host SDC/SHA 12-13 May 2005

introduction• project focuses on the design and deployment of warm climate emergency shelter for a family of 6 people

• latest phase of ongoing Shelter Centre exploration of emergency family shelter

• last meeting, presented a tunnel shelter

• this presentation on an alternative structural system to the tunnel

• over this summer, a volunteer project team will develop a covering

• developing an idea of Wolfgang Neumann, former UNHCR senior physical planner, for a frame tent

I would like to thank Allan McRobie, Stephen Pearse, Lizzie Babister, Pete Manfield, Peter Guthrie and Jo Da-Silva for their contributions and advice

projects 3G shelter

project

awarded

RIBA /

McAslan

bursary

host SDC/SHA 12-13 May 2005

‘3G shelter’ project aims

• further the development of emergency family shelter

• develop a prototype shelter compliant with the OCHA performance standards for emergency family shelter

• collaborate with manufacturing specialists to streamline the mass production of the design

• develop a series of procurement options to facilitate flexibility of response

• investigate the scale and cost of deployment of emergency family shelter

projects 3G shelter

host SDC/SHA 12-13 May 2005

schedule

the project has been split into two phases

phase 1: University of Cambridge engineering Masters project

• generation of concept designs

• fabrication of prototype frame

• structural testing of prototype

phase 2: summer Shelter Centre volunteer team research

• design of covering solution

• investigation of modular structures

• quantification of user adaptation options

projects 3G shelter

host SDC/SHA 12-13 May 2005

concept design

a series of concepts were generated building upon the standards presented at he end of the OCHA publication ‘Tents’:

social performance

• buildability

• repairability

• adaptability

• modularity

physical performance

• usable area

• usable volume

• durability

• structural integrity

projects 3G shelter

host SDC/SHA 12-13 May 2005

frame

projects 3G shelter

host SDC/SHA 12-13 May 2005

frame features

components:

18 x 1.9 m aluminium square hollow section extrusions

9 x custom extruded aluminium joint

shelter width: 3.4 m

shelter length: 3.9 m

useable internal volume: 35.7 m3

useable internal area within frame: 13.5 m2

useable internal area with vestibules: 21 m2

internal height within frame: 100% greater than 1.8 m

weight, frame only: 20 kg

estimated cost, frame only: $120 (manufactured in UK)

projects 3G shelter

host SDC/SHA 12-13 May 2005

projects 3G shelter

joints

• joints are custom designed

• provide rigid connection between structural members

• manufactured by extruding aluminium

• component weight: 0.2 kg

host SDC/SHA 12-13 May 2005

frame materials

aluminium is used for both the members and joints

• easily recyclable material

• increases economic value to beneficiaries

• reduces the environmental impact associated with camp closure

• high strength to weight ratio reduces logistics costs and increases portability

• does not require corrosion protection

• ductile material

• easy to extrude

• can be replaced by galvanised or stainless steel

there is a potential problem of beneficiaries selling their shelter

projects 3G shelter

host SDC/SHA 12-13 May 2005

durability

design subject to a durability hierarchy

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host SDC/SHA 12-13 May 2005

durability

robustness:• frame designed to withstand winds of 75 km/h• frame can be strengthened by the addition of bracing• joints designed to carry significantly higher loads than

members

repairability:• testing shows that failure occurs within 100 mm of end of

member• members can be adjusted in length to repair damage• minimum number of components enables interchangability

replaceability: • straight members can be replaced by locally available

materials such as bamboo or sticks

projects 3G shelter

host SDC/SHA 12-13 May 2005

adaptability

distributed emergency shelters can often be adapted to:

• better suit the needs of the beneficiaries

• allow for cultural differences

• allow for differences in climatic conditions

the frame is designed to facilitate this process

• vertical walls can support mud brick construction

• pitched roof can support insulating material or long term improvements such as the addition of tin sheeting

• height of frame allows roof to be sectioned off to form a ventilated insulation layer

common structural form aids user understanding

projects 3G shelter

photo source: CRS

host SDC/SHA 12-13 May 2005

modularity

tunnel form shelters are modular in one dimension only

• most recently developed shelters have adopted this shape

• difficult to use for infrastructure

vertical walls enable the frame to be modular in two dimensions

• modular frames can be used to support large families

• modular frames can be used to support camp infrastructure

projects 3G shelter

host SDC/SHA 12-13 May 2005

manufacture

structural members and joints are aluminium extrusions

• members are a standard size

• joints require a custom extrusion die ~$1200

extrusion is a well established manufacturing process

• low production times

• minimal machining required

• good quality control

consequently:

• quick response times

• low production costs

projects 3G shelter

host SDC/SHA 12-13 May 2005

procurement

there are two commonly followed procurement routes:

• manufactured subject to framework agreements and stockpiled

• manufactured in situ from locally procured materials

there are advantages to both methods:

• stockpiling allows fast response to emergency situations

• manufacturing in situ can make use of the available workforce and can reduce logistics costs

there are also disadvantages:

• stockpiling and air freighting are expensive

• manufacturing in situ requires technical assistance

projects 3G shelter

host SDC/SHA 12-13 May 2005

response options

frame design appropriate for both procurement routes• can be stockpiled to ensure fast response• aluminium industries can be found worldwide allowing local

procurement of materials

simple nature of frame allows for different response options• shelters can be supplied in varying degrees of provision

option 1: frame and coveroption 2: frame – use plastic sheeting off-the-rolloption 3: just joints – locally procure membersoption 4: locally procure all materials

response options may reflect differences in conditions

projects 3G shelter

host SDC/SHA 12-13 May 2005

summer research

team of 5 volunteers will work on further development

• complete cover design

• fabricate cover prototype

• quantify customisation options

• investigate modularity

• load test joint extrusion

projects 3G shelter

host SDC/SHA 12-13 May 2005

cover

covering still in concept generation stage

• plastic sheeting off-the-roll

• tailored solution

• tailored lining

design will aim to:

• prevent ponding

• minimise stitching on the outer fly

• avoid use of guy-ropes

vestibule spaces will be added at either end of the shelter

• increases covered floor area to meet Sphere and UNHCR guidelines

• creates an easily adaptable space

projects 3G shelter

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further studies

project aim to investigate the scale and cost of deployment

require data:

• estimated operational and logistical costs per shelter

• number of shelters deployed annually

• number of displaced people under operational care

if anyone would like to follow the project more closely

• email info@sheltercentre.org

if anyone would like to follow the summer project more closely

• email henry@sheltercentre.org

projects 3G shelter