Imagine an old or new building, like a house, and which are more likely to invoke fear rather than secu-
somewhere in that wonderful structure is a hidden rity. You hope never to need that safe room, but it
room. It reminds you of a spy or mystery movie when could mean the difference between life and death.
someone leans against a wall and disappears from Living near the Nation’s Capitol, the preemptive tar-
sight… get for attack, means that a huge radius of busi-
nesses and homes are at risk.
Homestead Renovations LLC got off the ground “I guess the big question is why – if my clients
about six years ago. From their base in Manassas, want to keep their stuff secret – why am I being pub-
owner Mike Frost and his crew oversee new con- lic about it?” offers Frost. “Yes, I need to be discreet,
struction, whole house renovations and major re- and our website has information on it, but it isn’t as
modeling, as well as additions, porches and decks, if you can look up in the Yellow Pages and find a con-
kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. in the Northern tractor experienced in safe rooms. It’s a real niche in
Virginia area. the construction world and I was talking to someone
Security construction is an unusual specialty, but about how to market this work. “The person said:
Homestead Renovations’ knack for problem solving ‘Why would you want to keep this line of work a se-
lends itself really well to this niche service. Encom- cret? The existence and purpose of the Navy SEALS
passing all sorts of contingencies, including personal is well known – where they are and what they are
safety, it seems a bit James Bond-ish, but makes a doing is not.’ That comment went off in my head like
whole lot of sense in today’s world. a light bulb. Why wouldn’t I want to be public about
“Safe room, panic room, hidden room – there are marketing what I do? We are extremely discreet in
all sorts of terms and they all serve a purpose de- how we provide these services to clients but we cer-
pending on the real or perceived threat or the needs tainly can be more overt in our marketing.”
of the individual,” explains Frost. “Some rooms are In addition to protecting valuables, avoiding kid-
for storms, others are protection against home inva- nap or reprisal, defense from natural disasters, other
sion. Corporate executives who are fearful of retri- uses of safe rooms involve the high-tech world
bution for a firing decision or maybe the company where snooping by digital and electronic invaders
lost money, or politicians concerned for their safety, prompts the need for extreme means to protect pri-
diplomats insecure in a new country – they need a vacy and classified information.
place to escape in the safety of their own homes.” SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facil-
Not every safe room is hidden, however. Their ex- ity) or shielded rooms are similar to safe rooms, but
istence may be known – it’s a just a matter of know- with a difference: you don’t want anyone outside to
ing how to get into it; something you don’t want your eavesdrop on what you are doing inside. They fall
adversary to know. into the category of ‘if these walls could talk’ and
“These rooms are built and outfitted depending Homestead Renovations can provide this level of
on the needs of the client,” adds Frost. “Perhaps they specialized security.
have a need to hide valuables – an art collection, jew- “You have SCIF rooms and then there’s also
elry, guns or other collectibles. Maybe they want a COOP rooms– Continuity of Operations room,” says
place to keep money due to instability in today’s fi- Frost. “COOPs could be used by a high level defense
nancial world. “ contractor who has a facility in town and in the event
While names may vary, using ‘safe room’ as a of a national emergency they want to continue their
generic term is okay. It also carries a more positive operations somewhere else. It could be a shielded
image than a panic room or disaster shelter. terms room or safe room in a house – whatever it is, wher-
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