Sep 22 2004
By integrating advanced science with 200-plus years of safety knowledge, DuPont is introducing its latest safety innovation – a residential storm shelter made with DuPont™ Kevlar® that is engineered to help provide residents protection from the dangers of hurricanes.
DuPont™ StormRoom™ with Kevlar® is an in-home storm shelter, available in several rectangular configurations, that features DuPont™ Kevlar® sheathing built inside reinforced wall panels. When properly installed, the shelter literally acts as a safety net, helping to stop and deflect wind-borne debris.
According to weather experts, when a hurricane hits land, its winds can top more than 150 miles per hour, toppling trees and power lines, and sending debris flying through the air – making many common items and building materials dangerous weapons.
Engineered to withstand hurricane and tornado wind speeds of up to 250 miles per hour, the DuPont™ StormRoom™ with Kevlar® was originally designed to shield homeowners from the wrath and destruction of tornadoes. The DuPont™ StormRoom™ with Kevlar® meets the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s national performance criteria for both hurricane and tornado shelters. In a series of tests conducted by an independent lab, the engineered panels built into the room were able to deflect a 12-foot, 15-pound two-by-four piece of wood shot out of a cannon at 100 miles per hour. This represents the speed at which a 250-miles-per-hour wind would propel the timber.
DuPont™ StormRoom™ with Kevlar® will be available initially in Florida this month through authorized construction installers. "Residents should heed the advice of emergency response professionals in the event of evacuations," said Laura Dwyer, DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems business manager. "Kevlar® puts a virtually impenetrable barrier between residents and windborne debris, one of the leading causes of injuries during both hurricanes and tornadoes."
The DuPont™ StormRoom™ with Kevlar® uses the same molecular science and high-performance material found in the bullet-resistant vests that help protect military personnel and police around the world," said DuPont Advanced Fiber Systems Technology Leader Roger Siemionko. "By capturing both the strength and flexibility of this advanced fiber and our safety knowledge, the DuPont™ StormRoom™ with Kevlar® helps provide an easily accessible safe haven from hurricanes and tornadoes."
The DuPont™ StormRoom™ with Kevlar® looks like a small room inside a house or garage. Both the inside and outside of the storm shelter can be finished to match the walls of a home. The room is ventilated and electricity and plumbing can be installed. It is ideal for both existing homes and new home construction with a concrete slab foundation. Installed by an authorized building professional, the room can also be added to a new or existing garage with a slab concrete floor.
For more information on kevlar, click here.