Innovative 3G Shelter Project - Designing Warm Climate Emergency Shelters for Families

1. projects 3G shelter • 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 project awarded RIBA / McAslan bursary

2. projects 3G shelter • ‘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

3. projects 3G shelter • 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

4. projects 3G shelter • 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

5. projects 3G shelter • frame

6. projects 3G shelter • 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)

7. projects 3G shelter • joints • joints are custom designed • provide rigid connection between structural members • manufactured by extruding aluminium • component weight: 0.2 kg

8. projects 3G shelter • 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

9. projects 3G shelter • durability • design subject to a durability hierarchy increasing importance

10. projects 3G shelter • 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

11. projects 3G shelter • 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 photo source: CRS

12. projects 3G shelter • 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

13. projects 3G shelter • 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

14. projects 3G shelter • 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

15. projects 3G shelter • 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 cover • option 2: frame – use plastic sheeting off-the-roll • option 3: just joints – locally procure members • option 4: locally procure all materials • response options may reflect differences in conditions

16. projects 3G shelter • 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

17. projects 3G shelter • 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

18. projects 3G shelter • 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