UL Solutions has published a detailed report on updates to the ICC 500 standard, which addresses the design, construction, and maintenance of storm shelters.
As severe weather incidents, including hurricanes and tornadoes, have become more frequent in the U.S., the report emphasizes the importance of impact protective systems, specifically latching hardware.
These updates are designed to enhance the safety of storm shelters by ensuring that latches remain secure during storms, even if debris strikes the shelter.
According to UL Solutions’ Michael Nicasio, Principal Engineer for Fire Containment and Fenestration, the latest updates include critical revisions to the latching mechanisms used in impact protective systems such as doors and windows.
These updates focus on ensuring that latching systems remain locked or inactive during a storm event to protect occupants.
ICC 500, the standard for storm shelter design and construction, has evolved since its initial publication in 2008.
UL Solutions’ report highlights how the standard specifies minimum safety requirements for shelters designed to withstand tornadoes and hurricanes.
The updates to the standard focus on the construction of shelters and the components that protect the shelter’s envelope, including doors, windows, and louver systems.
One of the key areas of the standard is its requirements for latching hardware, which must ensure safe entry and egress while also securing the shelter during extreme wind events.
The updated ICC 500 standard provides guidance on how to ensure that these components function properly in emergencies.
Latching hardware is an essential part of a storm shelter’s impact protective system.
UL Solutions’ report emphasizes that the updated ICC 500 standard now requires latching hardware to be permanently mounted and operable without special tools.
Additionally, the hardware must latch automatically unless there are posted instructions.
The new guidelines also ensure that latches remain secure from the unprotected side of the shelter, preventing accidental openings from debris impacts during storms.
The 2020 edition of ICC 500 made these changes to improve occupant safety by reinforcing how latching hardware functions during severe weather, protecting both residential and commercial buildings.
In the report, UL Solutions details how hardware manufacturers can certify their latching systems under the ZHLL category within UL Product iQ®, the company’s product certification database.
Hardware that meets the operability requirements set by ICC 500 will be listed in this database, providing manufacturers and builders with guidance on compliant products.
“Impact protective systems intended for use with storm shelters must meet the operational hardware requirements outlined in ICC 500,” said Nicasio.
This certification ensures that latching hardware used in storm shelters remains effective during emergency situations.
UL Solutions has released a report on the latest updates to the ICC 500 standard for storm shelters, which focus on the safety of latching hardware used in impact protective systems.
The updated standards emphasize the importance of ensuring that latches remain secure during severe storms, even if debris strikes the shelter.
These updates were introduced to improve occupant safety and address the increasing frequency of hurricanes and tornadoes in the U.S.
UL Solutions also provides certification for hardware that meets these requirements, helping manufacturers and builders comply with ICC 500 standards.
