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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q:  ARE YOUR DOORS FEMA APPROVED?

 

A:  FEMA does not approve, certify, or in any other way endorse, any tornado shelter door.  It does, however, issue standards that should be followed for a door to provide adequate protection from extreme wind events (tornados, hurricanes).  The ForceShield Tornado Door was tested at Texas Tech University's National Wind Institute testing facility, and passed the tests to meet FEMA 320/361 and ICC 500 requirements for tornado doors.

 

 

 

 

 

Q:  ARE YOUR DOORS RATED FOR EF-5 TORNADOS?

 

A:  Yes, our door and frame is designed and tested to withstand the wind speeds, pressures, and impact associated with EF-5 tornados.  The connection of our door to your shelter is a factor that is out of our control and we recommend that you have a structural engineer design the attachment method.  A ForceShield Tornado Door is used in every StormRoom™ as part of their shelter system, and the entire system is designed and engineered to withstand EF-5 tornados and Category 5 hurricanes.  

Q:  ARE YOUR DOORS BULLET RESISTANT?

 

A:  We offer an option for a ballistic rated (bullet resistant) door, in National Institute of Justice Level I, II, or III-A.  For more information on the different NIJ levels, click here.

Q:  HOW HEAVY ARE YOUR DOORS?

 

A:  A ForceShield Tornado Door will weigh between 300 - 450 pounds, depending on the size and whether or not bullet-resistance is included.  The ball-bearing hinges allow the door to swing easily in spite of its weight.

Q:  HOW MUCH DO YOUR DOORS COST?

 

A:  Click on the "Buy Now" tab to view pricing of each door and desired options.

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Q:  HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FROM THE TIME I ORDER UNTIL I RECEIVE THE DOOR?

 

A:  Although the online store states "in-stock" on each door series, the doors are actually custom-built when they are ordered.  Please allow 4-6 weeks from time of order to receiving it.

Q:  HOW DO I INSTALL THE DOOR?

 

A:  When in the closed position, the door pins will protrude through the steel door frame by 1-1/4" to 1-1/2".  Your subframe will need to have accomodations made to accept the protrusion. Click on the link below for a diagram and details of the rough opening size of the sub-frame.  When you receive the door, you will also receive detailed instructions for connecting the door frame to your sub-frame.  You, your builder, or your design professional will need to determine the best way to connect the sub-frame to your tornado shelter walls.  The connection of our door to your tornado shelter is a factor that is out of our control, and we recommend that you consult a structural engineer about the best way to attach the door sub-frame to your tornado shelter.

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