what is a mammad

A mammad is a reinforced security room required in all new buildings by Israeli law. It is also known as a "merkhav mugan dirati" or apartment-protected space. The walls of a mammad are built out of reinforced concrete, and it has airtight steel doors and windows. The room is meant to offer protection against high impact projectiles and chemical weapons. The minimal net area of the room is 9 square meters, and it has two openings, usually one window and one door, never on the same wall. Since Israelis typically don’t have an entire room in their homes to leave empty in anticipation of a possible rocket attack, the mammad often has other uses as well, such as an unofficial machsan (storeroom), or a playroom, study, or bedroom. Contractors have been obligated by law to include a safe room in every new apartment built since 1993. The addition of a safe room is also one of the main motivations for tenants in old buildings to carry out urban renewal procedures.