Selecting a storm shelter for a residential property is straightforward compared to what commercial property owners face. A business has more people to account for, more site constraints to work around, and a higher stake in getting the decision right. For owners of commercial storm shelters in Oklahoma, the evaluation process involves capacity requirements, structural limitations, accessibility needs, and the practical differences between above-ground and below-ground installation. Each of those factors narrows the field differently depending on the property. Here is what to consider before making that call.
The Challenges Commercial Properties Face
The first and most immediate challenge for storm shelter operators and commercial property owners in Oklahoma is headcount. A shelter that works for a household of four is a completely different calculation from one that needs to accommodate an office of forty or a retail space with unpredictable foot traffic. Getting the capacity wrong means the shelter is not actually solving the problem it was installed to solve.
Site constraints compound that difficulty. Many commercial properties in Oklahoma have limited yard access, shared lots, or building configurations that restrict where a shelter can go and what type can be installed. A storm shelter made out of concrete delivered by a large truck, for example, requires direct vehicle access to the installation site. If that access does not exist, the property owner needs a different solution. Similarly, properties built on certain slab types may limit below-ground installation options entirely.
Matching the Shelter Type to the Property
Above-ground steel safe rooms address many of the constraints that rule out below-ground options for commercial properties. These units are fully encased in quarter-inch steel with a steel floor, rated for an EF5 tornado, and can be installed inside an existing structure without excavation. Safe rooms in Oklahoma are designed at a community scale, and their capacity can reach up to 150 occupants based on five square feet per person. The door opening is three feet wide, which meets handicap accessibility requirements, which is an important consideration for any business serving the public.
For properties where below-ground installation is viable, in ground storm shelter options include underground concrete shelters and underground bunkers. These work well for properties with adequate yard space and clear truck access. Underground garage shelters are another option for commercial properties with on-site parking structures, as they are installed below the slab and preserve usable floor space above ground.
Regardless of which direction a property points toward, every shelter type should carry an engineer-approved seal, pass the Texas Tech Impact Test, and meet FEMA 320 and ICC-500 standards. Those benchmarks exist for a reason, and commercial storm shelters in Oklahoma that do not meet them offer protection that cannot be verified. For businesses looking to order storm shelters in OK, these standards are non-negotiable before purchase.
Oklahoma Shelters Can Help You Figure Out the Right Fit for Your Property
When it comes to installing commercial Storm Safe Shelters in OKC that actually fit your property and your headcount, our team at Oklahoma Shelters is here to make the process less complicated. We visit your property, assess the layout, and walk you through every shelter option suited to your capacity needs and site constraints. Financing is available across all product lines, and we manage the full process from the first site visit through to final installation. Reach out to us today.
