What is the NSSA?
NSSA stands for the National Storm Shelter Association. This body was created in 2001 by the engineers that worked on the development of FEMA 320 and those that have worked in the wind engineering and science fields including university and private industry. Additional members come from shelter manufacturers and NSSA has written a similar construction standard that includes manufacturing guideline for quality assurance. The NSSA can be reviewed at www.nssa.cc. A new standard or code is in development now the will bring the NSSA guidelines under the IRC. This new code will be the ICC/NSSA Standard for Storm Shelters and will classify safe rooms for tornadoes and hurricanes.
