Sahel Shelter: Evaluation of Tested Prototypes and Final Design
October 21, 2020
The first basic Tuareg Shelters was developed by IFRC-Shelter Research Unit (IFRC-SRU) and distributed by Luxemburg Red Cross (LuxRC) and Burkinabe Red Cross (BRC) in summer 2012.
Since then on-going monitoring, evaluation, and specific technical testing were conducted to assess the best suitable structural system (stability, rigidity, wind-resistance), thermal performance of different cladding layers, and durability of used materials. The issues identified during the consultations with beneficiaries, other implementing actors, and local authorities during Phase I, were addressed in different ways through the testing of 3 different prototypes. Such methodology was adopted in order to identify the best solution for protection against termites as well as occasional flash-floods, etc.
Three different prototypes were set up to test technical performance as well as practicalities of construction, usability, and beneficiary satisfaction. The aim was to optimize the first model and develop a set of separate kits that answer to different needs and can be combined according to the situation and necessities.
Special attention was dedicated to improving thermal comfort, as thermal comfort is one of the principal factors for beneficiary satisfaction which has an effect on beneficiary health. For this reason, all prototypes were set up with a shade net.
This report presents the evaluation of the different technical test, the users-satisfaction as well as cost analysis for the composition of the “Sahel Shelter” model.
The proposed “Sahel Shelter” is a feasible and fast emergency shelter, adapted to the Sahel context. Its durability corresponds to traditional semi-nomad typologies used in the region, making it suitable also for longer-term transitional sheltering.