Urban RSK Shelter trials and results
Intensive trials in Nepal included building the Urban RSK Shelter alongside the Emergency RSK Shelter.
The Urban RSKs special features are particularly beneficial to help earthquake victims.
Ability of Urban RSK to use any bamboo, in this case thick bamboo
Ability of Urban RSK to use any bamboo, in this case thin bamboo
Durability trials included carrying complete Urban RSK frames to a distant concrete site
The thin bamboo frame Urban shelter also carried well. An important mobility option.
Assessing different lashing materials and how easy it is for recipients to carry out any frame repairs.
Using traditional coconut fibre lashings, assessing adjustments, combinations and bracing that recipients may use to adapt their shelter to personal needs.
One of the Urban RSK's roof frames lifted onto available supports (or a low wall or masonry) to increase living space
Swinging up one of the roof frames high overhead. Adaptable and versatile.
Various methods of attaching tarpaulins to the frame are used
The "bunch" attachment points we have developed over last 3 years provides very strong anchors as a basis for tarpaulin attachment to the frame.
The strength of bamboo.
3 people swinging from the ridge pole of the thicker bamboo Urban frame.
The Emergency RSK kit
9 bamboo poles ,
2 standard IFRC relief tarpaulins,
2 ropes,
lashings,
and 6 bamboo stakes ( or wooden pegs)
The Urban RSK kit
18 bamboo poles,
2 standard IFRC relief tarpaulins,
2 ropes,
lashings,
and 6 bags ( for earth or rubble)
BOTH the Emergency RSK and Urban RSK Shelters:
1. Use only bamboo poles; no expensive bamboo posts are needed.
2. Can make use of a wide range of bamboo thicknesses that are locally available.
3. Have roof frame poles that are the same dimensions and therefore interchangeable. This enables
recipients to upgrade from emergency to an urban RSK when further bamboo poles becomes available.
4. Have no joints, so recipients can immediately start building their shelter by simply lashing the poles together.
5. Require no special skills so a recipient family can build their own shelter after a simple 10 minute
demonstration.
6. Require only a single tool , a handsaw or machete, to cut lengths of bamboo to make the kits. No tools are
required to build the shelters.
7. Can use CGI sheeting or wood cladding in an emergency if tarpaulins or plastic sheeting are not available.
This is due the strength of the load bearing reciprocal frame roof "panels" .
IN ADDITION the Urban RSK Shelter:
1. Is able to "freestand" on concrete or asphalt. This feature is due to the unique strength and structural stability
that is achieved when two reciprocal frame based roof "panels" are inclined against each other and then lashed
together. The addition of a 3 bamboo pole frame ( two vertical poles lashed to one central ridge pole) at the start
of construction adds further support and stability. The frame is also anchored by two heavy guy ropes to the
sides, and at the four ground corner points by earth filled bags .
2. Has a special option for increasing the roof height. By lifting one of the roof frames onto any available
support, such as a low wall or available masonry
3. Has a simple option to greatly increase the inside space dimensions. By only a small increase in the
central reciprocal frame pole length. This also opens up numerous utility applications, including medical ancillary
uses, for aid agencies.