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What to ask a storm shelter installer in Oklahoma

A shelter is a safety product, so the paperwork matters as much as the price. Use these questions with every company, and get the answers in writing.

Standards and design

• Is the shelter designed to ICC 500 and FEMA P-361 criteria? Which edition? (standards explained)
• Can I see the door's third-party certification label? FEMA's safe room door fact sheet says doors must be tested, listed and labeled by a third party, and that FEMA does not approve or certify products, so treat "FEMA approved" claims with caution.
• Who supplies the engineer's drawing? Norman asks for an engineer drawing referencing ICC-500 (2014 or newer), Yukon requires drawings signed and sealed by a licensed Oklahoma engineer, and Moore asks for a signed and stamped engineer design (see permits by city).

Permits and experience

• Who pulls the permit, and is the fee in the quote? The Oklahoma Construction Industries Board advises asking to see the building permit before work begins.
• How many permits has the company pulled in my city in the last two years? FEMA's checklist for hiring a contractor suggests this to gauge local experience.
• Who handles inspections and the shelter registry?

The company

• Insurance. Ask for proof of general liability insurance, and workers' compensation if they have employees (FEMA checklist).
• Licensing. The CIB's tips tell you to check roofing registration and plumbing, mechanical or electrical licenses with the Construction Industries Board, (405) 521-6550. Storm shelter installers aren't named in that list, so ask what licenses or registrations the company holds and verify them. Moore's permit application says electrical, mechanical and plumbing work must be done by licensed contractors.
• References. FEMA suggests contacting three to five previous clients with similar work. The CIB suggests asking about a job in progress and a customer from over a year ago.
• Estimates. Get at least three, and ask whether any estimate costs money.

Contract and payment

• Written contract with the exact model, installation scope, dates and warranty. FEMA's checklist says a written warranty should spell out what is covered and for how long, and suggests at least one year on work and materials.
• FEMA says never pay a contractor in full before the project is finished, and notes that withholding at least 10% until completion is common. Keep payments traceable and get receipts.
• Ask for a written lien waiver at the end (FEMA checklist).

After a storm

The CIB and the Oklahoma Attorney General both warn about door-to-door solicitations after severe weather and advise being cautious about large up-front or cash payments. The Attorney General's Consumer Protection Unit takes complaints at (405) 521-2029 or (833) 681-1895.

More: cost guide · in-garage vs safe room · OKC permits

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Related guides

• Permits by city
• Norman permit
• Moore permit
• Yukon permit
• Edmond permit
• FEMA and ICC 500 standards