This lean to shelter is designed to provide low-cost protection from the effects of radioactive fall out. It is intended to be  installed belowgrade in a basement area. Its principal advantages are availability of low-cost materials, adaptability to the dimensions of most basements, ease of construction, and it can be disassembled readily.

Space and Occupancy

The lean to shelter interior has over 40 square feet of area and over 120 cubic feet of space and will house three persons. Its length may be extended by adding sections.

Availability and Cost of Materials

Materials may be purchased from building materials retailers. Many of these have this shelter in kit form at a price of about $125. The entire kit is transportable in an average-sized station wagon and can be carried through standard-size doorways, hallways, and window openings.

Fall Out Protection Factor

The shelter is designed to provide a protection factor of at least 100 in most residences.

Blast Protection

Although this shelter was designed primarily to provide fallout protection, it would also provide some protection from flying debris associated with blast.

Ventilation

Natural ventilation is obtained by omitting two sandbags from the top of the entranceway closure and by leaving a 1-inch airgap along the rear wall.

Construction Time

Total construction time is approximately 18 man-hours: 2 hours for construction of the shell and 16 hours for filling and stacking the sandbags.

Structural Life Expectancy

The range is from 10 to 20 years, depending on the level of humidity in the basement.

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