FEMA 453 Design Guidance for Shelters and Safe Rooms

As an example, panelized construction that is
sufficiently tied together can resist the localized
damage or large structural deformations that
may result from an explosive detonation.
Although the explosive detonation opposite
the Khobar Towers destroyed the exterior façade,
the panelized structure was sufficiently
tied together to permit relatively large deformations
without loss of structural stability
(see Figure 2-5). This highlights the benefits
of ductile and redundant detailing for all
types of construction.
To mitigate the effects of in-structure shock that may result
from the infilling of blast pressures through damaged enclosures,
nonstructural overhead items should be located below the
raised floors or tied to the ceiling slabs with seismic restraints.
Nonstructural building components, such as piping, ducts,
lighting units, and conduits must be sufficiently tied back to the
building to prevent failure of the services and the hazard of falling
debris.
The contents of this manual supplement the information provided
in FEMA 361, Design and Construction Guidance for Community
Shelters and FEMA 320, Taking Shelter From the Storm: Building a Safe
Room Inside Your House. Although this publication does not specifically
address nuclear explosions and shelters that protect against
radiological fallout, this information may be found in FEMA
TR-87, Standards for Fallout Shelters. The contents of FEMA 452, A
How-To Guide to Mitigate Potential Terrorist Attacks Against Buildings
will help the reader identify critical assets and functions within
buildings, determine the threats to these assets, and assess the vulnerabilities
associated with those threats.
Structural deSign criteria
Figure 2-
Khobar towers
Source: u.S. air Force
2-