With the increase in natural disasters each year, it becomes increasingly relevant to tailor emergency shelters to your disaster preparedness plans. There are many types of emergency shelters on the market, all touting a variety of preparedness benefits and features, but if your shelter is built with traditional materials (such as wood or concrete), then you are not experiencing the wide range of preparedness benefits. emergencies. that provide structural insulation panels (SIP).
Insulated metal panels made from structural steel are suitable for temporary or permanent emergency shelters for a number of reasons, including their incredible strength, fast installation times, rigidity, and strict thermal and environmental control. Every year, a growing number of people choose to build SIP emergency shelters for these reasons, and more.
Resistance to natural disasters and bad weather
Unlike wood, concrete, or other traditional building materials, SIPs are incredibly resistant to fire, wind, and inclement weather.
• Fire – Intuitively, any metal clad construction product will be less prone to fire or flame damage than any conventional construction product made of wood, especially if you choose SIP with mineral wool cores. These panels are non-combustible, with melting temperatures above 1800-2000 F, and can effectively prevent the spread of fire without the use of harmful chemical additives.
• Wind – Thanks to the laminated structure of the SIPs (with metal on both sides, a rigid core material and the union of both), these panels perform extremely well as a wind barrier. Using SIPs as emergency shelter wall and roof options ensures that you will create an incredibly wind resistant shelter, as most metal SIPs are designed to meet the most stringent wind zone requirements. In addition, these panels act as an effective barrier against objects and debris blown by the wind. The impact of the windblown debris is diluted and absorbed through the foam core, resulting in minimal damage to the shelter.
• Hurricanes Similar to being wind resistant, some metal SIPs (including 10 inch thick metal clad panels) can withstand wind ratings of up to 150 miles, making these emergency shelters incredibly resistant to hurricanes.
• Floods – Rain is the main element that most buildings have to deal with. For this reason, you should make sure to buy metal SIPs that are coated with a special type of paint that will resist rain or water damage. Also, the gaskets in most metal emergency shelters are waterproof (if installed properly with sealant) and will not leak.
• Earthquakes – Generally, metal SIPs are resistant to earthquakes due to their absorption qualities, flexibility and rigidity. Buy metal SIPs that are laminated on both the outside and inside with a steel skin and have a rigid foam core with flex capabilities. These panels are capable of flexing (during an earthquake) and have enough spine to return to their original position when the shaking stops. Unfortunately, traditional mortar or block walls, once flexed, will break down and cannot return to their pre-flexed shape.
Weather resistant materials: no mold, no rot
Metal clad insulated building panels are unbeatable when it comes to weatherproof emergency shelters. Because metal SIPs are made of steel, you won’t experience any of the rot that wooden structures often suffer. Also, the reason metal insulated panels are used so frequently in USDA inspected food production facilities is because these panels do not cause mold growth as water cannot penetrate their seams and together. Also, the foam core doesn’t absorb water – if the metal SIPs are covered in water, as soon as you shake them off, the water will be gone. There is no mold growth due to changes in temperature.
Structurally insulated panel systems are quick and easy to assemble
During a crisis, you will often have very little time to build an emergency shelter. Fortunately, structurally insulated panel systems can be erected very quickly, as the panels are designed to fit together, and the building materials, while extremely durable and strong, are light enough to transport and build shelters with just a small construction team.
For example, you and a partner could complete the construction of a small cabin or family-size shelter in less than 48 hours, if the materials were purchased in advance. Two people could erect and dry the panels for this modest-sized shelter in one day, assuming the structure has something to adhere to (like a driveway). You and your family could sleep in the structure the first night and, within 48 hours, your emergency shelter would be complete.
Surface structure and relocation
Metal SIP panel systems can be installed on almost any surface with a flat base, whether you need to erect your emergency shelter on a slab, crawl space, concrete pier, or otherwise. Also, depending on how your shelter is built, you can easily relocate this structure. If the structure is built on a trailer (or can be climbed onto a trailer), then it is only limited by the highway department’s restrictions regarding relocation.
Because the shelter is constructed of metal SIP, it is much easier to move than a pole-built structure, due to the rigid capabilities of the panels. When you build a metal SIP panel system, you are basically assembling a steel box with steel box accessories; even mobile homes, when relocated, experience damage and structural changes due to multiple relocations. Because mobile homes are made of wood and nails, they can only be moved a certain number of times before the frame must be tightened. However, steel panel systems can be moved over and over without damage.
Rapid deployment and structural integrity
Whether you need quick protection against natural disasters or simply need a temporary shelter to reside while rebuilding your home during a crisis recovery period, structurally insulated panel systems are ideal. They provide easy handling in difficult field conditions, quick installation, effective thermoregulation protection against the elements, and more. But be sure to do your research – only buy steel clad insulation panels from a company with a proven track record of selling the best quality SIPs available. Look for weather resistant capabilities and look for product warranties, making sure you will build the best emergency shelter available; When it’s time to build this shelter, you’ll be glad you came prepared.