Amanda Jacob

SAFEHUT composite shelter can be set up in 10 minutes

News
The SAFEHUT has been designed for multiple uses.
The SAFEHUT has been designed for multiple uses.
The Vibrin gel-coat surface makes cleaning quick and easy.
The Vibrin gel-coat surface makes cleaning quick and easy.

The SAFEHUT's composite walls, floor and roof panels are manufactured by the resin infusion process from Altek® R961-IPF-40 resin and Vibrin® G370LV gel-coat from AOC. The reinforcement is a combination of traditional knitted E-glass and an infusion-specific reinforcing material.

The panels are cored with low density PET (polyethylene terephthalate) foam and moulded-in ribs and beams enhance rigidity and reduce the weight of the panels. 

“The resin properties that are important are low viscosity to enable good flow across large panels, as well as minimal shrinkage during cure,” says Jeff Worden, Chief Operating Officer for SAFEHUT, Sanford, Florida, USA.

“In the gel-coat, we need a material that sprays smoothly and evenly and has good weather-resistant properties.”

The SAFEHUT is designed to last for up to 30 years with proper maintenance.

“Three people can set up an individual SAFEHUT unit in less than 10 minutes, using a manual small crane system or forklift,” Worden reports.

Walls and floors are pre-wired for electricity, and units can be configured to include plumbing features that are connected to water supply and sewer/septic drainage.

Fast set up
Videos showing how to set up a SAFEHUT are available on the SAFEHUT website.

A single SAFEHUT unit is 8 ft wide by 20 ft long by 8 ft high (2.4 m by 6.1 m by 2.4 m) and weighs about 2200 lbs (998 kg), depending on configuration. Modular design allows for multiple units to be connected in a variety of configurations.

Numerous applications

With versatility in interior configuration as well, the SAFEHUT system is ideal for a broad range of applications, including:

  • an emergency shelter or command post for fire fighters and disaster relief workers;
  • a semi-permanent shelter for families displaced by natural disaster or war;
  • a tactical shelter or medic station for military personnel; and
  • a construction site office or secure storage unit.

Wind and load calculations by Vectorworks Naval Engineering LLC, Titusville, Florida, concluded that SAFEHUT’s composite walls are designed to withstand:

  • 155 mile (250 km) per hour winds;
  • 75 lb/ft2 (3.6 kPa) snow load to the roof;
  • 75 lb/ft2 (3.6 kPa) live load to the floor; and
  • 1.15 G lateral acceleration seismic load.

The collapsible SAFEHUT is easy to transport and set up. 10 units fit into a standard 40 ft ISO cargo container. 12 units can be transported on a 40 ft flatbed semi trailer.