Transitional shelter
Practical Action
16. Have the far corners of the public access paths been left open? An ‘air-escape’ can
be created by not having any solid barriers at the edge of the public access paths.
Yes / No
If not, do you need any help & what would that be? ……………………………………
..........................................................................................................................
17. Has the orientation of the housing blocks been done in a uniform direction as much
as possible? This maximises utility of available space.
Yes / No
If not, do you need any help & what would that
be?......................................................................................................................
..................................................................
Criteria to be considered in designing transitional shelters
This section sets out a transitional shelter unit with a design layout as per Sphere
Standards, key features of the design, design standards and the principles adopted in
designing the unit.
Principles adopted in designing;
• Minimum of 200 sq.ft. per shelter unit.
• Maintaining the privacy of the family unit.
• Maintaining the privacy within the family unit by internal partitioning.
• Maintaining the privacy between men & women by internal partitioning & by providing
separate public & private spaces.
• Self-maintenance practices of toilets & other facilities.
• Providing an environment conducive to living and ordinary day-to-day family life by
allowing for cooking facilities & maintaining privacy needs within the unit.
Height of the unit/roofing:
• The lowest position of the roof inside the shelter unit should be a minimum of 8’ 6”.
• Wall cladding. - if G.I. corrugated roofing sheets are used, the minimum length of a
single sheet that can be used for wall cladding is 8’.
• If G.I. corrugated sheets are used for roofing, the heat & glare from all the housing
units can cause health hazards. This needs to be avoided.
• It is recommended to have a 6” gap between the roof & the top of the wall cladding
as an air gap to enable the release of hot air.
Preparation of the fireplace/hearth:
• A triangular shaped masonry or heat resistant base can be provided in the corner near
to the window of the front room with a 2’ high heat resistant back-guard to position
the stove for cooking.
• Placing the stove near the window will provide an adequate outlet for the smoke, thus
avoiding any health hazards.
Social Aspects:
• All intended residents should be involved in setting up and allocating the units. This
will help restore some sense of normality among the displaced.
• Involve NGOs, CBOs & Social Networks in the process of designing, identification
& categorisation of the beneficiaries at all stages. They have the experience of
undertaking similar work, the skills, capacity & experience in mobilising people and
have a network of human resources that can be utilised quickly.
Our recommendation is an all inclusive unit with;
• a common room facing the common access path,
• a private room with an adjacent private space,
• a cooking corner with a protected fireplace in a corner of the common space and
• a shared toilet & washing facilities for every 8 units
TEMPORARY SHELTER FOR DISPLACED FAMILIES
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