In the 2002 thriller “Panic Room,” Jodie Foster and her young daughter hid out from brutal attackers in their home’s ultra high-tech, super reinforced safe room and made the whole world wonder if they, too, should outfit their house for an extended siege. While the safe room in the movie was a bit overdone, homeowners looking to implement a complete home security plan should consider having a designated place of safety and sanctuary in the house.
Establishing a “safe room” does not have to be extremely complex or expensive. It could be as simple as designating a place for family members to congregate in the event of an emergency. At the very least, this will make sure everyone is accounted for in the event of an intrusion, a fire, or a serious storm such as a tornado.
In terms of security from home intrusion, a more fortified “safe room” can provide peace of mind for that highly unlikely event in which one or more family members are trapped in the house with an intruder.
The room need not be designated with wacko Hollywood scenarios in mind. The likelihood that a burglar would go to great lengths to harm someone in the house is very, very low. Indeed, were family members to lock themselves in the “safe room” at the sounding of a home alarm, the intruder would most likely either go about his thieving business or simply retreat rather than waste time trying to break down a door. Furthermore, reducing interaction between family members and intruders reduces the likelihood that the intruder would become agitated and harm family members out of frustration.
The idea would be to choose a room that is out of the way, has only one door, and has either no windows or windows that are not accessible from the ground or the roof. A fortified door and a few emergency supplies are all you need to establish the safe room—no need to change the room’s regular function or décor. Create a family plan that says to meet in this room in the event of any emergency or if the home alarm system is triggered (for a fire you should have a separate escape plan).
The door would be the most important element of the safe room and deserves careful thought and planning. Most doors inside homes are made of some composite material, as opposed to solid wood, and are hollow. Front and outer doors, in contrast, generally are made of a solid piece of wood or have a solid core of some other material. By using a door designed for outer doorways inside you will have completed the first step in fortification.
The door frame works in tandem with the door to provide maximum security, and it is thus important that you install a door frame rated for significant force. Again, the frame suited to an outdoor door will likely suffice.
Install at least one deadbolt lock that has a 1-inch throw bolt, and use a strike plate that takes at least four 3-inch screws.
Finally, have a plastic tub filled with supplies such as a flashlight, an emergency cell phone, bottled water, and, if it is an upper floor room, a safety ladder to use in the event of fire or if getting to the stairs is not possible.
Ask your local
Adt professionals for advice on a complete home security plan. Look for a
home security system that includes monitoring and connection to local authorities for quick response in an emergency.
