by JPL » Thu 26 Jul 2007, 18:04:27
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Roccland', 'O')k...so the bunker I chose is 25' long x 8' diameter with a 3' manhole entrance at one end and a 6" vent at the other. I have posted some pics below I took during installation. It has a small concrete pad on top now. It is entirely pest proof.
It holds quite a bit.
If you go this way
PRELOAD THE CULVERT with 4x8 plywood before they seal it...to make shelves with by straddling the tube inside with 2x6s (turned lengthwise) and 1/2" ply wood on top.
The shelf will be in compression with the insides of the tube as you load weight onto it. This saves space at the bottom to sleep or store more goods.
It keeps a constant temp around 78 degrees year round. So food will stay for a while.
It was aboud $5000 to fabricate and deliver and $3000 to dig the hole and put a concrete pad above it.
I spent $200 to have someone make a lock apparatus - it is two anchors at either side of the manhole cover sunk into the concrete with a 4 foot steel strap that straddles the cover and locks to the anchors.
Someone would need a torch to get in. It took 30 days from order to ground to complete. Pacific Corrugated Pipe is who I used, but there are others I am sure.
Pacific Corrugated PipePicture 1Picture 2
Hi Roccland
Yea, interesting idea you've got there. I've been thinking about digging a fallout shelter myself when I get some time (pleugh...).
I'm not sure about your construction materials though, that crinkled tin-plate is going to implode pretty quick if you get anything near a direct hit. They used the same material in London, England for WW2 bomb-shelters and they turned out to be death-traps. The main problem was not the bomb-resistance, but getting out of them afterwards, after the tin-plate was all bent and buckled and has several tons of soil on top.
Having said which, I would go with the shelter as-is, and then put heavy beams of wood across the top to solve the potential collapsing problem if you get a near hit. Then pile garbage on it and then drag an old car as a finishing touch. Sorted!
JP