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Early  work on RSK shelter  
2011 Medair build first bamboo RSK in South sudan

In 2011 S.Halbert demonstrated the prototype tubular steel RSK to Medaire in UK.  That same year Medair built the first bamboo RSK at Renk refugee camp, South Sudan.

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The refugees used available salvaged bamboo poles and recycled rubber ties to lash the frame together.

 

In these photos it can be seen that ropes were used instead of side poles for the frame. Although at the time this was acceptable, after the Nepal workshop in 2012, side ropes were replaced by bamboo poles.​

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Renke refugee camp South Sudan  2011

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Medair reported in 2011:

 

"On the strength of this demonstration Medair received funding  to implement an emergency shelter programme in South Sudan for 1,000 vulnerable families; displaced persons affected by tribal or militia violence or refugees who have fled recent violence in Sudan. The ability to carry the lightweight RSK will be a considerable benefit to families in transit."

 Unfortunately, soon after this report, heavy rains prevented transportation of the bamboo and eventually funding was diverted for other NFIs ( Non Food Items).

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Renke refugee camp South Sudan  2011

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Early  work on RSK shelter  
2012 Galway University Engineering Department research
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Submitted in part for the degree of Bachelor of Civil Engineering By Grant Deeney and Shane McHale in March 2012

This early work on the tubular steel Emergency RSK shelter provided valuable data that is still very relevant to the bamboo RSK shelter program today.

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The prototype shelter used ropes instead of the bamboo side poles that we use today. The computer analysis explains why this change provides additional strength, as well as assessing various frame materials ( including bamboo).

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Galway
Early  work on RSK shelter  
2013  First bamboo RSK shelter workshop held in Nepal over 5 days

This was a very wide scope workshop with a group of young volunteers from Bicalpa using tarpaulins donated by Oxfam. We not only worked on the specification for 4  different types of RSK shelter, but also assessed the materials and assembly methods used.

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It was the last time that rope was used instead of  bamboo for the side poles. There was also an opportunity to build the frame of an 8 pole reciprocal frame shelter.

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Cutting bamboo poles for shelters

Early  work on RSK shelter  
2014  Wind tunnel testing the RSK storm shelter prototype 

Research conclusion:​

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"The objective of this research was to provide practical evidence of the capabilities of the Reciproboo* under high wind conditions. This objective was achieved by testing the performance of the structure in a high speed wind tunnel. For the range of velocities applied in the wind tunnel, the frame holds out really well" 

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*Name of prototype RSK

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The structure was performing so well in the tests that we wanted the wind speed to be increased to the point of destruction; however this was not permissable as any pieces dislodging from the shelter could damage the wind generator.

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The RSK frame wired with stress sensors. 

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The RSK frame in wind tunnel

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The RSK under wind loading.

Note that this prototype only had side ropes and not rigid poles, but it still performed exceptionally well.

Wind tunnel
Nepal work
Early  work on RSK shelter  
2016  Myanmar Red Cross and  RSK  joint preparedness training in Delta villages

Shaun Halbert, director of  RSK Shelter Charity, together with the Myanmar Red Cross, organised RSK disaster preparedness courses for villages at risk of recurring annual flash floods in the Ayerwaddy Delta.

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By the end of the first morning all the shelters had been completed. In the afternoon the villagers demonstrated how the emergency RSK could be thatched.

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On the second day the villagers rapidly built the 4 unit RSK classroom and went on to demonstrate the RSK severe storm, low wind profile, survival shelter. 

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The training achieved all our objectives and set the basis for the subsequent UNICEF preparedness RSK training of 66 Delta villages.

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  RSK 4 unit classroom built by Myanmar Delta villagers

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Delta train
Early  work on RSK shelter  
2017    Joint RSK and UNHCR training course Sittwe, Rakhine State, Myanmar

This 2 day RSK instructor training course was well attended by 56 participants from  that included 25 engineers from Rakhine State representing 17 townships. Six international and 5 local NGOs were represented. UNHCR planned to use the RSKs for preparedness programs for repeat floods and also using the double elevated shelter for refugees returning from Bangladesh. However within 2 months the mass displacement of Rohingya families started and this was no longer possible.

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Focused on the slightly smaller ( 5m x 4m) UNHCR tarpaulins a great deal of new RSK data was collected from the course.  The feedback (recorded here in full ) was remarkable.

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UNHCR engineers assembling a double RSK shelter

UNHCR joint
Early  work on RSK shelter  
2018    Invitation from MSF Bangladesh to train staff at refugee camp medical unit.

 In May 2018 Shaun Halbert (director of RSK Shelter Charity)  was invited back by MSF to their In- Patient Department (IPD) facility Moynarghona, Cox’s Bazar to assist with the structural evaluation of existing traditional bamboo hospital units as they faced the imminent onset of monsoon. In addition this was an opportunity to set up a half- day training session in the use of RSK shelters for staff at an In-Patient Department facility.

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The double RSK shelter we built in 2 hours to demonstrate how  a temporary medical ward could be rapidly built was well approved by the attending doctors. The doctors agreed that 3 beds per RSK double unit would work well for their requirements. 

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MSF doctors evaluate double RSK ward space

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MSF Bangladesh
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