NBC shelter

Not all NBC shelters are for military use. In countries such as the USA, private NBC shelters are increasingly in demand as people hear and read more about nuclear terrorism and the Iranian threat.

However, just because a manufacture claims that their structures is NBC shelter won't guarantee that they will perform the function of NBC shelter when the crunch comes. So here are a few tips you should be aware of when ordering or designing you own NBC shelter:
NBC shelter must be able to withstand, not only blast effects, but also the shocks caused by earthquakes, high velocity winds such as those accompanying a hurricane or tornado and intense pressure waves such as those accompanying a nuclear explosion.

Before ordering or beginning construction of NBC shelter, do a risk assessment of the area you will be building your shelter. Will the shelter be inside another structure, in the open, built into the side of hill or underground? Will the NBC shelter be on stable ground with a firm foundation of bedrock? Is the site for the shelter close to potential hazards such as rivers, fault lines, high voltage lines, gas mains, sewage systems and yes, even volcanoes. All these factors must be taken into consideration when choosing the site for NBC shelters, when deciding of the design of shelter and when choosing construction materials and construction guidelines when you begin building the shelters.
Ok, you have the site for the NBC shelter and you know what it will be constructed from and who will build it. But your work isn't finished yet. Go over the final design of it with a fine tooth comb. Look for flaws in the shelters design, is anything missing, are there things you want added. Remember, once the construction is finished, making any alterations to the shelter basic design and structure is almost impossible. When it's your life at stake, and your families - you can't afford to take any chances with NBC shelters.

In my next article, I'll go over with you a few of the design features and elements you should make sure are incorporated into your NBC shelters design and construction. Some are fairly obvious, others less so and unless your NBC shelter designer is experienced, vital aspects of your shelter final configuration may be missing. At best it could be inconvenient, at worst; it could turn your NBC shelter into a death trap.