Building a Safe-Haven (Build It Safe): Steps to Drafting an Underground Bunker Floor Plan

Building an underground bunker may seem like crazy work, but the peace of mind and safety it can provide you is unmatched. One of the most crucial steps of this process is creating the perfect underground bunker floor plan. 

But how do you draw such a plan? What should be your focus during drafting?

Building a bunker underground is a convoluted process as you must consider space management, protection capability, air filtration, and many other factors. 

Well-developed bunker floor plans should maximize your living and storage area while keeping you safe and sustaining a breathable atmosphere. (Too Long Sentence – They also keep you safe and maintain a breathable atmosphere)

Read this article to determine how to draft an effective bunker floor plan. You’ll also know what factors you should be aware of while preparing the project.  

Types of Underground Bunkers

Floor plan underground bunker layout varies depending on the bunker type. And several kinds of bunkers are present based on the owner’s requirements. Some of the most common styles include 

Bomb Shelters

This shelter or bunker is built to protect against conventional or nuclear explosions. This type of bunker’s walls, ceilings, and floors are supposed to be thick and highly resilient against high-impact blasts and shockwaves. 

NBC (Nuclear, Biological, or Chemical) Shelters

Thick and robust walls won’t be able to keep you safe in case of a biological or chemical attack. The same goes for nuclear radiation.

This type of shelter protects you from various biological or chemical contaminants by installing extensive purification systems. When setting up an NBC shelter, most of your funds and focus should be invested in advanced air filtration and water purification systems. 

Disaster Safe Rooms

This type of safe room is like a jack of all trades as it can provide good protection in diverse scenarios. An underground safe room can protect you from a home invasion and natural disasters like tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.

They’re typically smaller than other bunkers and are reinforced with thick, powerful walls to prevent forced entry or high-impact blows. 

Factors to Consider Before Drafting an Underground Bunker Floor Plan

Besides what you’re seeking shelter from, your safety bunker design can vary due to many other factors. Let’s take a look at some of the most important ones below.

Bunker Size

Before building a bunker, the first thing to consider is how much space you will need and how much you have. You’ll require more space if the bunker isn’t only for you. 

As the number of residents increases, the bunker will need to allocate more storage and living space. The required area will also depend on how much comfort you want. 

Location of the Bunker

Where you want to build the bunker is an essential factor to consider before drafting. If the bunker is located in an area with a high risk of earthquakes, hurricanes, etc, you must reinforce the bunker with extra durable materials.

What You’re from Seeking Shelter

Your underground bunker floor plan will depend significantly on the disaster from which you’re trying to be safe. You can check online or consult a professional for the appropriate type of safe room for your disaster and then create the plan accordingly. 

Inclusion of Air Ventilation/Filtration System

In the case of NBC bunkers, the concept of an underground shelter goes void without proper air ventilation or an air filtration system. Although you must incorporate an air ventilation system within the floor plan, you must pre-plan the arrangement and the necessary space in your head beforehand.

The system should have multiple ways to bring in fresh, breathable air through different vents so that the entire air circulation isn’t cut off if one of them collapses.

Entrance and Security

It would be best if you placed the entrance to the bunker in a safe and not prominent place. It also needs to be in an easily accessible location so that you can get inside the bunker as quickly as possible in an emergency.

Also, a bunker should have security measures installed in case of any dangerous situation. Security cameras, fire alarms, fire hydrants, a sensor for air quality, etc., are essential for your safety and should be added to the floor plan. 

Drafting a Floor Plan for an Underground Bunker – Basic Guide

To Draft a blueprint of your bunker, you’ll need to focus on your requirements and surroundings the most. 

Here is an essential guide below that you can follow to create an effective bunker plan from scratch. I’ve also included all the rudimentary aspects you must take care of as you continue your design. 

Determine the Purpose

Before starting with the plan, assess what you want from the bunker. Is it meant to be a shelter from natural disasters, explosions, or home invasions? Fixing the purpose will get you started with your plan right away.

Assess the Location

After deciding on the bunker type, get a proper location assessment. This includes selecting the entrance and getting an accurate measurement of the place. 

A proper assessment will also help you select the appropriate layout and determine how many rooms you can allocate in the plan.

Select a Layout

There are a lot of practical bunker layouts which people widely use. Some are single-room layouts, multiple-room layouts, corridor-style layouts, L-shaped layouts, etc. 

The choice of layout will vary depending on your bunker type and available space. If you have abundant space, then you can go for any design. A corridor-style or an L-shaped layout will suit steeper areas better. 

Sketch the Floor Plan

After deciding on the layout, start sketching your plan on paper or your PC using a CAD system. Start with setting a scale for your measured space. 

Outline first and gradually start, including dimensions, wall thickness, entrance, emergency exits, and other features.

Draw the Air Ventilation System

Air ventilation or filtration is crucial for your bunker, so you need an effective ventilation/filtration system. Plan for a system that is easily manageable and includes backup support in case of failure.

The placement of the system is essential because you may need to access it in case of an issue. It’s wise to consult professionals for this if necessary.

Choose Materials

Your floor plan should consider all the necessary information, including the material you’ll use to construct your bunker. Choose materials that are durable and resistant to different hazards. 

I’ll encourage you to use reinforced concrete, steel, or materials with similar strength and rigor.

Include Emergency Systems

After finishing the primary drafting of the layout, add all the emergency systems to the plan, like backup power and water supply, lighting, waste disposal scheme, heat source, etc. 

These systems also include all the security measures you want to install.

Revise the Plan

It’s rare to draft a perfect plan on the first attempt. So, it would be best to revise your plan multiple times for any calculation error, misplacement of components, and forgotten features.

Once you’re finished with the revisions, consider your bunker floor plan completed.

Learn More: Drafting Table Assembly Instructions for Beginners.

FAQs about Underground Bunker Floor Plan

Here are some frequently asked questions on drafting floor plans for safe underground bunkers.

How thick should the walls of an underground bunker be?

The answer will vary according to what you’re protecting yourself from. But the general rule of thumb is to keep the walls at least 8 inches thick with extra reinforcement.

How long does it take to finish building a bunker?

It depends on the size of the bunker and the design complexity. If the location is full of hard rocky soil, it’ll take some extra time to finish the digging. Usually, building a bunker can take from several months to almost a year. 

How to increase the accessibility of my bunker?

To increase accessibility, the first thing to ensure is an accessible entrance. It’s better to have more than one entrance and exit as long as they’re easily accessible. 

Also, make sure all the residents are familiar with the layout. You can add maps and proper signage to make it easier for everybody.

How can I incorporate natural light into an underground bunker?

The only effective way to bring natural light into the bunker is by including a skylight on the ceiling. Use reflective materials on the wall to help redistribute the light evenly.

Conclusion

An underground bunker can protect you from disasters and explosions only if built right. An accurate confidential underground bunker floor plan is one of the essential parts of making the bunker. 

Make sure your measurements are accurate while planning. For incorporating emergency systems, always consult professionals if you need clarification.