Certification

Tested: at the Debris Impact Test Center at Texas Tech's Wind Science and Engineering Department. The actual test conducted fired 2 x 4 "missiles" at a force to equal a 250 mile per hour tornado. These laser-guided projectiles were precisely impacted at strategically designated impact points considered to be the most vulnerable. Such critical areas as hinges, door latches, and walls are severely impacted and pushed (tested) to their limit for strength.

Wind Engineer Evaluated:Next, the storm shelter is wind engineer evaluated to determine the structural integrity of the shelter as a whole. Will it actually withstand all the violent forces that occur in an EF-5 torndao? To determine how much stress and strain the shelter can withstand, the 2 top rated Wind Engineers in the world, Dr. James R. McDonald, PHD. and Dr. Kishor Mehta, PHD. of McDonald-Mehta Engineers, LLP., then do their intense evaluation.

*Drs. McDonald & Mehta are the two Wind Engineer Scientists hired by the National Weather Service to create the new rating scale for tornado intensity. Formerly known as the "Fujita Scale" or "F-Scale" - it has just recently been upgraded and replaced the the New "Enhanced Fujita Scale" or "EF-Scale".

Once the storm shelter has passed the Debris Impact Test and the Wind Engineer Evaluation Analysis, Missouri Storm Shelters, Inc. then "Certifies" the storm shelter which means that it meets exceeds all of FEMA 320 Standards and Guidelines and beyond.

The shelter, now being "Certified", qualifies for a Seal of Certification which is attached to the shelter with a designated Serial #. The owner of the shelter receives a "Certificate of Installation" and the storm shelter is then Registered with the National Storm Shelter Association.

Monetary Value Consideration: In addition to the obvious values to the shelter owner of owning a bonafide "Certified" shelter, the Monetary Valuation is enhanced as well. An Article prepared in 1999 titled "Valuing Self Protection" by Bradley Ewing and Jamie B. Kruse, concluded that the value of owning a storm shelter with a bonafide "Seal of Certification" enhanced the actual Monetary Value of that shelters by at least 24% - 28%. This study was also in agreement with the Office of Applied Economics and Economist Robert E. Chapman.

It is our opinion that "Certification" on a storm shelter is no different than Underwriters Laboratories Testing & Certifying the safety of an electrical appliance. In both cases, the purpose is for Consumer Protection and for setting an Industry Standard for Safety and Quality in Design and Manufacture.