Home Fortification
Securing existing buildings
Home Fortification - Complete Guide
Reinforcing an existing building (house, apartment) to increase protection against attack, burglary, or shock wave.
Warning: don't turn your home into a trap
Any reinforcement must preserve fire safety and evacuation. Do not permanently block exits or create obstacles for rescue.
Create a "panic room" inside the house - a room without windows, with solid doors, where you can take shelter as a last resort.
Priorities: first 24 hours
You get the most impact by reducing injury risk and organizing the space.
- Pick an interior safe room and move essentials there.
- Secure glass and heavy furniture against tipping.
- Stage lighting and a fire extinguisher where you can reach them.
- Define evacuation routes and an outdoor meeting point.
Window Protection
Windows are the weakest point. Use anti-burglary film, external roller shutters, and in a crisis - boards, sandbags, or OSB boards.
- Remove loose items from sills; they become projectiles in impacts.
- During strong winds, stay away from glass.
- Make any cover removable—don't block emergency egress.
Door Reinforcement
Solid anti-burglary doors, additional bolts, anti-pry locks. Reinforce the frames.
- Reinforce hinges and strike plates; they often fail first.
- Manage entry visibility without exposing the whole interior.
- Agree on who opens the door and when; reduce chaos.
Wall Reinforcement
In case of shelling, sandbags placed inside against external walls provide additional ballistic protection.
An interior “safe room”
A room you use briefly when danger is sudden (debris, warnings, nearby violence).
- No windows (or as few as possible); ideally near the building core.
- Seating/blankets, basic light, first aid and a radio.
- Keep evacuation possible; do not permanently barricade the door.
Useful Materials
Sandbags, boards, nails, OSB boards, protective film, repair tape.