how to ventilate a nuclear fallout shelter

According to civil defense authorities of the 1950's and of FEMA today, a concrete block basement shelter could be built without contractors and with relatively inexpensive materials.

An open doorway and vents near the floor provided ventilation. The walls were concrete blocks stacked together instead of pouring in wet cement. Each wall was poured to be at least 12 inches thick and even reinforced with lead reducing radiation to minimal and safe levels.Ī fallout shelter built in the corner of a basement was the most affordable option, and it supposedly offered substantial protection. Concrete was the preferred material for laying the foundation and walls of the shelter. The prime objective was to put as much mass between survivors and the radioactive particles from the blast as possible. Gamma particles begin to slowed down by 1 1/2 miles of air or 2 1/2 feet of earth. To prevent against exposure from nuclear fallout, these shelters were built underground to allow dirt and soil to provide natural protection from radiation.

The fallout shelter was essentially a civilian adapted bunker equipped with food, fresh water, living accommodations, and personal necessities. These subterranean structures were built in basements and backyards to ensure a household quick,immediate safety in the event of an attack. With the ever-looming possibility of nuclear annihilation from Soviet forces, Americans in the 1950's began building personal shelters that would protect against nuclear fallout specifically gamma radiation.

How to ventilate a nuclear fallout shelter