Residential wildfire shelters raise important questions about heat, air quality, and real-world performance. The FORT was developed to address those concerns through rigorous testing of both its structure and internal life-support systems.
Testing has been conducted across simulated wildfire environments, controlled lab conditions, and human subject scenarios to validate performance when it matters most.
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The FORT has undergone over a year of wildfire testing across multiple environments and fire intensities.
Using research from firefighter shelter studies, engineers evaluated both:
Testing began with remote monitoring and progressed to live human occupancy scenarios.
These tests validated the FORT’s ability to maintain survivable internal conditions during a simulated wildfire event.
The FORT’s life-support system is based on standards used in underground refuge chambers.
Human subject testing was conducted using protocols derived from:
Testing confirmed that safe oxygen and carbon dioxide levels were maintained for up to 8 occupants of varying ages and weights over a four-hour duration.
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In the absence of a dedicated wildfire shelter standard, the FORT has been tested using established fire-resistance protocols for building materials.
Testing includes:
These tests expose materials to sustained temperatures up to 2000°F for extended durations — conditions that exceed typical wildfire exposure in both intensity and duration.
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The FORT has been evaluated and listed by IAPMO Uniform Evaluation Service .
The evaluation includes the fire protection, life-saving, and system attributes of the shelter. IAPMO also witnessed testing and inspected the quality management system. Audits of the quality system continue annually.
Since there is currently no standard for a shelter in a wildfire environment (similar to a tornado or storm shelter), our team is working with certification professionals to establish a wildfire shelter standard.
This process will determine the criteria that must be met for a wildfire shelter to provide lifesaving capabilities for four (4) hours as a wildfire burns over. Since our engineers have designed the FORT™ to meet the requirements for a 96-hour refuge chamber, and it has been tested against standards for one hour of fire exposure, we expect that the product will significantly exceed the evaluation criteria.
The FORT is designed to fit within that broader approach, alongside evacuation planning, defensible space, and home hardening, providing an additional layer of protection when conditions become unpredictable or rapidly change.
By integrating the FORT into a comprehensive wildfire safety plan, homeowners can take a more complete approach to protecting both people and property.
Wildfire shelters raise important questions about safety, testing, and real-world performance. Below are answers to common questions about fire shelter testing and how the FORT has been evaluated under extreme conditions.
The FORT has undergone extensive fire shelter testing, including simulated wildfire environments designed to replicate real burnover conditions. These tests evaluated both structural performance and internal survivability.
Results from this wildfire bunker testing confirmed the system’s ability to maintain survivable conditions inside the unit, including protection from extreme heat and smoke exposure during a wildfire event.
The FORT’s life-support system has been validated through human subject testing based on established fire shelter testing standards used in underground refuge chambers.
Testing confirmed that oxygen and carbon dioxide levels remained within safe ranges for multiple occupants over a four-hour duration, ensuring breathable air is maintained when it is needed most.
During wildfire safety shelter testing, internal temperatures were continuously monitored to evaluate occupant conditions during burnover scenarios.
While external temperatures can reach extreme levels, the FORT is engineered to manage internal heat through its construction and air system, helping maintain conditions that support survivability during a wildfire event.
The FORT has been tested using recognized fire shelter testing standards for building materials, including ASTM E119 and CAN/ULC S101.
These tests expose materials to sustained high temperatures for extended durations, providing a rigorous benchmark for fire resistance. In addition, the system is based on refuge chamber standards developed by NIOSH and CFR regulations.
Yes. The FORT has undergone live human subject testing as part of its wildfire safety shelter testing program.
These tests evaluated internal air quality, temperature, and system performance with occupants inside the unit, helping validate real-world performance beyond laboratory conditions.
See how the FORT’s construction technology supports its wildfire testing results.
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