Easy Shelter

Market Suggested Retail Price

$350.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

IDE Global

Manufacturing/Building Method

Some parts of the Easy Shelter are prefabricated in a local factory and transported to the household property for assembly and installation. This group includes concrete foundation footing, concrete columns, concrete wall panels, metal tubes roof, concrete basins, and squatting toilet. The parts executed on-site include excavation, floor installation, pipes installation, and painting.

Intellectural Property Type

Other

User Provision Model

Users can obtain the product through local sellers

Distributions to Date Status

Since 2011, iDE's program in Cambodia facilitated the sale of over 275,000 Easy Shelter toilets and it was expected to add 150,000 toilets by 2018.

Design Specifications

Easy Shelter layout includes two modules of 1.6 x 1.6 m where one of the modules corresponds to an exterior area with a 937 L water basin and the second module is the room for the toilet. The toilet includes an interior 311 L water basin and a squatting toilet. The toilet's roof is made of metal tube structure and corrugated tin panels with a rainwater gutter. Designers calculated the amount of water collected by the rainwater gutter will be close to 5000 L per year, considering Cambodia's annual average rainfall. This amount should be enough for filling both the exterior and interior basins.

Technical Support

Unknown

Replacement Components

Unknown

Lifecycle

Unknown

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Multi-functional use

Easy Shelter allows multiple users to utilize the toilet/shower and the exterior water basin at the same time without compromising privacy.

Rainwater collection

The producer estimated the amount of rainwater collected by the rainwater gutter could be close to 5000 L per year. The amount of water that can be collected in the exterior basin is 973 L and the interior basin 311 m. This allow the user to have uninterrupted access to "clean-looking" water.

Construction growth

The manufacturer states the possibility to add a new construction to the shelter without additional work.

Construction system

The prefabrication allows the builder to work in a controlled environment where they can do their measurements more quickly and easily, and produce concrete components faster and more precisely. Working off-site also freed the building from personal oversight from the user. The materials used help to minimize the use of skilled production labor.

Vetted Performance Status

The manufacturer performed user testing, including 1:1 interviews, co-creation methods, and observation, on low-, medium-, and high-resolution prototypes to inform various design parameters. iDE also conducted a space perception test on the high-res prototypes to select a final design. More detailed results can be found here.

Safety

No known safety hazards are related to this product.

Complementary Technical Systems

Later versions of Easy Shelter include the use of concrete blocks for the construction of the walls and the adaptation of the design to make it more accessible for people with disabilities.

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

None

Other Information

None