Debris Impact Testing
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Texas Tech is no longer offering debris impact testing services for standards compliance. Both UL and Intertek offer testing of storm shelters and components.
Intertek UL
Anne Whitson Rhonda Schotz
[email protected] [email protected]
(608)824-7415 (847) 664-8273
The National Storm Shelter Association (NSSA) Board is currently working through proposals with UL and Intertek to offer a testing package. This package will include compliance testing as well as labelling and listing, assuring full compliance with relevant standards. We should have more information in the coming months. Contact [email protected]
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Based on 30 years of post-disaster investigations of tornadoes and hurricanes, researchers at Texas Tech University concluded by 1999 that the missile that best represents tornado wind-borne debris is likely to perforate common building assemblies is a 2×4 weighing up to 15 pounds. The required design wind speed of 250mph would result in the 2×4 traveling at 100mph.
Texas Tech University, National Wind Institute Debris Impact Facility constructed one of the first test labs to recreate these conditions. It is this reason that most of the impact tests have been conducted at this facility in past years for members of NSSA.
In recent years other laboratories in addition to Texas Tech have been set up to provide impact and pressure testing for safe room components.