Stronghold specializes in commercial storm shelter design, construction, and installation. In fact, our commercial business is so strong that we build our residential shelters to the same quality as our commercial shelters. Our permit team has over 15 years’ experience in obtaining building permits throughout the nation. Hundreds of companies have trusted us through the years with the safety of their employees, and we hope that your company will consider joining the ranks of our satisfied clientele.

Stronghold certified storm shelters are compliant to the highest quality standards in the industry, which includes the following: FEMA P-361 2015 and ICC 500/NSSA 2014 and IBC 2015. Installed shelters include the NSSA quality verification seal and NSSA certificate of installation. All shelter models have been debris impact tested at the National Wind Institute (NWI) and verified to withstand winds in excess of 250 mph (EF-5 resistant). Our NWI PASS Letter is on file for customer review. Shelters have also been wind engineered evaluated and include verification documentation.

Design: Jim McDonald of McDonald & Mehta Engineering Firm, hired by the National Weather Service to update the new EF-5 tornado intensity scale, performed our wind engineer evaluation and calculated wind loads on the structure.

Build: Fabricated shelters are built by state of the art robotics using laser guided welds in an ISO 9001 certified facility, ensuring the highest quality standards are achieved during the manufacturing process. Shelters are electrostatic coated with premium grade primer and paint that creates a durable high gloss finish or receive an automobile quality powder coat.

Installation: Shelters are installed into a structural engineer designed and approved reinforced concrete pad with proper calculated yardage amounts. Our anchoring system was approved by the Army Corps of Engineers during a supervised install in 2006 and is utilized during the anchoring of our shelter to the pad.

FEMA recognizes the National Storm Shelter Association (NSSA) as one of the leading authorities on the development of quality standards for the storm shelter industry.

Stronghold is an authorized producer member of the NSSA (verification letter upon request), which is a quality verification organization that consists of producer members who voluntarily adhere to “The National Storm Shelter Association Standard for the Design, Construction, and Performance of Storm Shelters-2014 Edition.” As a NSSA producer member we agree to comply with this standard and then have compliance verified by a third-party engineering company.

Stronghold has retained a St. Charles, Missouri engineering firm for compliance verification. Our compliance-engineering firm also certifies Stronghold’s Quality Assurance Plan (upon customer request) is compliant with annual code updates. The firm will also assist with expediting jurisdictional permit applications (if applicable).

Many jurisdictions are now requiring compliance with the NSSA standard. Stronghold’s membership in the NSSA is very valuable because we are familiar with the standard, have verified our compliance with it, and have built an image and reputation in the industry for producing quality shelters. Stronghold is able to streamline difficult permit processes due to our ability to quickly provide necessary verified documentation.

Non-NSSA member companies may find it challenging or impossible to acquire permits if their shelters do not comply with the NSSA Standard or do not possess a wind-engineered evaluation of their shelters. We can confirm while trying to obtain permits that many municipalities are becoming more stringent in requesting verified documentation. Some jurisdictions are now requiring third party engineer site verification of proper installation.

The permit approval is a critical component to installing shelters for our customers. Permits ensure that storm shelter companies are properly installing shelters according to the code, which subsequently reduces liability for the municipality and more importantly to our customers. Liability is an important reason why consumers should verify their shelter company can produce all verification documents that code requires.

Stronghold has had the privilege to work with some of America’s top companies over the last 14 years. Our membership in the National Storm Shelter Association and utilizing their quality verification process has been the primary reason our company has been able to expand, especially in the government and corporate sector.

As our large commercial customers become better educated about the NSSA Standard, many insist on the NSSA quality verification seal for their shelters. There really is no other quality verification process that exists outside of the NSSA that consumers can trust. We understand that our commercial customers choose Stronghold for our quality, our reputation, and our ability to limit their liability due to our professional standards.

We have had the pleasure of serving customers all over the country and sincerely hope we can earn your business as well.

To find out how we can meet your company’s needs, call 877-883-0733 or 417-725-0055 today, or email info@strongholdnow.com.