Bespoke safe rooms and panic rooms

NetCom Private Value

A safe room, also called a panic room, is a space in which people can take refuge and remain protected, with communications active, until help arrives. It is not simply a room with a reinforced door: it is a system, comprising the enclosure, access, essential services and the way it is used, defined around the real risk and the occupants. NetCom designs it to measure, throughout Italy, for families and clients who require a high level of protection: in villas yet to be built, in homes already lived in and for those relocating to Italy from abroad. In a villa under construction it is most naturally integrated from the design stage.

Protecting people, not just valuables

A safe room is designed to give people a protected space during critical situations. The design takes into account the occupants, the risk scenarios and the time needed for help to arrive.

Safe room with a reinforced door and a control station in a private setting
Interior of a safe room with a sofa, desk and reinforced door

Position, quick access and discretion

The room must be quick to reach, integrated into the circulation of the property and sufficiently discreet. We analyse access points, the internal layout and how the home is used day to day.

Reinforced enclosure and access

Walls, ceiling, floor, door and lock must work as one coherent system. The configuration is defined on the basis of the existing structure and the level of protection required.

Safe room entrance concealed behind the wardrobe of a master bedroom
Discreet communication panel inside a safe room

Communications, power and ventilation

Independent communications, emergency power, lighting and ventilation are assessed according to the expected length of stay and the conditions inside the room.

Risk analysis and procedures

The design starts from plausible scenarios, the people to be protected and the continuity of communications, coordinating the room with the alarm system and the procedures of the property. See all NetCom Private Value solutions.

Tidy shelf with emergency kits in a safe room

Safe room, panic room, strong room: what is the difference

“Safe room” and “panic room” are different names for the same space: a room in the home designed so that people can take refuge and communicate until help arrives. An “armoured room” or “strong room”, on the other hand, usually means a room for keeping valuables. The two needs can be combined in a single project: we define it together after the site survey.

Who needs a safe room

  • Families who want a safe place to gather in the event of an intrusion.
  • Villas under construction: deciding on the safe room together with the design allows it to be integrated into the structure and building services, in dialogue with the architect and the contractor.
  • Properties to be renovated or already lived in: we identify the most suitable room and design the work to be as unobtrusive as possible; in a renovation it is best defined before the works begin.
  • Those buying or living in Italy who come from abroad and are looking for a single point of contact, from design to installation.

How we work

  1. Confidential consultation: people, habits, real risks.
  2. Site survey and analysis: location, access, structure, building services.
  3. Bespoke design: enclosure, door, communications, air and power supply.
  4. Construction with qualified partners and licensed installers, coordinated by NetCom.
  5. Testing and support: tests from inside, instructions for use, ongoing support.

Let’s talk

Tell us about your home and the people who live there: we will tell you, in confidence, which solution makes sense. Talk to us about your project.

People, accessibility and communications shape the design of a temporary protection space.

How is a safe room sized for a family or an office?

The starting point is the number of people to be accommodated, their needs and the risk scenario considered. Usable space, access, communications and internal conditions must be assessed together with the expected length of stay. In a family, children or people with reduced mobility may be a factor; in an office, also varying occupancy and visitors. NetCom translates these needs into a configuration specific to the property, clearly defining the functions required of the protected space.

Can a safe room be added to a home that is already lived in?

Yes, if the assessment of the property identifies a suitable space and feasible works. The choice takes into account internal circulation, ease of access, structure and the possibility of integrating the essential services. The room must fit into the habits of the household and be reachable by the people who will use it. NetCom evaluates these aspects in the design, coordinating physical protection and services with any works required and with the existing architectural features.

How do you verify that help can be called from the safe room?

Communications must be tested from inside the room in the intended configuration of use, including with the door closed. The design assesses the available channels, the backup power supply and the recipients of the calls, also allowing for a connection being unavailable. NetCom coordinates these tests with the security system and the support arrangements defined for the property. The benefit is a communication path that is understandable and tested, rather than relying on the mere presence of a telephone.

What makes a safe room usable by people with reduced mobility?

What matters is the route to reach it, the clear width of the entrance, the manoeuvring space and the position of the controls. Opening, lighting and means of communication must also suit the intended occupants, taking into account any need for assistance. These requirements are gathered before choosing the room and the door. NetCom coordinates them with the protection design, so that the functions can actually be used by the people they were designed for.

How are the people who will use the safe room prepared?

Preparation includes a clear explanation of the functions, agreed tests of the controls and verification of the planned communications. Authorised people must know the scenario the room is designed for and the procedures of the property, including those for other events such as a fire. NetCom considers use together with the technical design, so that the instructions suit the occupants. Operational details are shared with the relevant contacts, keeping the owner’s information confidential.

What is the difference between a safe room, a panic room and a strong room?

Safe room and panic room refer to the same type of space: a temporary refuge for people. An “armoured room” or “strong room” is often something else, namely a room for protecting valuables (see the page Vaults and strongrooms). A safe room can combine both needs: this is defined during the analysis phase.

Is it worth planning one in a villa under construction?

As a rule it is best decided early: location, structure and services are integrated into the design rather than adapted afterwards. It can nevertheless be built in a property already lived in, after an analysis of the existing conditions.

Can someone relocating to Italy from abroad request one?

Yes: we start with a confidential consultation that considers the property, the family members and their habits, and the timing and arrangements of the project are defined with the client.

Where does NetCom operate?

We design safe rooms, vaults and security rooms throughout Italy and, for major projects or on request, abroad as well.

Are permits needed to build a safe room?

It depends on the works, the property and the municipality. The check is the responsibility of a licensed professional; NetCom takes it into account in the initial phase with the client.

How long does the project take?

It depends on size, the existing structure and the level of protection required; after the site survey we give a realistic timeframe, without generic commitments.

What is a 'stanza antipanico'?

It is the Italian name for a panic room or safe room: a reinforced room in the house with independent communications, where the family locks itself in during a break-in or attack and waits safely for help to arrive.

How much does a safe room cost?

It depends on where it is created, the level of protection chosen, the existing structure, communications and ventilation, integration with the alarm and cameras, and the finish. The estimate follows the site survey and risk analysis, with a written itemised proposal from NetCom Security Group.

Is a high-class security door enough?

No. The door class is a figure for one component: the room is safe only if walls, ceiling, openings and service penetrations have the same level and if help can be called from inside.

Can a safe room be hidden?

Yes. The entrance can sit behind a bookcase, a wardrobe or a fitted wall, provided it can be reached in a few seconds and opened without hesitation, even in the dark.

In an apartment or penthouse: a panic room in an apartment.