Importance of Commercial Storm Shelters for Businesses

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

The world witnesses an annual tally of around 16 million thunderstorms. The count reaches approximately 100,000 in the United States annually, affecting many families, communities, and businesses. At Red Dog Shelters, we understand the importance of safety and preparation, especially for large companies. Where there is a need for storm shelters, we offer a durable solution you can rely on.

What Is a Storm Shelter?

A storm shelter, often called the “safe room,” is a structure designed to offer immediate protection and safety from severe weather events, notably tornadoes and hurricanes. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) establishes precise standards that these safe rooms must fulfill to offer adequate protection against hazards.

Whether they’re underground or above-ground, these shelters must be meticulously engineered to withstand high-velocity wind and the impact from flying debris and not succumb to collapse.

Tornado Shelters

As said by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), approximately 1,000 tornadoes occur across the United States each year. Whether these disasters are brought by storms or twisters, the sheer force of tornadoes turns anything in its path into deadly projectiles. As such, tornado shelters become crucial, offering a secure space for people to take cover.

The Benefits of Commercial Storm Shelters

By 2026, experts anticipate that there will be 126,251 enterprises within the United States, each employing a workforce ranging from 100 to 499 individuals. Large businesses like these are integral to the economy, keeping thousands of families afloat.

While experts also expect the global safety, storm, and tornado shelters market to experience significant growth from 2024 to 2032, many businesses remain largely unprepared for these extreme weather events. Why do you need commercial storm shelters?

Enhanced Safety for Employees

One of the paramount benefits of having a commercial storm shelter is the enhanced safety of employees. During extreme weather events, when staying in the office building is no longer safe, these shelters become a secure location where workers can seek refuge. Commercial storm shelters significantly reduce the risk of injury or fatality among employees; having one within a worksite underscores an organization’s commitment to employee welfare.

Compliance With Safety Regulations

Many regions that are prone to severe weather mandate the presence of storm shelters in business establishments as part of their building codes. By installing state-of-the-art storm shelters, businesses adhere to legal requirements and demonstrate dedication to upholding safety standards. This compliance can have broader implications, including lower insurance premiums and avoidance of potential legal liabilities associated with negligence in employee safety.

Preservation of Critical Business Operations

Business continuity is crucial in the aftermath of a disaster. Commercial storm shelters minimize the interruption to operations by providing a haven for essential personnel and equipment. This investment ensures critical business functions can resume quickly after a severe weather event, reducing downtime and financial losses. Protecting crucial data and infrastructure within these shelters also prevents long-term damage to the organization’s operational capabilities.

Positive Impact on Employee Morale

The installation of a commercial storm shelter significantly impacts employee morale and productivity. Knowing that their safety is a priority for their employer builds trust and loyalty, enhancing the overall workplace environment. In times of emergency, this sense of unity and preparedness can lead to more organized and efficient responses, further ensuring the well-being of everyone involved.

Contribution to Community Resilience

On a broader scale, businesses with commercial storm shelters contribute to the overall resilience of the communities in which they operate. In the event of widespread disasters, these shelters can provide much-needed refuge to employees and even to community members in some cases. Thus, businesses play an active role in community preparedness and recovery efforts, reinforcing the social fabric and fostering a collaborative approach to disaster resilience.

Red Dog Shelters’ Award-Winning Mobile Storm Shelters

At Red Dog Shelters, we distinguish ourselves with our award-winning storm shelter design. We adhere to the OSHA, API, FEMA, ICC500, and NSSA standards, helping large businesses put safety and compliance on top of the disaster preparedness checklist. Many companies have benefitted from Red Dog Shelters’ top-of-the-line solutions and unmatched quality.

Excellence in Comfort and Functionality

Our mobile commercial tornado shelter can accommodate up to 32 individuals. These portable shelters have dual air conditioning units, heaters, seating benches, a work desk, and a Rapid Cool Down station for ultimate comfort and convenience. We assure operational flexibility with the capability to utilize on-site power sources or a 5kW generator.

Unparalleled Durability

Red Dog Shelters endure impacts equivalent to a 20,000-pound truck propelled by an EF5 tornado. We construct them with superior A36 steel and enhance them through a proprietary reinforcing process, making them highly resistant to external forces.

Industry Pioneers in Safety

Our shelters are a testament to ultimate safety, conceptualized by top-tier structural engineers and rigorously impact-tested by the Texas Tech Wind Science and Engineering Research Center. We exceed the most demanding criteria set by FEMA for Safe Room ratings, making us the foremost choice for tornado and portable storm safety solutions.

In Summary

It is not every day that Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida get hit by devastating storms or tornadoes. However, waiting until it is too late for necessary precautions in a natural disaster can only lead to catastrophic consequences. Large businesses can count on Red Dog Shelters for industry-leading storm shelters, commercial, manufactured and tested to provide ultimate safety for employees and customers. Call (833) 543-7103 to learn more about how our shelters work, or lease one online today.

All shelter designs are protected by the United States Patent and Trademark Office under US Patent No's:

#8,136,303, #8,375,642, #8,245,450, #8,534,001, #D685921 and other Patents Allowed and Pending.

Each Red Dog Shelter is individually stamped and certified by Red Dog Shelters via 3rd party analysis and as authorized by the appropriate Authorities Having Jurisdiction to meet or exceed every major US recognized safety standard for EF-5 tornadoes including the International Code Council (ICC500-2008 American National Standard). The ICC / NSSA STANDARD FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF STORM SHELTERS, the National Storm Shelter Association (NSSA) Standard, the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency 320 and 361 Guidelines, and the American Society of Civil Engineers ASCE 7-2005 "Minimum Design Loads for Building and Other Structures." Red Dog also certifies all shelters are compliant with the FEMA's Publication "Taking Shelter from the Storm" FEMA P-320, Third Edition/August 2008.