DRAFT 4

SHELTER DEFINITION AND PARAMETERS

TEMPORARY SHELTER AND MATERIAL SUPPLIES

TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP
Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao, co-chair by DSWD and IOM

1. INTRODUCTION

This Technical Guidelines has been drafted by the Shelter Cluster’s Technical Working Group on
Temporary shelter and material supplies, co-chaired by DSWD and IOM, with the collaboration of
several experienced agencies active in the shelter sector in Mindanao.

The Technical Guidelines are in line with the strategies recommended by the Shelter Strategic
Advisory Committee. It takes into account collective experiences of shelter agencies and build on
designs of shelters tested in the field. These technical recommendations aim ensure technical
coherency, social and cultural appropriateness, which are in line with the requirements of
humanitarian standards, beneficiaries, climate, the hazards etc. They consist of four parts:

a) Shelter terms and definitions:

b) Design Principles

c) Kit Definitions, Technical standards and parameters

Recommendations on design parameters as agreed by the TWIG for design and
construction of shelters responding to tropical storm Sendong.

d) General Recommendations
Key issues to be considered to ensure a coherent programme, taking into account other
aspects surrounding shelter project.

Related Document:
1. Mindanao Hazard mapping
2. Compilation of Designs and BOQs
3. Goal’s Voucher Distribution Manual (2007)

Contact Information:
www.sheltercluster.org
Kokoi Nava (IOM) [email protected] t: 0926 612 3866
Wan Sophonpanich (IFRC) [email protected] t: 0919 839 0813
2. SHELTER TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

2.1 Shelter Locations:

Type of Location Description

Evacuation Centre (EC) Original schools and public buildings established few
days after the flooding to accommodate the
displaced families. These potentially need
decongestion
Transitory Evacuation Centre Established to accommodate affected families
temporarily relocated to decongest ECs. (eg. Agusan
Elementary School)
In Communities Places where community-based affected families are
staying with relatives / neighbors in the affected
areas
Transitory Site Allocated sites for temporary settlement (e.g. Cala-
anan 1 & 2 and Lumbia 1)
Relocation Site Sites for permanent relocation with minimum of 10-
year land tenure. (e.g. Cala-anan 3 and Sta. Elena)
Return Site Place of origin in affected area. Return sites can only
be outside of no-build zone where beneficiaries have
tenure security.

2.2 Shelter Assistance: all shelter responses are targeted at family units

Type of Shelter Description

Buildings Schools and public buildings used to provide
emergency sheltering solution.
Host Families / Host Temporary accommodation provided by neighbours,
Communities relatives or communities within affected areas
Tents Portable shelters with a cover and a structure, used to
provide emergency shelters.
Temporary Bunk Houses Multi-family temporary shelter units, built on
transitory sites
Temporary Shelter Temporary shelter is shelter provided during the period
between natural disaster and the achievement of a
long-term shelter solution
Shelter Kit Comprises of construction material and tools, or in
the form of voucher, to provide support for return to
place of origin outside no-build zone where houses
were damaged.
Semi-Permanent Shelter Built on relocation or return sites and designed with
foundations, to be upgraded at a later date by the
families.
Permanent House Built on return or relocation sites. For more
information and guidelines regarding permanent
housing reconstruction, see Housing, Land and
Property working group.
3. DESIGN PRINCIPLES
Indicators Criteria: Design Principles:
Climate - Ventilation Design of the shelter to allow adequate ventilation to
Suitability reduce internal temperatures.
The design should allow for climate suitability
improvement (e.g. option to include further openings,
to add further partitions)
Social/ - Locally available Local procurement, where availability permits, should
economical material, utilising be prioritised; this stimulates local economy and re-
Suitability familiar techniques duces unnecessary transportation costs.
Use of well-known materials and techniques will
- Options for further im-
promote the participation of the beneficiaries in
provement
construction process and its maintenance
- Accessibility
Use of familiar construction techniques will allow
families to make improvements as money become
available.
Shelters should provide options for access of
disabled people.
Cultural - Typology according Design shelters to meet local household activities, as
suitability to household activities, well as local cultural requirements.
privacy and gender as The design of the shelter should enable flexible use
well as of both available interior and exterior space.
options/capacities of Respect design and techniques adopted by
reconstruction. beneficiaries when building their own shelter.
Resource - Use salvaged The use of salvaged materials is encouraged when in
effectiveness materials. good condition (bricks, door/window-frames, roof
- Allow future reuse of beams etc.)
materials. Provide best practice guidance on material selection
- Minimize impact on and re-use to prevent detrimental construction
natural resources methods.
Select quality construction materials for transitional
shelters that can further permanent solutions.
Consider construction techniques that enable
dismantling and reuse of materials.
The choice of materials should avoid increased
pressure on limited locally available natural
resources.
Appropriate - Location Shelter should be constructed at or near the existing
Location - Land tenure homestead, without inhibiting permanent housing
process.
Minimise exposure to hazards: avoid hazardous
locations
and apply DDR recommendations
Take account of access to livelihoods- the ability for
small business and trade in or near the location.
Ensure proper land rights for minimum 10-years
tenure for permanent sites.
Site Risk - Hurricane Shelter design must include earthquake and
Mitigation - Earthquake hurricane resistant techniques.
- Rains and Floods Shelters to be built on safe portions of land.
Drainage of the area around the shelter to be
examined. When necessary, construct water
diverting features or rainwater containment.
4. KIT DEFINITIONS, TECHNICAL STANDARDS AND PARAMETERS

4.1 Tents: A guide to the use and logistics of family tents in humanitarian relief, published by
UNOCHA can be downloaded from http://www.josephashmore.org/publications/tents.pdf, hard
copies can be requested from UNOCHA’s Logistics Support Unit (email: [email protected]).

4.2 Shelter Kit: contains construction material and tools, and target those returning to damaged or
destroyed houses in place of origin. The kit should provide necessary support to ensure that
minimum sphere standards can be reached.

Note: Material and tool support can also be provided in the form of voucher.

Recommended Construction Material:

No. Description Note Quantity

1. Coco lumber Certified timber, various sizes
2. Ply wood 1.5” thick
3. Corrugated tin sheet Gauge 26.
4. Common wire Nails
5. Roof Nails

Recommended Construction Tools:

No. Description Note Quantity

1. Claw hammer 1
2 Pick axe 1
3. Hand saw 1
4. Steel square 12” 1
5. Pliers About 8” 1
6. Screw driver Star and flat types 1 of each
7. Tin cutter / tin snips 1

Values of Shelter Kits:

Damage Details Value (PHP)

Flood/Mud For house affected by mud and flood, no 3,000
structural damage
Partially For partially damaged houses with minor 7,000-10,000
(minor) structural damage
Partially For partially damaged houses with 15,000-20,000
(major) significant structural damage
4.2 Temporary Shelter: Transitional shelter is shelter provided during the period between a disaster
and the achievement of a long-term shelter solution. It provides a habitable covered living space, a
secure, healthy living environment with privacy and dignity for those living within it

Temporary Shelters are applicable for transitory sites. The shelters are designed so that material
are re-useable for when families can move onto a more permanent site, contributing towards
construction of semi-permanent and permanent houses.
Foreseen
Indicators Standards
Challenges
Size 18m2 covered living space for family of 5
Timeframe 12-18 months Ability to
move onto
permanent
site
Location - Location on plot shall allow further incremental Lack of
development of shelter access to
- Allow space for DRR measures funds or
- 100 families per hectare maximum skill to build
Use of - Only qualified salvaged materials (e.g. avoid burnt, Ensure
salvaged decayed, swollen material) quality of
material - Check amount of salvaged material available to salvaged
beneficiaries. materials
- Design of shelters not fully to rely on availability of this
type of material.
Plot - Properly clear site from physical hazards from the
preparation flood (e.g. trees likely to fall, debris, salvaged material,
also from neighbouring plots)
- Properly prepare site following DRR principles (good
compaction of construction site)
– Be aware of river silt deposit, not a quality base soil
Construction - If possible apply traditional, well-know construction
process methods based on existing skills of available labor.
Construction process to be speedy (pre-fabrication of
components reduces on site cutting or drilling) and
simplified to enable the participation of semi or un
skilled labour.
Foundation - Excavation should be deep enough to reach stable or
hard soil type.
- Ensure good compaction of earth
- When possible ensure PCC layer beneath foundation
– Raise plinth 6-9” above flood water level. See Flood
risk map (attached)
Floor level - Raise floor level to prevent ingress of low surface
water - height according to location, min. 10cm
Structure - Inform on simple solutions to improve the shelters
resistance: e.g. braces, improved joists, ratio length:
width, slope and overhang of roof etc.)
- Ensure that frame material (eg. Wood or metal) bear
the load rather than fasteners/fixings.
- Current local practice to treat bamboo and wood
members uses burnt engine oil or paint.
- Ensure water drainage from the roofs.
Structure
- Transitional shelter: Lightweight frame anchored to
(cont.)
ground temporarily
- The structures of transitional shelter should be
demountable to allow the reinstallation of the shelter in
a new (or original) location or the reuse of the
materials.
Head height - Flat roofs height should be 9ft (2.75m)
- Double pitch roofs: -60% of shelter should have min.
height of 7ft (2.1m)

Foreseen
Hazard Standards
Challenges
Heavy Rains - Pitch Roofs: slope min 0,5% gradient.
and Floods - Recommended extension of eaves: min. 6”.
- Raise plinth level high enough to protect the base of
the wall.
- For block construction use plaster on external walls to
increase life span of wall.
Earthquake - Match design of shelter to local seismic risk.
- Seismic resistance techniques to be incorporated into
site selection, shelter form, the location of openings,
foundations, bracing and ring beam connections
- Openings weaken the structural integrity of walls –
ensure load above the openings is transferred to other
structural components.
- Roof beam to overhang min. 6” on each side
- Walls to integrate braced structure
Fire Hazards - Perform site planning and disseminate information on
appropriate safe use of fire near the shelter.
Hurricane/ - Form of shelter: rectangular or square type (ratio
Strong Winds length to width approx. 1:1 or 1:1.5)
- Secure shelter to the ground (strong foundations,
lightweight frame anchored to ground)
- Roof structure with adequate strength for proposed
roofing material
- Apply metal strapping to reinforce roof structure to
withstand hurricanes, earthquakes
- Sufficient pitch to withstand winds:
2-pitched roof: min. 30°- 45°, 1-pitched roof: 12°-14°
5. GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Water & Ensure adequate provisions for water and sanitation. Refer and
Sanitation coordinate with WASH cluster.

Vulnerability Ensure most vulnerable are included in shelter support. Gender

& Gender sensitive programming is required and women should be consulted
about a range of issues. (refer to Vulnerability Criteria for Shelter
Support)

Cash Grants & Cash grants or vouchers should be considered as an option where
Voucher market can support demand.

Cash for Work Standard rate to be used, consult Cash Working Group.

Participation Ensure participation of community throughout the implementation

of programs with construction phases, events and support.

Environment Impacts of local and non-local procurement on the environment and

natural resources in the area should be considered.