Swisher 20-Person Safety Shelter

ESP Safety Shelter

ESP (Emergency – Security – Preparedness) Safety Shelters (above-ground only) offer the ultimate in multi-purpose protection and security for you and loved ones against violent acts of nature and multiple threats posed by man. Made in the USA, ESP Safety Shelters will withstand the most extreme storms and offer a safe zone against home invasion.

Protect your family, your valuables, and your peace of mind with the Swisher ESP Safety Shelter—engineered for ultimate safety and security.

This Swisher ESP Safety Shelter has undergone and passed testing at the National Wind Institute at Texas Tech University. It has also been tested and withstood a total of nine impacts from 15-pound 2x4s traveling at 100 mph. These impacts are equivalent to the force produced by an EF5 tornado with 250-mph winds.

This Shelter has been designed by Registered Structural Engineers and has undergone a rigorous third-party review process. Statement from FEMA P-320: "Having a safe room built for your home or small business can help provide 'near-absolute protection' for you and your family or employees from injury or death caused by the dangerous forces of extreme winds." Near Absolute Protection definition from FEMA P-361: Level of protection afforded to the occupants of a safe room built according to the guidance in the most current edition of FEMA P-361. Our current knowledge of tornadoes and hurricanes indicates that safe room occupants will have a very high probability of being protected from injury or death.

This ESP Safety Shelter model has been verified by the National Storm Shelter Association (NSSA) to be in compliance with FEMA 320, FEMA 361 and the ICC-500-2014 Code requirements when installed per the manufacturer’s guidelines and inspected by a qualified inspector. Step-by-step Installation checklists and Inspection checklists are provided with each unit.

Product Features

• Enhanced Family Security: Built to offer a superior level of protection against home intrusions, keeping you and your loved ones safe.
• Secure Vault for Valuables: Acts as a durable vault to safeguard your precious belongings and valuables. (Note: Not fire-rated, as the design prioritizes storm resistance.)
• Unparalleled Storm Protection: Engineered to provide near-absolute safety from EF5 tornadoes, ensuring peace of mind during the most severe storms.
• Debris-Resistant Sliding Door: Quick-release sliding door design reduces operational space and allows easy opening, even if obstructed by debris.
• Effortless Locking and Access: Features a quick-manipulating locking mechanism paired with a security-grade latch and key lock for seamless operation.
• Emergency Exit Panels: Includes rapid-exit panels and an emergency wrench for safe and quick shelter egress.
• Modular Bolt-Together Design: Simplifies assembly and relocation, making it ideal for versatile use in different locations.
• Hinge-Free Security: The door’s design locks the entire hinge side into the front wall when closed, providing superior strength without vulnerable screws or pins.
• Continuous Ventilation: Shielded air vents ensure uninterrupted airflow, even during prolonged shelter use.
• Durable Carbon Steel Construction: Made entirely from 3/16” (0.188”) thick carbon steel, featuring Grade 5 hardware and powder-coated surfaces for maximum strength and longevity.
• Innovative Sliding Steel Door: Unique sliding reinforced steel door eliminates the common issues with traditional inward or outward swinging doors, providing reliable functionality during emergencies.
• Space-Saving Design: Sliding door requires no extra interior or exterior space, minimizing the risk of being trapped by debris after a storm.
• High-Security Deadbolt: Equipped with a security-grade deadbolt that keeps the latch bar securely locked, preventing unauthorized access.
• Reinforced Steel Locking System: Three steel pins lock the door firmly within a 3” deep steel jamb pocket, ensuring unmatched security without relying solely on deadbolts.

Product Specifications

5 Year Limited Warranty and Lifetime Storm Damage Replacement

Internal Dimensions:

Internal  80”L x 110“W x 76”H
External  87“L x 117”W x 78“H
Up to 20 Person Private / 12 Person Business

It is preferable for the shelter to be installed within the interior of a residence. If you choose to install it outdoors, it must be within 150 feet of the residence it is intended to serve and must be protected from all external weather conditions. THIS SHELTER IS NOT WATERPROOF.

Product Videos

Product Manuals

Swisher 20-Person Safety Shelter Manual

Swisher 20-Person Safety Shelter Anchoring Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, an underground shelter or an above-ground shelter?

Studies have shown that you are just as safe in an approved/certified above-ground safe room as in a below-ground shelter. In certain situations you could actually be safer in an above-ground shelter, such as when there is flooding or if the door is blocked by debris with no other way out.

How hard is it to install the ESP Safety Shelter?

Can I do it myself or do I need to hire someone? The ESP Safety Shelter is very easy to install with the help of one or two additional people. It takes minimal tools and experience. However, you may also hire a professional contractor to do the work. Some helpful hints on locating a contractor can be found inside the installation manual. No matter who performs the installation, the inspection checklist sign off procedure recommended by NSSA is critical in ensuring that the Safe Room provides near absolute protection during a high wind event.

What is a Safe Room vs. a Storm Shelter?

There is no law that requires manufacturers to test and certify their storm shelters. Buyer Beware! There are many shelter manufacturers out there that are not certified. The buyer should always ask if the manufacturer’s products have been approved and verified by the NSSA (National Storm Shelter Association). It is logical that debris impact testing would be more important for above-ground shelters, and ground stress testing would be more important for below-ground shelters. Since most communities would require a building permit for such a project, a family would have to have a building inspector examine the plans for the shelter, and what building inspectors require would probably vary from community to community perhaps even requiring the approval of a professional engineer. The Swisher ESP Safety Shelter does qualify as a FEMA Safe Room based upon compliance with ICC 5001 , FEMA P-3612 , and FEMA P-3203 . The ESP Safety Shelter passed all tests at Texas Tech National Wind Institute and underwent a rigorous design analysis to withstand 250 mph winds from any direction as generated by an EF5 tornado.

What is the NSSA?

The National Storm Shelter Association (NSSA) grew out of concern for storm shelter quality after the Oklahoma City tornadoes of May 1999. The NSSA was formed in 2001 to ensure the highest quality of manufactured and constructed storm shelters for protecting people form injury or loss of like from the effects of tornadoes, hurricanes, and other devastating natural disasters.

Is there FEMA funding available?

To determine if FEMA funding is available in your area, contact your local, county, or state emergency management agency. Then once all the paperwork required by your state (and local jurisdiction) has been completed, you will receive a rebate. The amount varies by state, jurisdiction, and the amount of funding available overall. To be eligible for a $2,000 rebate (under FEMA’s Project Impact, designed to help victims rebuild after natural disasters), the product must be compliant with the requirements for a Safe Room under FEMA P-3612 and FEMA P-3203 . Shelter manufacturers may or may not have this done, as it can cost thousands of dollars, and it may even require extensive reworking of material or design elements in the structure. The ESP Safety Shelter does qualify as a Safe Room under FEMA P-3612 and is verified by the NSSA as being such.

What is the best location for my shelter?

The one thing we can control in life threatening events, is how quickly we can get to our Safe Room. The best spot for your shelter is one that can be easily and safely accessed without being an intrusion in your day to day life. We understand that you won’t need to use your Safe Room daily, but when you do, the easier it is to access, the more likely it is that you will use it quickly and when needed.

What type of warranty do you provide?

ESP Safety Shelters properly installed and registered come with a Lifetime Storm Damage Replacement Benefit and a 5 Year Limited Warranty. See product owner’s manual for complete replacement and warranty details.

What kind of steel do you use in your safety shelters?

ESP Shelters are made of 3/16” hot rolled A36 Steel. They have been tested at Texas Tech’s National Wind Institute and proven to withstand 15 lb. 2x4’s at 100 mph. This is equivalent to a 250 mph tornado wind force, per FEMA P-3612

What type of concrete foundation is required for your shelter?

To obtain near absolute protection from 250 mph EF5 tornado winds, the ESP Safety Shelter should be secured to an adequate concrete slab as outlined in your shelter’s installation manual. At a minimum, a 5” thick slab of 2500 psi (min) concrete is required with reinforcing of #4s on 24” centers. In addition, an overhang of concrete is required, depending on the shelter size (see installation manual for details). Any deviation from these minimum requirements would require an independent evaluation performed by a structural engineer.