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The benefits of using this roof panel for both disaster responders and shelter recipients are considerable and include:

1. USING 33% LESS BAMBOO

Than any equivalent span shelter. Not only saving valuable bamboo resources but also considerable bamboo transportation costs.

​​2. IMPROVED SAFETY FOR SHELTER OCCUPANTS.

Structural benefits provide additional protection in very severe weather. Fire safety is also improved by the reduced combustible load of the shelters.​

​​​​3. HEALTH BENEFITS.

Particularly for reducing the incidence of respiratory diseases. This can potentially save thousands of lives, especially in overcrowded camps.

​​​4. NO SPECIAL TOOLS OR SKILLS ARE REQUIRED.

Only a saw or machete are needed to make the kits. All the kits are then simply lashed together.​

3 metres

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​​5.  ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS ARE SIMPLE

Only the roof panel assembly is demonstrated to a community as all further steps use traditional methods of construction. ​​​

​​​6. All RSK ROOFS ARE ASSEMBLED ON THE GROUND.

Having a  far reaching impact on strength and rapid assembly

7. MASS PRODUCTION FOR MAJOR DISASTERS

Roof panels can be assembled on the ground and stacked in piles for families to carry to their site for final assembly.​

​​8. POLES ARE INTERCHANGEABLE.

Greatly facilitating shelter maintenance and repairs â€‹

​​​​​​​9. ALL RSKs USE THE SAME SIZE ROOF PANEL.

Making upgrading shelters and adding modular units much easier.

​​10. SPHERE STANDARDS

All RSK shelters comply with Sphere International Minimum Humanitarian Standards of response.​

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In 2004, families displaced by the Jajarkot earthquake in Nepal were shown by our trained RSK team how to use this roof panel to build their own RSK shelters. This was highly successful and fully endorsed by the two communities using the shelters over the winter months.

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​The deployments gave us all a clear insight how this roof panel could be used by both responders and shelter recipients in a disaster and they are summarised here:​​

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Day 1 of disaster:

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For large scale disasters, where even standard relief tarpaulins may be limited, the emergency RSK has many advantages that can make it the shelter of choice.

This complete shelter kit, including 2 tarpaulins costs less than USD $35. It uses only 9 poles, it is easily carried and it can be built by a family of four in less than two hours. ​

​It can be built on slopes that are unsuitable for tents and also simply cut down to fit any available space or size of tarpaulin in restricted spaces.

​When tarpaulins are not available the roof of this shelter can be thatched with palm leaves. If necessary it can also support salvaged materials such as wooden planks. ​

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The emergency RSK 

For families whose dwellings have suffered severe roof damage  the roof panel can be cut to fit the void and provide a temporary repair. 

By the end of day 1: 

Every family should have erected and be secure inside their Emergency RSK shelter. This is possible if the two lengths of bamboo needed for making this shelter are made available. 

Days 2 and 3 of a disaster:

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Standard RSK shelters can be rapidly built by families . These highly versatile modular units provide the minimum dignified temporary living space that we aspire to achieve. â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹

This 5 person complete shelter kit costs less than USD $45. Using only 8 poles and 4 posts this kit can also be carried. Build time is only limited by how rapid the 4 post holes are dug and is less than 4 hours.

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Days 2 and 3 of a disaster:

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​Double RSK shelters can be rapidly built by disaster responders . Families can also easily upgrade their Emergency or Standard RSKs to this shelter as they all use the same roof panels.

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The living space is easy to divide for privacy by hanging partitions from the overhead roof frames. As in the Standard RSK, ventilation is adjustable at eaves level all around the shelter.

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The Standard RSK

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The Double RSK

​Days 2 to 10 of a disaster:​

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​The Double RSK shelter is also the single unit of larger emergency and utility modules that may be required at this time. 

 

Two Double RSK provide 35 square metres of covered space for a 4 bed temporary medical or isolation ward.  Adding units creates much larger wards as required. In Nepal UNICEF recently used units for temporary classrooms. The units are also ideal for washrooms with partitions for privacy.​​​​

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Modular double RSK units 

NEPAL 2025:  FINAL TRIALS FOR A NEW RSK SHELTER 

The "Urban RSK" is the only bamboo frame shelter kit that is freestanding on concrete or asphalt. Its remarkable stability is achieved by inclining two roof panels against each other. It also has other special features that will help to boost our RSK disaster response capability. ​​​​​​​​

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Urban RSK 

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Emergency RSK Myanmar 

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Standard RSK Nepal

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Double RSK Nepal

Urban RSK trials Nepal

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 Emergency RSK

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Standard RSK Myanmar

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UNICEF classroom Nepal

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UNICEF medical unit Nepal

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