IFRC-SRU assumed the responsibility and undertook the field testing for the Burundi location on behalf of ICRC, in collaboration with the Burundian Red Cross, and with funding by Luxemburg Red Cross.

In addition to the set test-protocols for the comparative testing of the three prototypes, IFRC-SRU introduced some further tests to complement the basic protocol with general observations regarding rigidity and weather influence as well as more detailed testing on thermal comfort and translucency (privacy). IFRC-SRU also included the standard tent in the tests as a reference model to evaluate the performance of the new types. A special focus has been to document and evaluate the influence of a shade net on the thermal comfort of the different types.

The beneficiary selection as well as the selection of a suitable test-site in direct vicinity to Bujumbura has been carried out by the Burundian Red Cross with the support of the Luxembourg Red Cross. The beneficiaries lived in the tents during the whole testing period and actively participated in the evaluation. The setup of the tents and installation of measurement instruments was supervised by the IFCSRU research officer. Technical monitoring of the tents and measurement instruments during the testing period from the beginning of July until the end of August 2013, was assured by the Burundi RC technical focal point who reported on a weekly basis to the research officer using pre-established monitoring formats, Fotos, and regular phone calls. At the end of the testing period, the research officer conducted a final evaluation visit and recuperated the data collected during the testing period.

The five models of each of the following tents were subject to the testing, all in the same site under the same conditions and on the same criteria: the Standard “Family tent”, the “Umbrella tent”, the “Dome tent” and the “Hexagonal tent”. The shade net has been tested on each of the different tent types.

To read more about this project, please download the report down below.