the occupants of the shelters could potentially be at risk from hazardous elements when in these spaces.