DEMAND FOR ‘PANIC ROOMS’ GROWING

Industry keeps local man’s company ‘busy full time’

It’s a business that requires client confidentiality, and even most satisfied customer isn’t likely to brag about their purchase.

A safe room is a highly secure space inside a home designed to be discreet and to offer protection during a home invasion, terrorist attack or other life-threatening event. Most safe rooms include some type of communication system or closed-circuit television so those inside can contact the police.

The 2002 movie “ Panic Room” with Jodie Foster gave instant publicity to safe rooms, and a New York Times article in May reported the industry continues to grow.

Nick Paster of American Saferoom Door builds panic rooms, but he’s tight-lipped about the number of rooms installed in a year, saying only that he has “enough business to keep us busy full time.”

“We do see it fluctuate, depending on what’s going on in the world,” Paster said.

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