When it comes to setting up a shelter, whether for emergency relief, field hospitals, military operations, or outdoor events, it is important to ensure that your shelter meets your specific functional needs.
While the primary purpose of a shelter is to provide protection from the outdoor elements, including the right accessories can improve its utility and versatility. Accessories are a key component of the success of your deployment, and it is important to understand the ways in which your tent can be enhanced by using the right accessories.
From lighting to flooring options, let’s look at eight accessories that can significantly improve the functionality of your shelter system.
1. Lighting Systems
In various settings such as field hospitals or base camp operations, adequate lighting is crucial to operations. This is especially important for working during the night or in cloudier conditions where sunlight for windows is not enough.
LED lighting can be a great accessory to provide task lighting, allowing medical professionals to perform procedures with precision or even just to improve visibility in general work areas in base camp operations.
2. Negative Pressure Units
For shelters being used for decontamination purposes or being set up in environments prone to air contamination, negative pressure units are a necessary addition. These units, usually attached to the side of the shelter, work by creating a pressure gradient that prevents contaminants from escaping the shelter.
These units can be used to support quarantine and isolation operations, safeguarding the health and safety of occupants. By maintaining a controlled airflow, negative pressure units also can come with HEPA or UV filtration, minimizing the risk of cross-contamination.
3. Climate Control Units
A good shelter will provide a great deal of protection against the elements, as good quality shelters are water-tight, UV-resistant, and fire-retardant. However, in extreme weather, this might not be enough. Whether it's scorching heat or freezing cold, such extreme weather can pose significant challenges to shelter occupants. Having comfortable living conditions in the field can mean all the difference.
This is where climate control units, including air conditioning and heating systems, can regulate temperatures to create comfortable living or working conditions. These units are essential in areas with particularly harsh climates, providing occupants with relief from extreme temperatures and enhancing overall comfort and productivity.
4. Inner Liners
In that same vein, during such extreme weather conditions, having climate control units can be pointless without the proper insulation provided by inner liners. Inner liners act as insulating barriers, reducing heat loss in cold environments and heat gain in hot climates
Having inner liners helps minimize heat transfer between the interior and exterior of the shelter, maintaining thermal comfort. By improving thermal performance without relying on additional electricity, inner liners enhance energy efficiency as well. Inner liners are usually made from lightweight materials and can easily be attached to the interior of aluminum frame tents.
5. Shelter Flooring
Having some kind of flooring in a shelter can significantly improve the cleanliness of the shelter, as well as its condition for operations. Shelter flooring options range from simple ground coverings to rigid modular flooring systems with different thicknesses.
Modular flooring, which can be easily transported and set up, provides a sturdy and level surface for the shelter, even on uneven terrain, such as grass, gravel, sand, or mud. Additionally, these flooring systems are water-resistant, keeping your shelter floors dry and facilitating easier cleaning, enhancing overall cleanliness and comfort within the shelter.
6. Connecting Modules
For operations requiring scalable shelter solutions, connecting modules are the best way to expand and link multiple shelters seamlessly. Whether for expanding living quarters or creating integrated workspace facilities, connecting modules provide flexibility for interconnecting other shelters, containers, and even vehicles.
These modules feature sealed passageways that maintain weather tightness and structural integrity while allowing for unrestricted movement between interconnected shelters. At LANCO, our connecting modules are created on a project basis, by our in-house design and engineering teams, who can help you create a shelter configuration that best suits your needs.
7. Solid Doors
Shelters are usually sealed with vinyl flaps and coverings, but for further optimizing access and airflow, some may choose to install solid doors in their shelters. Solid doors offer a practical solution by providing a barrier against the elements while allowing controlled ventilation.
Their sturdy construction, compared to the typical vinyl flaps, increases the resilience against wind and weather, while their ability to fully close and lock also enhances security and privacy for shelter occupants. There are a few different solid door options depending on your shelter needs, such as barn doors, bi-fold doors, or roller doors.
8. Shelter Branding
Lastly, beyond functional accessories, shelters can also serve as effective marketing or branding platforms. Adding logos, company names, or signage to shelters can help promote brand visibility and also facilitate easy identification from a distance. In emergencies or crowded events, branded shelters help direct people to the right location and increase organizational visibility.
On a lighter note, shelters can also be leveraged as promotional materials, allowing organizations to maximize their brand impact while providing essential services or support.
Here at LANCO, we offer a range of shelter solutions, from lightweight shelters for short-term usage, as well as more robust options for extended deployments. Take a look at our selection of shelters and reach out to learn more about LANCO shelters. Bear in mind that all our shelters can be fitted with the accessories of your choice, to make them uniquely suited for your deployment needs. With the right accessories and configurations, our shelters can become basecamps, mobile hospitals, field kitchens, or hazmat warehouses. These are some of the more complex applications and LANCO takes pride in the custom projects we have delivered to clients all around the world, from the Red Cross to local fire departments and construction companies.
Do you have a specific project in mind? Contact us, our engineers will put their expertise to work, guiding you in choosing the right configuration, and ensuring that the end product responds to all your shelter needs.