Educational Information

NSSA Storm Shelter Conference 2021
Certificates of Completion

If you are an industry professional who attended the Certified Inspector and/or Accredited Professional training sessions held in Dallas, Texas, on November 15th and 16th, you may download and print your certificate of completion now. There are three files that hold certificates for attendees who signed the attendance sheets at each technical session. The files are searchable by clicking "CTRL" + "F", and certificates are uploaded by session. Please use the button below to download and search for your certificate(s).

Monday, 11/15

Tuesday, 11/16

CI Training 1

CI Training 2

Tech 1A - New ICC 500

Tech 1B - MEP Systems

Tech 3A - Structural

Tech 3B - Architectural

FREE ICC 500-2020 Training Sessions

The NSSA is pleased to offer three training sessions that were presented by FEMA staff and consultants at the
2020 NSSA Storm Shelter Conference.

Chapter 3: Structural Design and Testing Criteria
ICC 500-2020 Chapter 3 addresses design and testing criteria for tornado shelters.

The session is presented by Pataya Scott, a Civil Engineer in the Earthquake and Wind Programs Branch at FEMA headquarters. Ms. Scott is the technical lead for FEMA's safe room guidance publications FEMA P-320 and FEMA P-361.

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FOCUS Session 6: ICC 500-2020 Appendix A Optional Requirements for a "Storm Shelter Preparedness and Emergency Operations Plan"

ICC 500-2020 is the first edition to have a requirement that shelter owners submit a written preparedness and emergency operations plan (ECP) to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). This session will review the Appendix that serves as guidance for this requirement.

The session is presented by Glenn Overcash, PE. Mr. Overcash has provided technical support for FEMA's Building Science Branch through codes and standard monitoring and the development, review, and delivery of design and construction publications and training.

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FOCUS Session 7: FEMA Grants for Safe Rooms
FEMA manages some federal grant programs that partially reimburse owners who construct Tornado Shelters, if they qualify.

This session will identify grant programs that are available, give a very brief overview of those programs, and provide some contacts for people to reference in the future. It will also identify which provisions of FEMA P-361 are mandatory for federal funding above and beyond ICC 500.

The session is presented by Brian Willsely, a FEMA Emergency Management Specialist in the Hazards Mitigation Division.

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Tornado Shelter Installation Videos

The following videos show essential steps in tornado shelter installation in the NSSA Compliance Verification Process for Safe Rooms.

Video 1 Vaughn Concrete Products, Inc. – Precast Concrete, Epoxy Anchored on Precast Slab
Video 2 Norwalk Concrete Industries – Precast Concrete, Free Standing Safe Room
Video 3 Bartow Precast- Precast Concrete – Epoxy Anchored on Precast Slab
Video 4 Wieser Concrete Products, Inc. – Concrete, Above Ground Free Standing Tornado Shelter
Video 5 Protection Shelters, Inc . – Panelized Steel Tornado Shelter
Video 6 Safe Sheds, Inc. – Precast Concrete Tornado Shelter
Video 7 Flatsafe Tornado Shelters – Below Slab Tornado Shelter