By Aerol B. Patena
MANILA, Feb 5 (PNA) — The Forest Products Research and Development Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-FPRDI) has developed “F-houses” which may serve as temporary shelters for residents living in calamity-stricken areas.
The “F-house” which is described as a fast-build, firm and fold-away shelter can be assembled as quickly as a tent to house people during disasters and can also serve as a depot for emergency supplies or distribution center for food, medicine and other supplies.
“Like tents, the F-house can be folded, packed, stored and used repeatedly,” Dr. Florence Soriano, project leader and former DOST-FPRDI director said in a statement.
Moreover, these F-houses can be easily adjusted when the terrain is flat and can be installed on specially designed footings.
The structure also offers the same indoor comfort and amenity of a permanent house because its design is resistant to weathering, extreme temperatures, winds, and other harmful natural forces. It is also equipped with provisions for stable power supply.
Its walls, floor and roof, on the other hand, are sheathed with weather, termite, fungi, and fire-resistant wood wool cement board panels that are fixed and fastened using specially designed lightweight metal sections.
The shelter can also be easily transported as it can be put in a rigid case and placed at the back of a trailer or on a low-bed truck in case of multiple deliveries.
“The rigid case can be unfolded and erected into a house in just an hour or less,” assured Dr. Soriano. “This can be easily done by four medium-built unskilled workers, using only simple carpenter’s tools and gadgets.”
The prototype F-house, which can house a family of five, can be very handy when not in use. “It can be stored in a space approximately five times smaller than its actual service size,” disclosed Soriano.
Because it is highly compact when not in use, several units can be stored in a small warehouse.
The project director revealed that the cost of fabricating one prototype with double walls is P 75,000 or roughly P 6,500 per square meter. The cost can still be lowered when mass-produced or when the walls are singly sheathed.
The F-House can be acquired and installed quickly in contrast to site-built low-cost houses that typically take three to four months to build from planning to construction.
“We assure end-users that the fabrication of the F-House was adequately supervised in the shop using only quality-tested materials,” said Soriano. “The method of erecting the shelter was well planned and engineered. Hence, buying the F-house is like buying time when a safe and comfortable refuge is needed most.”
At present, Soriano and her team are working on for further improvements on the F-House, including its size, features, materials, and transportability, among others. (PNA)