The present invention relates to a shelter building for protection of persons against high tide , flood, storm, earthquake , hail and similar environmental influences .

Because of the worldwide change in climate, the damages caused by high tide, flood, storm, thunderstorm and/or hail have significantly increased, in the recent years . Further, tsunamis , which are caused by submarine earthquakes , may cause vast damages in coastal regions . Particularly in flat coastal regions , the flood waves of such tsunamis may press forward into the inland over long distances .

In such flat coastal regions , in case of a flood wave , there is often no place of refuge for the population . Thus, there is an increasing demand for shelter facilities which provide protection of persons against high tide, flood, storm, thunderstorm, hail and tsunamis .

A tsunami -shelter for protecting persons against tsunamis is disclosed in JP-A- 10159388. This tsunami -shelter comprises airtight walls and ceiling and an entrance being formed on a side- face of an airtight wall . The walls of the tsunami- shelter are firmly fixed to the ground. When the tsunami- shelter is flooded by water, an air volume is held in an upper part inside the tsunami -shelter, which upper part is above said entrance opening . The tsunami-shelter is designed such

that the persons standing inside the tsunami-shelter extend with their heads up into the air volume , such that they can breath .

A further catastrophe protection facility for protecting persons against catastrophes like an earthquake , is disclosed in DE 39 37 206 Al . This protection facility is located underground and comprises a compressed-air supply system for supplying compressed air into the protection facility in order to maintain a higher air pressure than the air pressure of atmosphere .

A cap arrangement comprising an airtight and watertight cap, capable to be put over electrical devices and to be fixed to the ground, is disclosed in DE 203 03 320 Ul . With such a cap arrangement , in case of a flood, a damage of electrical devices which are arranged on the ground, can be avoided .

As discussed above , there is a demand for shelter facilities , which are effective in protecting people from such environmental influences . As the population of the concerned regions is often poor, there is also a demand for shelter facilities which are inexpensive to build-up and which have low maintenance costs and/or need only little or no maintenance at all . But also in regions with civilized population, there is a demand for shelter facilities which provide an effective protection of persons .

Accordingly, it is an obj ect of the present invention, to provide a shelter facility which is capable of protecting persons effectively against environmental influences like high tide , flood, storm, thunderstorm, tsunamis and hail , wherein a

cost-effective build-up and maintenance of such shelter facility should be possible .

The obj ect is achieved by a shelter building according to claim 1.

The shelter building comprises a shelter room with a floor, sidewalls and a ceiling, wherein this shelter room is arranged in an upper part of the shelter building . Thus , the shelter room is arranged higher than the ground of the surrounding and thus , the shelter room is only flooded, when the water level rises higher than the floor of the shelter room. The shelter room comprises only an opening in the floor of the shelter room, which opening forms an entrance into the shelter room. The sidewalls and ceiling of the shelter room are adapted such that , upwards from the opening of the floor, the shelter room is hermetically sealed from the outside . Thus , even if the water level rises higher than the floor of the shelter room, a predetermined amount of air is kept inside the shelter room, such that the persons inside the shelter room still can breathe for at least several minutes .

The shelter room is dimensioned such that , even if the air volume inside the shelter room is compressed by the rising tide of the flood, the persons inside the shelter room may still reach the air volume with their heads such that they can breathe . As the flood of such a tsunami lasts for several minutes only, the enclosed amount of air provides sufficient oxygen for the persons inside the shelter room for this period of time . Particularly, the dimensions of the shelter room may be adapted such that the enclosed air volume suffices for breathing for a time period of half an hour, when

approximately 2 , 5 persons per m ² are arranged inside the shelter room.

By the provision of an entrance passage extending downwards from the opening of the floor, water may only enter into the shelter room by passing through the entrance passage and rising up to the opening of the floor . Thus , by this arrangement , the flow of water is decelerated and a strong current of water inside the shelter room is avoided .

By the provision of a fundament arranged in a lower part of the shelter building, the shelter building may be fixed firmly into the ground such that , even in case of a tsunami , the shelter building is not loosened and washed away.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an outer part of the entrance passage , which outer part leads to the outside , is arranged below the floor of the shelter room and an inner part of the entrance passage rises up to the shelter room. By such an arrangement , water which enters into the entrance passage is decelerated and reaches up to the floor of the shelter room only, if the water level rises higher than the floor of the shelter room.

In a more comfortable and expensive embodiment of the present invention, the opening of the floor is provided with a protection door for selectively closing the opening in a watertight manner . Particularly in combination with such a protection door, it is advantageous to further provide a water-tight floor, which adjoins the sidewalls of the shelter room in a water-tight manner . Thus , after the persons have entered into the shelter room, the protection door may be closed and water may not enter into the shelter room, even if

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the water level rises higher than the floor of the shelter room.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a floating floor may be positioned inside the shelter room. Thus , even if the water level inside the shelter room is higher than the floor of the shelter room, people standing on the floating floor are lifted upwards together with the rising water level . People standing on the floating floor do not submerge into water or only submerge into water with their feet , and thus , panic is avoided.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a ventilation facility is provided . The ventilation facility is adapted to introduce fresh air from the outside through the entrance passage into the shelter room. Such ventilation facility may comprise pipes leading from the shelter room through the entrance passage to the outside, wherein a ventilator may be arranged to convey fresh air from the outside through the pipes into the shelter room. A further pipe system may be arranged to convey exhausted air to the outside . Such ventilation facility may also be realized by conducting wind from the outside through the entrance passage into the shelter room.

A ventilation facility may also be realized by a compressor which is capable of introducing compressed air from the outside into the shelter room. By the provision of an air pressure inside the shelter room, which is equal to or higher than the water pressure of water pressed into the shelter room, the inflow of water can be prevented . Such ventilation facility with compressor may be arranged such that compressed- air is introduced from outside through a sidewall or the

ceiling of the shelter room. However, the compressor arrangement preferably supplies air from the outside through the entrance passage and through the opening of the floor into the shelter room.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the part of the shelter building which is located below the floor of the shelter room and which does not form part of the entrance passage is , at least partially, adapted to be heaped up with filler material . Preferably, the fundament of the shelter building is adapted to be anchored into ground . The fundament is preferably formed with strip foundations with side structures extending to the side from lower ends of vertically extending walls of the shelter building . By this structure, a firm fixation of the shelter building in the ground may be achieved.

In a further preferred embodiment , the outer part of the entrance passage , which outer part leads to the outside , is formed by two entrance tunnels . Thus , even if one entrance tunnel is blocked by material floated into the entrance tunnel , people may still use the other entrance tunnel in order to get out of the shelter building . Preferably, first portions of the entrance tunnels , which first portions lead to the outside, are angled to each other and extend outwards with regard to the shelter room. Thus , the probability that both entrance tunnels are blocked by material , floated therein, can be minimized . The two entrance tunnels may be arranged such that water flowing into one of the tunnels is directed outwards through the other tunnel again .

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the first portions bend off into second portions of the

entrance tunnels , and thus , incoming water is effectively decelerated . According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the inner part of the entrance passage , which inner part rises upwards to the opening of the floor, forms an acute angle with each of the second portions of the entrance tunnels , and thus , the incoming water is further decelerated .

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the shelter room comprises at least one window, which is, of course, hermetically sealed. By the provision of such windows , the shelter room may also be employed for other purposes, e .g . as a cafe , as an assembly room, etc .. Further, by the provision of windows, the danger of a panic of the people inside the shelter room is reduced .

According to a further embodiment, the shelter room is subdivided into at least two rooms . Thus , sanitation rooms and rooms including first aid equipment may also be provided . In particular, the corner sections of such a shelter room could be suited for that purpose .

The object of the present invention is also achieved by a protection system according to claim 19. The system comprises a shelter building as described above and filler material arranged at least partially around the fundament of the shelter building and thereby anchoring the fundament in the ground . The advantages described above with regard to the shelter building are also achieved by such a protection system.

According to a preferred embodiment of the protection system, a corner, a diagonal , or a semi-major axis of the shelter building is substantially orientated towards an expected flow

direction in which water or wind is expected to flow. By such an arrangement , the working surface of the shelter building exposed to wind and/or water is small and wind and/or water will be deflected . Thus , damage of the shelter building caused by flowing water and/or wind is minimized . It is further preferred that an outer opening of the entrance passage or outer openings of the two entrance tunnels is/are orientated substantially parallel to the expected flow direction. By such an arrangement of the openings , water and/or wind is not directed directly into the entrance passage or the entrance tunnels .

According to a further preferred embodiment of the protection system, an earth bank is piled up around the sides of the shelter building such that a small hill is arranged around the shelter building . In such an arrangement , the sidewalls of the shelter building are in contact with the material of the earth bank and thus , the stability of the shelter building is enhanced . Preferably, the ground-plan of the earth bank substantially has the form of an oval with its semi-major axis orientated substantially along an expected flow direction in which water or wind is expected to flow . By such an arrangement , the removal of material from the earth bank is minimized . The stability of the shelter building and the earth bank surrounding the shelter building may further be enhanced by planting plants around the shelter building .

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the floor of the shelter room is arranged above , preferably at least 1 , 5 meters above , the expected maximum high-water level . By such an arrangement , an inflow of water into the shelter room is avoided .

Further developments of the invention are specified in the subordinate claims , respectively.

Further features and advantages of the invention will arise from the description of embodiments with reference to the enclosed Figures , of which :

Fig . 1 is a side sectional view of a shelter building according to the present invention;

Fig . 2 is a sectional view of the shelter building according to a section along line II-II of Fig . 1 ;

Fig . 3 is a sectional view of the shelter building according to a section along line III-III of Fig . 1 ;

Fig . 4 is a sectional view of the shelter building according to a section along line IV-IV of Fig . 1 ;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a shelter building according to a second embodiment of the invention, wherein a section through the shelter room of the shelter building is shown;

Fig . 6 is a horizontal sectional view of a shelter building with a ventilation facility, wherein a section through the shelter room of the shelter building is shown;

Fig . 7 is a partial vertical sectional view of a shelter building with a ventilation facility for transporting exhausted air from the shelter room to the outside ;

Fig . 8 is a partial vertical sectional view of a shelter building with a ventilation facility for introducing fresh air into the shelter room;

Fig . 9 is a partial sectional view of a sidewall of the shelter building with a double-window;

Fig . 10 is a partial sectional view of a sidewall of the shelter building with a demountable double-window;

Fig . 11 is a vertical sectional view of a protection door,- and

Fig . 12 is a view from above of the protection door of Fig . 11.

The directional specifications used in the description refer to the views presented in the Figures and are not limiting the scope of the invention .

Fig. 1 shows a side sectional view of a shelter building 2. A lower part of the shelter building 2 includes a fundament 4 which is surrounded by filler material 6. There is also piled up and earth bank 8 around the sides of the shelter building which further stabilizes the shelter building 2 and which provides a firm fixation of the shelter building 2 in the ground .

An upper part of the shelter building comprises a shelter room 10 with a floor 12 , sidewalls 14 , and a ceiling 16 , wherein the shelter room 10 is subdivided into four rooms . The shelter room 10 comprises an opening 18 in the floor 12 (cf . Fig . 2 ) ,

wherein entry into the shelter room 10 is only possible through this opening 18. The sidewall 14 and ceiling 16 are hermetically sealed, such that , upwards from the opening 18 of the floor 12 , the shelter room 10 is hermetically sealed from the outside .

As is obvious from Fig . 2 , the opening 18 opens into one of the four sub-divided rooms , wherein access to the other three sub-divided rooms of the shelter room 10 is possible through corresponding doors or wall -openings 20 which are permanently open and cannot be closed .

The shelter building 2 comprises an entrance passage 22 extending downwards from the opening 18 of the floor 12 and leading to the outside . As is obvious from Figurs 1 and 2 , the shelter room 10 can only be entered by passing upwards through the entrance passage 22 and through the opening 18.

The arrangement of the entrance passage 22 will be described with regard to Figures 1 to 3. As is obvious from Fig . 3 , the entrance passage 22 is formed by an outer part 24 and an inner part 58. The outer part 24 leads to the outside and is formed by two entrance tunnels 26 , 28.

The first entrance tunnel 26 extends from an outer opening 30 of the first entrance tunnel 26 to a bending point 32 and from the bending point 32 to a cross point 34 where it meets with the second entrance tunnel 28. Similarly, the second entrance tunnel 28 extends from an outer opening 36 of the second entrance tunnel 28 to a bending point 38 and from the bending point 38 to the cross point 34.

In Fig . 3 , the course of the two entrance tunnels 26 , 28 is illustrated by a dotted line 42. As is obvious from Fig . 3 , the two entrance tunnels form a zigzag-line . By such a zigzag- course , water which enters into one of the outer openings 30 , 36 of the entrance tunnel 26 , 28 is effectively decelerated . Further, water which enters into one entrance tunnel 26 , 28 is directed into the other entrance tunnel 28 , 26 and is led out of the shelter building, again .

Each entrance tunnel 26 , 28 comprises a first portion 44 , 46 extending from the outer opening 30 , 36 of the entrance tunnels 26 , 28 to the corresponding bending point 32 , 38 , and a second portion 48 , 50 extending from the bending point 32 , 38 to the cross point 34.

As is obvious from Fig . 3 , the first portions 44 , 46 of the two entranced tunnels 26 , 28 extend substantially perpendicular to each other. The first portion 44 of the first entrance tunnel 26 extends outward from and perpendicular to a first sidewall 52 of the shelter building 2. The first portion 46 of the second entrance tunnel 28 extends outwards from and substantially perpendicular to a second sidewall 54 of the shelter building 2 , wherein the second sidewall 54 is adjacent to the first sidewall 52 and wherein these two sidewalls 52 , 54 are arranged substantially perpendicular to each other .

In the bending points 32 , 38 of the first and second entrance tunnels 26 , 28 , the first portions 44 , 46 each form an angle of substantially 90 ° with the second portions 48 , 50. The second portion 48 of the first entrance tunnel 26 extends along the first sidewall 52 of the shelter building 2 and the second portion 50 of the second entrance tunnel 28 extends along the sidewall 54 of the shelter building 2. Both second

portions 48 , 50 extend from the corresponding bending points 32 , 38 towards a corner 56 formed between the first and second sidewalls 52 , 54 of the shelter building 2. The second portions 48 , 50 are arranged substantially perpendicular to each other and meet each other in the cross point 34.

From the cross point 34 , the inner part 58 of the entrance passage 22 rises upwards to the opening 18 of the floor 12. Preferably, the inner part 58 includes steps leading upwards from the cross point 34 to the opening 18. The second portions 48 , 50 of the entrance tunnels 26 , 28 each form an angle of substantially 45 ° with the inner part 58 of the entrance passage 22. This acute angle between the inner part 58 and the second portions 48 , 50 provides an effective deceleration of inflowing water .

As is obvious from Fig . 1 , the outer part 24 of the entrance passage 22 which comprises the two entrance tunnels 26 , 28 is arranged one storey below the shelter room 10. In case of a tsunami , persons may either enter through the outer opening 30 into the first entrance tunnel 26 or through the outer opening 36 into the second entrance tunnel 28 , walk along the corresponding entrance tunnel 26 , 28 to the cross point 34 and then walk upstairs through the inner part 58 (along arrow 60) of the entrance passage 22. Then, they enter into the shelter room 10 through the opening 18.

With reference to Figures 1 and 4 , the fixation of the shelter building 2 into the ground will be described. The fundament 4 of the shelter building 2 comprises vertically extending walls 62 which extend downwards from the floor 12 of the shelter room 10 and from the bottom of the entrance tunnels 26 , 28. The vertically extending walls 62 are adapted to be heaped up

and surrounded with filler material 6. As is obvious from Fig .

1 , the part of the shelter building 2 which is located below the floor 12 of the shelter room 10 and which does not form part of the entrance passage 22 , is also heaped up with filler material 6.

As is obvious from Figures 1 and 4 , the fundament 4 includes strip foundations including a side structure 64 which is arranged at the lower end of the vertically extending walls 62 and extends to the side of the vertically extending walls 62.

The shelter building of Figures 1 to 4 is made from concrete, preferably from reinforced concrete . For the concrete , the filler material 6 and the earth bank 8 , materials which are common in the respective region can be employed . Thus , the build-up of such a protection system is cost-effective . The filler material 6 should have a high density .

As shown in Fig . 2 , reinforcement walls 70 are arranged in corners 72 , 74 of the shelter room 10 in order to reinforce the structure of the shelter building 2. The free space between the reinforcement walls 70 and the sidewalls 14 in these corners 72 , 74 can be employed for the accommodation of tools , first aid equipment , water and food.

As schematically shown in Fig . 1 , a floating floor 76 may be provided in the shelter room 10. The floating floor 76 is capable of moving upwards and downwards inside the shelter room 10 and it comprises floatable elements . Thus , even if the water level rises higher than the floor 12 of the shelter room 10 , the people standing on the floating floor 76 are lifted upwards and do not submerge into the rising water . Such a

floating floor 76 may be provided in each of the sub divided rooms of the shelter room 10.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 4 , a terrace 78 is arranged above the ceiling 16 of the shelter room 10. The terrace 78 is formed by stable planks which are firmly fixed to the ceiling 16 of the shelter room 10. Thus , the terrace 78 provides a further protection shield against breakers . There is not provided any opening leading from the shelter room 10 to the terrace 78. Access to the terrace 78 is rather provided by steps 80 leading from the earth bank 8 to the terrace 78.

The ground-plan of the shelter room is, as shown in Fig. 3 , substantially quadratic , wherein the side length of each of the sidewalls is between 5 to 15 meters , preferably between 8 to 12 meters . The orientation of the shelter building 2 is preferably such that a corner is orientated towards an expected flow direction (see arrow 66 in Fig . 3) in which water or wind is expected to flow. By this orientation of the shelter building 2 , the working surface of the shelter building 2 exposed to wind and/or water is minimized and thus , damage caused by the flow of wind/water is minimized. Preferably, the shelter building 2 is located on an elevation like a hill . As shown in Fig . 3 , the outer openings 30 , 36 of the entrance tunnels 26 , 28 are preferably orientated substantially parallel to the expected flow direction 66. By this arrangement , the flow of water or wind is not directed into the entrance tunnels 26 , 28 and thus , water will only enter into the entrance tunnels 26 , 28 and into the inner part 58 of the entrance passage 22 , if the water level rises higher than the bottom of the entrance tunnels 26 , 28.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3 , the earth bank 8 heaped up around the sidewalls of the shelter building 2 has the form of an oval with its semi-maj or axis orientated substantially along the expected flow direction 66. Thus , also the working surface of the earth bank 8 exposed to wind/water is minimized and the removal of material of the earth bank can be minimized . The removal of material may further be prevented by planting plants 68 around the shelter building 10. For this purpose , it is preferred to employ plants having an extended and strong root system, which root system may further stabilize the arrangement of the earth bank 8 and the shelter building 2. For such planting, plants which are typical for the corresponding region may be employed .

In the following, the use of the protection system in case of a tsunami will be described . People will run into the shelter building 2 through one of the entrance tunnels 26 , 28 , and the inner part 58 of the entrance passage 22 and will then pass through the opening 18 into the shelter room 10. Even if the water level of the tsunami will rise higher than the floor 12 of the shelter room 10 , the amount of air enclosed between the water level , sidewalls 14 and ceiling 16 will be held inside the shelter room 10. The floating floor 76 will float upwards and the people standing on it will be lifted upwards in direction to the enclosed air volume . But also the heads of the people standing on the floor 12 of the shelter room 10 will extend into the enclosed amount of air, except that the water level rises extremely high such that their heads cannot reach the enclosed air volume which is compressed by the rising water , anymore .

Preferably, the enclosed amount of air is sufficient for at most 175 persons for breathing up to 30 till to 40 minutes .

This can be achieved by corresponding dimensioning of the shelter room 10. If the water level falls down again, people may exit the shelter room 10 through the opening 18 , the inner part 58 and through one of the entrance tunnels 26 , 28 of the entrance passage 22 to the outside . If one of the entrance tunnels 26 , 28 is blocked by material , the other entrance tunnel may be used . Even in case that both entrance tunnels 26 , 28 are blocked, the people inside the shelter room 10 may free themselves by the use of corresponding tools which are accommodated inside the shelter room 10.

The shelter building 2 and the corresponding protection system, which has been described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 , represents a very simple and cost-effective embodiment of the invention . The advantage of such a simple embodiment is , that it may also be established in regions with poor population and that it causes low or even none maintenance costs and work . As the opening 18 and the outer openings 30 , 36 of the entrance tunnels 26 , 28 are all permanently open and do not include any moveable parts , the shelter building 2 has a very high durability. The shelter building 2 according to this simple embodiment is very cost-effective to build-up, as the resources of the corresponding region can be employed for the material of the concrete , the filler material 6 , and the earth bank 8. For the planting, plants which are typical for the corresponding region can be employed .

A shelter building 82 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig . 5. In the following, only the differences with regard to the first embodiment will be explained . The side walls 14 , floor 12 and ceiling 16 of the shelter room are made from reinforced concrete . However, the sidewall 14 comprises a section 84 (shown in Fig . 5 as a

hatched area) which does not comprise any reinforcement and thus , this section 84 forms a predetermined breaking area . Thus , if the entrance passage 22 is blocked, the people inside the shelter room 10 may break through the sidewall 14 at the section 84 by using a corresponding tool . The area of section 84 is preferably about 1 m ² .

There are further provided double-windows , which are arranged along those portions of the sidewalls 14 which are not piled up with filler material of the earth bank 8. Thus , light from the outside can enter into the shelter room 10 and people inside the shelter room 10 can look outside . Thus , also panic inside the shelter room 10 can be avoided. The double-windows will be described in more detail with regard to Figures 9 and 10.

In contrast to the shelter room 10 as shown in Fig . 2 , the shelter room 10 of Fig . 5 is not divided into four sub-rooms . However, inside the shelter room 10 , there are provided vertical reinforcement walls 88 such that the static of the shelter room 10 provides a high stability. The reinforcement walls 88 arranged in the centre of the shelter room 10 form a rebounding surface for the water which may flow into the shelter room 10 through the opening 18.

As shown in Fig . 5 , the ground-plan of the shelter building 82 is quadratic . However, in the storage of the shelter room 10 , two opposing etches 90 are bevelled . Thus , although several windows are provided in these portions of the sidewall 14 , a stable static of the whole shelter building 82 can be achieved .

With regard to Figs . 6 to 8 , a ventilation facility for the shelter room 10 of a shelter building will be described . The ventilation facility comprises two fresh air pipes 92 , wherein each air pipe 92 comprises a vertical pipe portion 94 and a horizontal pipe portion 96 connected therewith . Each vertical pipe portion 94 opens into a corresponding entrance tunnel 26 , 28 with a lower open end and extends up to the ceiling 16 of the shelter room 10. The vertical pipe portions 94 open into the entrance tunnels 26 , 28 near the bending points 32 , 38 with their lower open end, respectively. The horizontal portions 96 connected with the vertical pipe portion 94 extend along an inner edge between the sidewall 14 and the ceiling 16 and each comprise outlets 98 arranged along the horizontal pipe portion 96 for introducing fresh air into the shelter room 10. A blower 100 is arranged in each fresh air pipe 92 in order to generate a flow of air from the lower opening of the horizontal pipe portion 94 up to the outlets 98 of the horizontal pipe portion 96. The blower may be powered manually or electrically by battery, line current and/or an emergency power plant .

If the entrance tunnels 26 , 28 and the opening 18 are not blocked, exhausted air may flow outside through the opening 18 and the entrance tunnels 26 , 28 , as shown by arrows 102. However, a further ventilation facility for transporting exhausted air from the shelter room 10 to the outside may further be provided . Particularly in the case that the opening 18 of the floor 12 is closed by a protection door in a watertight manner, such transport of exhausted air to the outside is advantageous .

In Fig . 6 , such ventilation facility is realized by two exhaust air pipes 104. Each exhaust pipe 104 comprises a

vertical pipe portion 106 extending from the shelter room 10 downwards below the floor 12 and a horizontal pipe portion 108 extending along a side of a corresponding entrance tunnel 26 , 28 through the earth bank 8 to the outside . Further, a blower (not shown) is provided in each exhaust air pipe 104 in order to generate a flow of air to the outside .

A closing mechanism for the openings of the fresh air pipes 92 and the exhaust air pipes 104 may be provided such that inflow of water into the pipes 92 , 104 can be prevented by closing these openings . Further, as the fresh air pipes 92 and exhaust air pipes 104 extend upwards to the ceiling 16 of the shelter room 10 , the inflow of water through these pipes into the shelter room 10 is suppressed .

As shown in Fig . 9 , the double-windows are formed of elements 110 comprising two window panes 112 which window panes are made from bullet-proof glass . The side edges of these window elements 110 are embedded in the concrete material of the sidewalls 14.

The double-windows may further be demountable from the sidewall 14 , as shown in Fig . 10. As in Fig . 9 , the double- window is formed by a window element 110 which comprises two window panes 112 made from bullet-proof glass . However, the double-window of Fig . 10 comprises a frame 114 which is embedded in the concrete of the sidewall 14 and which is adapted to accommodate the element 110 in a demountable manner as shown schematically by screw 116 and retaining element 118. The corresponding tools for demounting the element 110 must be accommodated in the shelter room 10. Thus , by the provision of such demountable window elements 110 , damaged window elements

110 may be exchanged and further, such windows may be used as an emergency exit .

In a more expensive embodiment of the shelter building of the present invention, there may also be provided a protection door 120 for selectively closing the opening 18 of the floor 12 of the shelter room 10 in a water-tight manner, as shown in Figs . 11 and 12. In such an embodiment it is preferred that also the floor 12 of the shelter room 10 is water-tight and adj oins the sidewalls 14 (not shown in Figs . 11 and 12 ) of the shelter room 10 in a water-tight manner . Such an arrangement prevents the inflow of any water, such that the staying inside the shelter room 10 is much more comfortable .

The protection door 120 of Figs . 11 and 12 is realized in form of a flap door . It comprises a frame 122 embedded in the concrete material of the floor 12 of the shelter room 10. The stability of the protection door 120 is enhanced by ribs 124 extending along the upper surface of the protection door 120. As shown in Fig . 11 in hatched lines , the protection door 120 is pivotable around a swivelling axis 126.

As illustrated in Fig . 11 , for opening the protection door 120 , a counterbalance weight 128 , tensile wire 130 and deflection pulleys 132 are provided. The tensile wire 130 is fixed to the protection door 120 with its first end and to the counterbalance weight 128 with its second end . Accordingly, the protection door 120 is opened by the gravity of the counterbalance weight 128 and is closed manually against the biasing force of the counterbalance weight 128.

As shown in Figs . 11 and 12 , upwardly extending walls 134 are arranged along three edges of the protection door 120. Thus ,

people are hindered from entering the opening 18 from one of these three sides and are guided to the open side 136 to the staircase leading downwards to the entrance tunnels 26 , 28.

The protection door 120 may be locked in its closed position by a bar 138 which is operable from the shelter room 10 by a first handle 140 and from the entrance passage 22 by a second handle 142.

The shelter building and protection system according to the present invention is not restricted to the embodiment shown in Fig . 1 to 4. Further alternatives and variants of the present invention will be discussed below .

The embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4 is particularly suitable for protection of persons against tsunamis . In case of a tsunami , the high water level lasts only for several minutes and thus , the enclosed amount of air is sufficient for breathing during this time . However, the shelter building according to the present invention may also be adapted to accommodate persons for several hours or days . In such a shelter building, a ventilation facility for introducing fresh air from the outside must be provided . Also windows and sanitation facilities must be provided in the shelter room 10. Further, in such a case , there must be enough room for the accommodation of food, water and first aid equipment .

According to another alternative , the sidewalls 14 and the ceiling 16 of the shelter room 10 may also be arranged in the form of an inverted cap or an inverted cup .

In the embodiment of the figures , the sidewalls of the shelter room extend down to the fundament . However, the shelter room

may also be supported on pillars or columns , which are anchored into ground with their lower ends .

In the embodiment of Fig . 1 to 4 , the shelter room 10 comprises only one opening 18 in the floor 12 , wherein an entrance passage 22 leads from the outside upwards to the opening 18. However, there may also be provided more than one opening in the floor 12 of the shelter room 10 , wherein one or more entrance passages lead to the corresponding openings in the floor 12.

Although the ground-plan of the shelter building 2 shown in Fig . 1 to 4 is quadratic , other forms , like an oval , an ellipse , a diamond or a rhombus etc . are also possible . However, it is preferred, that the corresponding long diagonal or semi-major axis of the shelter building is orientated along the expected flow direction in which water or wind is expected to flow, such that the working surface of the shelter building exposed to wind/water is minimized.

It may further be provided that the shelter building comprises more than two floors . The fundaments 4 of the shelter building may also comprise additional side structures which are arranged above the lower end of the vertically extending walls 62. Besides concrete or reinforced concrete , other materials like metal or synthetic materials can also be used for the shelter building 2.

With regard to the entrance passage 22 , as shown in Fig . 1 to 4 , the angular orientation of the first and second portions 44 , 46 , 48 , 50 and of the inner part 58 may also differ from the orientation as illustrated in the Figures . Preferably, the first portions 44 , 46 are orientated in an angle smaller than

or equal to 90° to each other, and each first portion 44 , 46 forms an angle smaller than or equal to 90 ° with the corresponding second portion 48 , 50. Preferably, the two second portions 48 , 50 are orientated in an angle smaller or equal to 90 ° to each other . The smaller the angle between the corresponding portions of the entrance tunnel 26 , 28 is , the stronger is the effect of deceleration of inflowing water . Preferably, the inner part 58 of the entrance passage 22 forms an angle between 40 ° and 50 ° with each of the second portions 48 , 50 of the entrance tunnels 26 , 28.

It may also be provided that the entrance tunnels 26 , 28 rise upwards from the outer opening 30 , 36 of the entrance tunnels to the cross point 34.

In order to improve the stabilization of the shelter building 2 , 82 by the roots of plants 68 planted in the earth bank 8 around the shelter building, a web may be provided under earth . Advantageously, the web extends around the shelter building 2 , 82 in the earth bank 8. Thus , the roots of the plants 68 intertwine with the web and a higher stabilization is achieved . Advantageously, the web is fixed to the side walls and/or fundament of the shelter building 2 , 82.

An inflow of water may. also be suppressed by arranging the floor 12 of the shelter room 10 higher than a ceiling of the entrance tunnels 26 , 28.

The floating floor 76 shown in Fig . 1 may also be guided by vertically arranged rails during its upward and downward movement .

The shelter building may also be adapted such that it is integrated in the everyday-life of the population or tourists . This may, for example , be achieved by providing a view terrace on the ceiling of the shelter building or cafes , restaurants or bars in the shelter room itself or in separate rooms arranged inside or outside of the shelter building . However, also in such a case , the functionality of the shelter room, the opening in the floor of the shelter room and the entrance passage must still be realized. Annexed buildings must be stand-alone buildings such that the stability and functionality of the shelter building is not restricted .