he
box-office success of the Hollywood thriller Panic Room has
inspired a flood of requests for similar hideaways from people
building new homes, contractors say. Such rooms have long been
popular among wealthier homeowners (and in israel, where bullet-
and fire-resistant security rooms have been mandated for all new
buildings and apartments since 1992). But real-life panic rooms
are not necessarily like the one in the movie. For one thing,
they’re usually called (less alarmingly) safe rooms. Most are
smaller and less elaborate than the model in the film. For
$10,000 to $15,000 you can get a just-the-basics shelter with
blastproof Kevlar lining the walls. Higher-end models ($50,000
to $250,000) can include amenities such as mini-bars, fold-down
beds, TVs and DVD players. In some homes, rhat’s known as a
den.
1
SURVEILLANCE In the movie, Jodie Foster
monitors the bad guys on a bank of closed-circuit TVs.
In real life, the video feeds would be channeled to one
screen. In the film, the surveillance cameras are easily
spotted; usually they are camouflaged.
2
COMMUNICATION Foster has to dash outside for
her cell phone. Most people keep one inside their room
(though the phone may not work), along with a land line
and possibly a ham radio.
3
WALLS Made of wood and steel, often with
lightweight bullet- and fire resistant Kevlar pabnels.
In high-end rooms, motion detectors stop doors from
shutting on you.
4
SUPPLIES Fist-aid kits, flashlights and
batteries are standard emergency supplies. The more
survivalist minded may also store days’ worth of food
and water and even weapons.
AIR
CIRCULATION In the movie, the crooks pump gas
into the room’s vents. High-end rooms have a
filtration system for biohazardous air and dummy air
vents to fool malicious intruders.
5
GENERATOR A self-contained power system is
standard in most higher-end safe rooms.
6
PLUMBING Safe rooms built on a budget often
don’t have a toilet. One builder recommends a bucket
as a low cost alternative. Jodie Foster would not
approve.
he
box-office success of the Hollywood thriller Panic Room has
inspired a flood of requests for similar hideaways from people
building new homes, contractors say. Such rooms have long been
popular among wealthier homeowners (and in israel, where bullet-
and fire-resistant security rooms have been mandated for all new
buildings and apartments since 1992). But real-life panic rooms
are not necessarily like the one in the movie. For one thing,
they’re usually called (less alarmingly) safe rooms. Most are
smaller and less elaborate than the model in the film. For
$10,000 to $15,000 you can get a just-the-basics shelter with
blastproof Kevlar lining the walls. Higher-end models ($50,000
to $250,000) can include amenities such as mini-bars, fold-down
beds, TVs and DVD players. In some homes, rhat’s known as a
den.
1
2
3
4
AIR
5
6