FEMA Louvers and FEMA 361 Louver Compliance
When it comes to protecting buildings from storms we often think of things like reinforced frames, storm windows, wind-resistant roofing, and measures to protect against flooding. However, safe rooms are another must-have in hurricane-prone areas, specifically when an entire building cannot be fortified.
One requirement of any safe room is that it has access to natural ventilation, which storm-resistant louvers can help facilitate. Natural ventilation during an extreme storm such as a hurricane can only be achieved with highly durable and specially designed louvers that will filter out wind-driven rain while also allowing for sufficient airflow. In other words, the right louvers can literally mean the difference between life and death
As such, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has set specific requirements for louvers—often referred to as FEMA louvers—for these circumstances.
If you want to learn more about the requirements for these louvers, keep reading!
Requirements for FEMA 361 Louvers
For starters, FEMA codes require that any storm-room used in a hurricane or tornado-prone area have natural ventilation provided. Mechanical ventilation is not enough, and the ventilation system needs to be an open air system that is protected from wind and rain by storm-resistant louvers.
In order to meet FEMA 361 louver regulations, a ventilation system for a safe room must meet ICC natural ventilation requirements if that safe room is to be used in case of hurricanes. For tornados, the requirements are a little less strict and mechanical ventilation alone will suffice.
For hurricane-prone areas, however, a safe room with an occupational capacity of 50 people or more must have 2 sq. in. of natural ventilation openings or 4 sq. in. per person—-depending on how many ports there are per person.
The Best FEMA Louvers To Use for A Safe Room
Just about any type of louvers will meet the FEMA code, provided that they cover an opening of requisite size. But some louvers perform better than others under extreme storm conditions. For example:
Standard Louvers
Standard louvers do not catch water or drain it and are not specifically designed to stand up against high wind speed and wind-driven rain. In fact, these types of louvers have the potential to allow a large volume of water into a safe room. At best, they will make the safe room moist and uncomfortable for those inside.
Drainable Louvers
Therefore, the best louvers for any safe room would be specifically designed to stand up to high winds and rain. At Aire Renaissance by OSA, we recommended drainable louvers, which have slats made to catch rain and drain it back outside in order to drastically reduce the amount of rain penetration in a space.
Storm-Resistant Louvers
We also make louvers that are specifically designed to withstand extremely high winds and wind-driven rain. These louvers are classified as storm-resistant louvers and are one of the best choices for any building or safe room looking for maximum protection against the weather elements.
The Highest Quality FEMA Louvers From Aire Renaissance by OSA
All of our products at Aire Renaissance by OSA are made from high quality materials and engineered by professionals.
In particular, our storm-resistant line of louvers comes in 6 different models to meet your needs no matter what size your ventilation openings are. Unlike most louvers, ours are drainable and measure up to the most stringent FEMA, ICC-500, and AMCA 500-L codes.
In short, if you’re building a safe room or designing a building to be storm-proof, we offer the best FEMA 361 louver models on the market for protection against extreme weather like tornadoes and hurricanes.
Contact us today to learn more!