Panic room - Safety room
Security rooms serve as protected retreats within a building, whereby their entrances are often discreetly concealed. Security rooms can be both burglar-proof and bullet-proof, protecting people inside from forced access from outside.
We offer you a comprehensive service package - from consultation and detailed planning through to the complete implementation of your security room.
What is a security room / panic room?
A panic room, also known as a safe room or refuge, is a specially secured room within a building that offers protection from external threats. These threats can be burglaries, robberies or, in extreme cases, natural disasters. Panic rooms are designed to be difficult to access and are often equipped with armored doors, reinforced walls and state-of-the-art security and communication technology. They offer protection for people and valuables while waiting for outside help.
What is a panic room needed for?
Panic rooms primarily offer protection against break-ins, home invasions and other threats where rapid security is essential. People who live in high-risk neighborhoods or own valuable items often choose to build a panic room. They can also provide protection in the event of threats such as political unrest or terrorist attacks.
In addition to physical protection, panic rooms can be equipped with emergency communication systems to call for help quickly during an attack. In an emergency, sufficient time can be gained until the police or other security services arrive.
Panic rooms are also often used to securely store sensitive data, documents or valuables.
Where are safety rooms / panic rooms installed?
Panic rooms can be integrated into both private and commercial buildings. In private households, they are often concealed in bedrooms, basements or inconspicuous rooms. These rooms are often designed to look like normal rooms on the outside so that they are not immediately recognized as security rooms.
Refuges and security rooms are now standard in luxury residential buildings, especially in regions with high crime rates or for prominent people with special security requirements. In companies and public institutions such as embassies, financial institutions or data centers, panic rooms play an important role in crisis management.
The installation of a panic room requires special structural measures, such as reinforcing the walls with steel plates or concrete and installing armored doors and state-of-the-art surveillance technology. Integration into smart home systems is also possible to make it easier to control and monitor the room.
Construction of panic rooms
Benefits of a panic room
A panic room / safe room should be designed in such a way that you can enter the room quickly and inconspicuously in an emergency. From the panic room, you can then contact the police or security service from a safe location. Depending on the protection scenario, the doors are configured to be burglar and bullet resistant so that you are also protected against forced entry until assistance arrives.
Depending on the building layout, several panic rooms/refuges can also be concealed on different floors.
Structure and equipment
The panic room should be included in the construction of a new building. Depending on the protection objective, the required wall structure is determined as part of the specialist planning, so that protection against shelling or pressure waves is also possible.
Doors for panic rooms
The appropriate steel door is configured in the specialist planning based on the protection objective. The steel doors are usually custom-made for the respective panic room. All-encompassing protection scenarios can be taken into account in the configuration:
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Burglar resistance (RC2 - RC6)
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Bullet resistance (FB1 - FB7)
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Pressure and explosion resistance (0.5 kPa - 800 kPa)
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Sound insulation (38 dB - 54dB)
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Fire protection (EI 30 / EI 90)
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Gas tightness (LD1-LD4)
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Radiation and radon protection
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Burglar and motion detectors
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Design (single- or double-leaf, wallpaper doors)
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Locking systems and locking technology
Ventilation system in panic rooms
In contrast to a shelter, a panic room is designed for a shorter stay. The length of stay depends on the threat situation, so it can range from several minutes to a few hours.
Panic rooms are usually built very compactly so that only a limited volume of fresh air is available. By installing a special ventilation unit, fresh air can be transported into the panic room via a concealed air intake. There are suitable ventilation units that are equipped with an ABC gas filter. Thanks to the special filter technology, not only irritant gases but also gaseous warfare agents can be filtered out of the intake air.
Depending on the room volume, the number of occupants and the required length of stay, the correct ventilation can be taken into account in the specialist planning and installed in the panic room.
Further equipment in panic rooms
It is recommended that both an emergency telephone and a monitor for building surveillance are installed in the panic room. In this way, support can be requested from a safe environment and events outside the panic room can be monitored. A satellite radio station can be installed in the panic room in the event that the power supply fails.
Alarm systems, surveillance cameras and access controls also play an important role. These systems can be integrated in such a way that the entire house is monitored and help can be called immediately in the event of an emergency. We offer you the full range of services here.
Secret descent
Variants of panic rooms
Hidden panic room
Alternatively, panic rooms / refuges can be arranged as concealed rooms in buildings. When planning, the main location of people should be taken into account so that quick access is possible if necessary.
Preferred locations for panic rooms are
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Dressing room / bedroom
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Dining room in the living/dining area
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File rooms in office or business areas
A few square meters are often sufficient for retreats, as the stay is usually only short until the police arrive. The entrances to the panic room can be arranged with concealed doors, which provides additional security.
Room as a panic room
Individual rooms can be set up as panic rooms. Here, the burglar-resistant security door can be quickly locked in the event of a break-in to the property or building.
Depending on the security classifications and design requirements for the door, various door designs can be used to create suitable solutions for everyday use.
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Room door as panic door
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Door-in-door solutions (for increased requirements)
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Combination of sliding door and panic door
It is advisable to choose rooms that are less frequented in the immediate vicinity of the central area. Dressing rooms, for example, are particularly suitable as a place of retreat.
Panic room with emergency descent
In new buildings, part of the basement is often built as a shelter. Shelters offer comprehensive protection against conventional, chemical, biological and nuclear hazards.
Panic rooms can be connected to the shelter via a secret descent corridor. This results in numerous advantages:
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Unobtrusive and immediate access to the shelter is possible
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Several rooms can be connected to the emergency exit
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No additional ventilation system required in the panic room
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Different safety sections and more comprehensive protection in the shelter
As part of our consultation and specialist planning, we will develop suitable solutions for your specific circumstances.
Security classifications Burglar resistance
Intrusion prevention in panic room construction
When building a panic room, the RC classes (Resistance Class) play a decisive role in burglary protection. The RC classes are defined by the European standard DIN EN 1627, which regulates the resistance of building elements to burglary attempts.
This standard specifies how well doors, windows, walls and other components withstand attacks by various methods and tools and helps to adapt the protection of the room to the specific security requirements. The classification ranges from RC1 (lowest protection) to RC6 (highest protection):
Depending on the degree of risk and the need for protection, the installation of windows, doors and walls in different RC classes is recommended in the panic room.
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RC 1: Offers only basic protection, usually not sufficient for a panic room. Here, only simple physical force, such as kicks or punches, is resisted.
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RC 2: In a panic room with RC 2 class, building elements are secured against opportunist thieves who use simple tools such as screwdrivers or pliers. This class is often the minimum standard for security rooms in private homes.
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RC3 and RC 4: This class offers significantly higher protection by also warding off experienced burglars who use lever tools such as crowbars. Building elements in the RC 4 class can withstand attacks with heavy tools such as hammers, axes and similar striking tools. RC 4 is a common choice in many panic rooms, as it can also protect against aggressive attacks.
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RC 5 and RC 6: These classes offer the highest level of protection. They are required in panic rooms that need to be resistant to more professional break-in attempts using power tools such as drills or saws. Such rooms are often installed in particularly high-risk areas, e.g. in high-security buildings or for very wealthy people.
Careful planning, taking into account the RC class, ensures that the panic room offers the best possible protection in an emergency.
Safety classifications Bullet resistance
Bullet resistance in panic room construction
The FB classes are regulated in accordance with the European standard DIN EN 1522, which defines the resistance of building elements to ballistic attacks.
This standard ensures that walls, windows and doors meet strict security standards and offer protection against various types of firearms. The protection classes range from FB1 (lowest protection) to FB7 (highest protection):
When planning a panic room, it is crucial to select the correct FB class in accordance with DIN EN 1522 in order to secure the room against armed attacks.
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FB 1: Protection against bullets from smaller calibers, such as a .22 Long Rifle. This class offers basic protection, but is generally not sufficient for panic rooms intended to ward off serious threats.
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FB 2: Protects against bullets from handguns such as a 9 mm Luger. This class may be sufficient for private panic rooms if the risk of attacks with large-caliber weapons is low.
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FB 3: Protection against shots from more powerful handguns, e.g. a .357 Magnum. This class offers higher protection and is often a sensible choice for panic rooms in high-risk areas.
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FB 4: Withstands shots from heavier weapons, such as a .44 Magnum. This class is intended for panic rooms where there is a high risk of armed attack.
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FB 5: Protection against rifle shots from medium caliber, such as 5.56x45 mm NATO ammunition. This class is used in panic rooms that require increased protection against targeted attacks with rifles.
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FB 6: Provides protection against shots from large-caliber rifles, such as 7.62x51 mm NATO ammunition. FB 6 is a suitable choice for panic rooms that require maximum protection, such as high security areas or vulnerable individuals.
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FB 7: The highest level of protection against large-caliber rifle shots. This class is ideal for panic rooms in embassies, military buildings or for people with a particularly high security risk.
The combination of the FB classes with the RC classes offers comprehensive protection against both forced entry attempts and ballistic attacks.
Burglar-resistant fittings for entire rooms and houses
While a classic panic room is specially designed to provide short-term protection against burglary attempts or violence, this security can be extended to the entire house. For this purpose, all important building elements such as windows, doors, walls and even roof structures are reinforced so that they can withstand break-in attempts. The same security standards are used as for panic rooms.
Advantages of a comprehensively secured house
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Maximum protection: Instead of securing just one room in the house, a burglar-resistant home offers comprehensive protection for all residents and valuables. Every area of the house is protected by resistant materials and technology.
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Secure retreat: Burglary attempts are warded off at the outer boundary of the house. Residents do not have to retreat to a separate panic room, but are safe in their entire home.
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Inconspicuous integration: Modern security solutions can be designed so that they are inconspicuously integrated into the existing building. This preserves the aesthetics of the house while ensuring a high level of security.
3 steps to your own panic room
1.
Advice
Contact us via the contact form and we will advise you discreetly and without obligation on the construction of your panic room. We will discuss your wishes and needs. The consultation can take place online or in our showroom.
Based on the consultation, we will provide you with a quote for the planning of your panic room.
2.
Concept development and detailed planning
We create a shelter concept for you that suits your needs. We plan your panic room based on the layout of your building. We take into account the layout and access options. In the detailed planning stage, we then determine the wall structure, the media supply and the safety classification of the built-in components. The planning takes place in an iterative process together with you and your architect.
After planning, you will receive the technical drawings of your panic room and a quote for the construction of your panic room.
3.
Construction of the panic room
Panic rooms are usually included in the planning of a new building. However, it is also possible to convert existing rooms into panic rooms at a later date.
Once the order has been placed and the drawings approved, the configured security doors and windows are custom-made. The panic room is built and equipped with the electrical media lines. Subsequently, the security door and the ventilation technology including the interior are delivered to the construction project and professionally installed in the panic room. Your panic room is now ready for use.
