Cyclone Shelters

CAT5 Lock Down Units

‘Region D, Severe Tropical Cyclone’

Mine Sites – Civil Projects – Town Sites
Transportable, Modular, Cost Effective, Practical Part of existing camp infrastructure, comfortable Above ground, Built to Clients requirements Built & engineered in WA

Purpose:

To design/engineer a Super Structure that could be applied to a range of multi purpose transportable buildings specifically for the mining/resource/civil sector to deal with the most severe cyclonic conditions offering adequate personnel protection whilst remaining on site, negating the need to evacuate large numbers from site and recommencing production quicker. The team decided to take a practical approach to this problem and agreed that these buildings should be in day to day use as part of the existing camp infrastructure.

In the event of a cyclone warning these buildings can be effectively locked down until danger has passed. You can link to our standard range of building that will house 25 to 400 personnel. Typically the following buildings are ideal for these shelters.

  • Kitchen/Lunch Rooms
  • Dining/Recreation Rooms
  • Class Rooms/Training Centres

Smaller shelters are ideal for smaller numbers of personnel involved in exploration and or drilling working in remote areas. These shelters can be mounted on a truck/tilt tray and moved regularly from site to site. Given, that these teams will take transportable facilities with them in the normal course of events the new CAT5 Shelters are ideal.

Equipping the Shelter:

The design teams approach was to look at the building from the outside-in ensuring these shelters would pass the required engineering specifications. Once in side the team looked at providing basic facilities and levels of comfort. Typically a standard shelter specification will include:-

  • Temporary Power Pack
  • Basic Medical Room/Office
  • Kitchen Area
  • Main Seating Area
  • Reception Area
  • Communications Hub
  • Toilet Facilities
  • Entertainment Area/Centre
  • Supply Store
  • Water Tank
  • Air Conditioning

Approach:

Whilst, there are a number of standard buildings available we are happy to look at size/configuration for your particular building/site requirements. We fully understand that due to local ground conditions you may opt to provide us with an outline to work to. This may include an emergency vehicle(s) shelter, the option to add additional modular units etc.

Specification: (Super Structure)

There will be one standard specification applied across the entire range; every Shelter will be rated for Region ‘D’ severe tropical cyclone areas. With the accelerating impact of climate change, as experienced in Queensland, Australia, prolonged periods of drought, the frequency of and severity of severe weather events such as storms, cyclones and storm surges.

Back ground:

The need for shelter building during severe tropical cyclone arises from people who do not have suitable accommodation to resist wind load and wind borne debris or who are evacuated from areas which may be inundated by the sea water due to a tidal surge. Accommodation of people from potential storm tide inundation areas presents the greatest need for shelter.

Design Guidelines:

Design guidelines primarily address the safety of people in the shelter. The shelter is not intended for the purpose of storage of property. It is intended that people enter the shelter with minimal personal effects (e.g. waterproof satchel containing personal papers and valuables such as special medicines, battery radio, torch and spare batteries; light snacks and drinks).

Summary:

In any major emergency circumstance the protection/well being of human life has to be the number one priority even more so in remote areas where professional medical help may be days away. In the event of a total evacuation cannot be achieved and key safety personnel may have to remain on site relying on mass produced steel/timber donga’s for protection which is now proven not to be an acceptable option, even larger permanent buildings may not provide adequate protection from a cyclone.

These CAT5 shelters are specifically designed for category 5 cyclone conditions, providing quality work space when not in use and a secure lock down facility when required.