Shipping container clinic
A shipping container clinic is a type of shipping container architecture using intermodal containers (shipping containers) as the structural element of a medical clinic that can be easily deployed to remote regions of the world. Shipping containers are ideal because of their inherent strength, wide availability and relatively low cost. In addition, and most relevant, shipping containers can be deployed anywhere in the world with the clinic already assembled within the container. This means pop-up clinics can be operational within days after deployment.
Shipping container architecture is a form of architecture using steel intermodal containers (shipping containers) as structural element. It is also referred to as cargotecture, a portmanteau of cargo with architecture, or “arkitainer”.
The use of containers as a building material has grown in popularity over the past several years due to their inherent strength, wide availability, and relatively low expense. Homes have also been built with containers because they are seen[who?] as more eco-friendly than traditional building materials such as brick and cement.
Shipping container clinic
A shipping container clinic is a type of shipping container architecture using intermodal containers (shipping containers) as the structural element of a medical clinic that can be easily deployed to remote regions of the world. Shipping containers are ideal because of their inherent strength, wide availability and relatively low cost. In addition, and most relevant, shipping containers can be deployed anywhere in the world with the clinic already assembled within the container. This means pop-up clinics can be operational within days after deployment.
History
Several organizations have developed the concept of shipping container clinics:
In 2005, Hospitals of Hope produced a “Clinic In A Can” in a 45-foot trailer that was sent to Les Cayes, Haiti to provide medical relief. The 45 foot trailer is converted into five medical rooms, with each one being approximately 70 square feet. The container has since helped Hospitals of Hope provide care to over 30,000 residents of Haiti.
In 2006, Pulitzer Prize winning author, Laurie Garrett, worked with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to create a prototype “Doc In A Box” based on Garrett’s conceptual framework.
In June 2010, Hospitals of Hope sent two “Clinic In A Cans” to Haiti in partnership with Heart to Heart International in response to the earthquake. The containers were both 40 foot long and cost around $12,000 to build.
In November 2010, Containers 2 Clinics sent a prototype clinic to be used on site at Grace Children’s Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
In April 2011, a three-unit Clinic In A Can was shipped to Haiti in partnership with Aslan Youth Ministries. This small hospital will be operated by Aslan Youth Ministries, an organization working in the north-east of Haiti. With a fault line running right under where they work, steel shipping containers are much safer than a concrete structure.
In August 2012, Clinics4All established its Global Clinic Donation Program (GCDP) to provide MEDICAL CLINICS free of charge to third-world Governments through their respective departments or Ministries of Health – as a means of assisting developing country Governments in improving access to healthcare in medically under-served and remote areas, particularly for children and women.
In March 2013, Clinic In A Can shipped a solar powered clinic to Mirebalais, Haiti in partnernship with Global Vision Citadelle Ministries, as well as a radiology Clinic In A Can to Freetown, Sierra Leone.
In July 2013, Arkitainer opened its doors as a UK based company specialising in the use of shipping containers for various community based projects. A recent proposal for a residential community complete with clinics, schooling and vocational training for Cape Town is currently underway.
Advantages
Customized
Due to their shape and material, shipping containers can be easily modified to fit any purpose.
Strength and durability
Shipping containers are designed to be stacked in high columns, carrying heavy loads. They are also designed to resist harsh environments, such as on ocean-going vessels or sprayed with road salt while transported on roads. Due to their high strength, shipping containers are usually the last to fall in extreme weather, such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and tsunamis.
Modular
All shipping containers are the same width and most have two standard height and length measurements and as such they provide modular elements that can be combined into larger structures. This simplifies design, planning and transport. As they are already designed to interlock for ease of mobility during transportation, structural construction is completed by simply emplacing them. Due to the containers’ modular design, additional construction is as easy as stacking more containers. They can be stacked up to 12 units high when empty.
Labor
The welding and cutting of steel is considered to be specialized labor and can increase construction expenses, yet overall it is still lower than conventional construction. Unlike wood frame construction, attachments must be welded or drilled to the outer skin, which is more time consuming and requires different job site equipment.
Transport
Because they already conform to standard shipping sizes, pre-fabricated modules can be easily transported by ship, truck, or rail.
Availability
Because of their wide-spread use, new and used shipping containers are available across the planet.
Expense
Many used containers are available at an amount that is low compared to a finished structure built by other labor-intensive means such as bricks and mortar — which also require larger more expensive foundations.
Eco-friendly
A 40 ft shipping container weights over 3,500 kg. When upcycling shipping containers, thousands of kilograms of steel are saved. In addition when building with containers, the amount of traditional building materials needed (i.e. bricks and cement) are reduced.
Disadvantages
Temperature
Steel conducts heat very well; containers used for human occupancy in an environment with extreme temperature variations will normally have to be better insulated than most brick, block or wood structures.
Lack of flexibility
Although shipping containers can be combined together to create bigger spaces, creating spaces different to their default size (either 20 or 40 foot) is expensive and time consuming. Containers any longer than 40 feet will be difficult to navigate in some residential areas.
Humidity
As noted above, single wall steel conducts heat. In temperate climates, moist interior air condenses against the steel, becoming clammy. Rust will form unless the steel is well sealed and insulated.
Construction site
The size and weight of the containers will, in most cases, require them to be placed by a crane or forklift. Traditional brick, block and lumber construction materials can often be moved by hand, even to upper stories.
Building permits
The use of steel for construction, while prevalent in industrial construction, is not widely used for residential structures. Obtaining building permits may be troublesome in some regions due to municipalities not having seen this application before. However, in the US certain shipping container homes have been built in outside of the city’s zoning code; this meant no building permits were required.
Treatment of timber floors
To meet Australian government quarantine requirements most container floors when manufactured are treated with insecticides containing copper (23–25%), chromium (38–45%) and arsenic (30–37%). Before human habitation, floors should be removed and safely disposed. Units with steel floors would be preferable, if available.
Cargo spillages
A container can carry a wide variety of cargo during its working life. Spillages or contamination may have occurred on the inside surfaces and will have to be cleaned before habitation. Ideally all internal surfaces should be abrasive blasted to bare metal, and re-painted with a nontoxic paint system.
Solvents
Solvents released from paint and sealants used in manufacture might be harmful.
Damage
While in service, containers are damaged by friction, handling collisions, and force of heavy loads overhead during ship transits. The companies will inspect containers and condemn them if there are cracked welds, twisted frames or pin holes are found, among other faults.
Roof weaknesses
Although the two ends of a container are extremely strong, the roof is not. A limit of 300 kg is recommended.
Containers are in many ways an ideal building material because they are strong, durable, stackable, cuttable, movable, modular, plentiful and relatively cheap. Architects as well as laypeople have used them to build many types of buildings such as homes, offices, apartments, schools, dormitories, artists’ studios and emergency shelters; they have also been used as swimming pools. They are also used to provide temporary secure spaces on construction sites and other venues on an “as is” basis instead of building shelters.
Source From Wikipedia