Selecting the right shelters for your needs is a critical decision that can significantly impact the safety and efficiency of your operations. Whether you need to provide temporary relief during an emergency situation or set up a base camp for extended operations, having the appropriate shelter to meet your specific requirements is essential.
Are you trying to decide on the perfect shelter for your needs? Here are the essential steps to guide you through this process and help you make an informed decision:
1. Determine your needs and budget
Before exploring the various shelter options available, it’s important to take the time to assess your specific needs and financial constraints. Depending on your requirements and the purpose of the shelter, your options may vary significantly.
- Type of shelter: Decide whether an inflatable or rigid frame shelter is best suited to your needs. Rigid frame shelters are generally more robust and modular compared to inflatable shelters. However, inflatable shelters are quicker and easier to set up.
- Duration of use: Consider whether the shelter will be used for short-term emergencies or long-term operations. This will influence the durability required.
- Capacity: Estimate the number of people you need to accommodate. The larger the group, the bigger the shelter will need to be. Picking a tent modular by design means it can be linked together to other tents to accommodate larger groups.
- Budget: Establish a clear budget to guide your financial decision-making process.
2. Consider the environment
The environment in which your shelter will be used plays a crucial role in its overall effectiveness. It’s essential to ensure that the shelter can withstand the external conditions and the severity of the weather in the area where it will be deployed. Your rapid deployment shelter must maintain structural integrity and full sheltering capability in all weather conditions.
If the shelter is to be erected in adverse weather conditions, it must be built to withstand these challenges. For example, it should be fire-resistant, UV-resistant, or wind-resistant. In high-risk environments, such as forest firefighting, using fire-resistant or flame-retardant materials is crucial to ensure the safety of personnel and equipment. Shelters designed to withstand high wind speeds should have reinforced frames and anchoring systems to maintain stability.
3. Determine the size of the shelter
Whether you’re planning a camping trip, organizing an event, or need a shelter for emergency services, civil protection, or defense, the size of your shelter must be appropriate for the task. Several factors should be considered when choosing the size of your shelter:
- Number of people and materials: Estimate the number of people and the amount of material the shelter will house. The more people and materials, the larger the shelter needs to be.
- Climatic conditions: Consider whether the shelter will be used in extreme weather conditions. If so, additional accessories may be required, affecting the shelter’s size and shape.
- Weight and speed of deployment: Generally, smaller shelters are lighter and take less time to set up than larger tents.
Popular shelter sizes include 20x20’, 20x30’, and 20x40’ configurations. While 30’ and 40’ wide systems are common, end users often extend their shelters to custom lengths to suit their purposes. Modular tents are also an option, making it easy to extend the size of the shelter.
There are common applications for various shelter sizes. Both smaller and larger shelters can be used for accommodation and emergency situations, but the exact size will depend on the number of people the shelter needs to hold. Smaller shelters will house fewer people and have less storage space.
Beyond capacity, several factors differentiate smaller and larger shelters:
- Weight and portability: Smaller shelters tend to be lighter and more portable, making them suitable for rapid deployment and transport. Larger shelters offer more space but may require heavier materials and specialized equipment to set up and move.
- Set-up time and labor: Smaller shelters typically require fewer people and less time to set up than larger structures. For example, a 20x20 tent can often be erected by a single person, while larger tents require more manpower and time. For LANCO shelters, the manpower required depends on the type of shelter. Our inflatable shelters, for instance, regardless of size, can be set up quickly by 1 to 3 people. Our exoskeleton shelters can be erected in less than 10 minutes but require up to 2-5 people.
4. Shelter fabric
Selecting the appropriate fabric for your shelter is a must, as the fabric plays a major role in ensuring comfort, durability, and safety during its use. Each fabric type offers unique advantages and disadvantages, making them suitable for different applications, whether for extreme weather or general use. The main options include PU, Cotton-Polyester, Canvas, and PVC coated fabrics.
- PU-coated fabrics are a popular option, offering water resistance, fire retardancy, and cost-effectiveness without compromising tear resistance. However, PU-coated polyester is not completely waterproof and can absorb water over time in prolonged wet and humid conditions, potentially affecting its performance.
- Cotton-Polyester or Polycotton is a blend of cotton and polyester, with the exact composition varying from brand to brand. This blend allows shelters to benefit from the advantages of cotton-based materials while minimizing the disadvantages. Polycotton shelters offer a balance of comfort and durability, making them a versatile choice.
- Canvas, typically made from pure cotton, is a traditional fabric choice for shelters and was the main fabric used before the invention of synthetic materials. Canvas offers excellent breathability and comfort but is heavier and less durable compared to synthetic fabrics.
- PVC fabrics are widely used in the manufacturing of tents due to their durability, versatility, and resistance to various environmental factors. Additionally, PVC fabrics have high tensile and tear strength, making them ideal for withstanding harsh weather conditions. These fabrics offer excellent resistance to UV rays, mildew, fire, are waterproof and long-lasting.
When choosing the right fabric for your shelter, consider several factors, including its intended use, climatic conditions, and the level of maintenance you are prepared to undertake.
5. Structure
When it comes to customizing your shelter, everything from the fabric to the zips and seams can be tailored to meet your specific needs. Let’s start with the frame type, which is crucial as it directly affects the weight, size, and strength of the shelter. The main options include:
- Aluminum poles: These are lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and easy to assemble, making them a popular choice for many shelters.
- Inflatable air beams: These can be erected quickly with the use of an air pump, offering convenience and speed in setup.
6. Options
Once inside, proper ventilation is essential to prevent condensation and maintain air quality. You can choose from:
- Mesh panels: These allow airflow while keeping insects out, ensuring a comfortable environment inside the shelter.
- Vents: Strategically positioned vents improve air circulation, helping to maintain a fresh atmosphere.
Ensuring the stability of your shelter is another critical aspect of customization. The goal here is to make sure your shelter can withstand the elements and retain its structural integrity. Guy lines help stabilize the tent, and peg points secure it to the ground. Depending on your needs, you can opt for reflective guy lines to improve visibility at night or multiple stakepoints to evenly distribute tension.
Interior panels and walls allow you to compartmentalize your shelter and make the most of the space inside. These can be used to create separate areas within the shelter, such as private spaces for changing, sleeping, or organizing equipment. Typically made from lightweight fabrics like nylon, polyester, or mesh, interior panels, and walls also provide structural support and reduce condensation by separating the sleeping area from the outer rainfly. Here are some types of inner walls that can be fitted to a shelter:
- Inner tent walls: These are breathable fabrics that form the inner layer of double-wall tents.
- Mesh walls: Used in warm-weather tents, mesh walls increase ventilation and reduce condensation.
- Partition walls: Some tents have removable or roll-up walls that allow for customization based on weather conditions or personal preference.
7. Accessories
You have configured the structure of your tent. Now it’s time to pick the right accessories. They can significantly enhance the utility and versatility of the shelter. Accessories are a key component to the success of your operation, and it’s important to understand how your tent can be enhanced:
- Lighting systems: Adequate lighting is essential for field hospitals and base camp operations. LED lighting provides task lighting for medical procedures and improves overall visibility.
- Climate control units: Essential in extreme weather conditions, these units regulate temperatures to ensure comfortable living or working conditions, providing relief from scorching heat or freezing cold.
- Shelter flooring: Improving cleanliness and operating conditions, flooring options range from simple mats to modular flooring systems. Modular flooring is water-resistant and suitable for uneven terrain.
- Connecting modules: These offer scalable accommodation solutions for expanding living or working areas. Sealed passageways maintain weather tightness while allowing movement between interconnected shelters. Customizable configurations are available through LANCO’s design and engineering teams.
- Solid doors: Solid doors provide a practical solution by offering a barrier against the elements while allowing controlled ventilation. Their sturdy construction compared to typical vinyl flaps increases resistance to wind and weather. Additionally, their ability to be fully closed and locked enhances security and privacy for shelter occupants. Depending on your shelter requirements, several solid door options are available, such as barn doors, bi-fold doors, or roller doors.
Now that you have configured your shelter, remember that to enjoy your shelter for as long as possible, proper maintenance and storage are a must. We have prepared a few guides for you to help you with tent storage, tent maintenance, and tent cleaning so that you will use your shelter in the best conditions for many years to come!
Conclusions
Sturdy and versatile, rapid deployment shelters can be configured in a variety of ways. By considering these factors and options, you can customize your shelter to meet your specific needs, ensuring it provides the necessary comfort, durability, and safety for your operations.
With so many possibilities, it can be difficult to understand where to start. At the same time, custom-made shelters require the assistance of a knowledgeable specialist to make the most of your product. The good news is that we, at LANCO, sell both great standard-configured shelters and great custom-made tents. Whatever your choice would be, our team will guide you step by step towards choosing the best product for your needs. Contact us today for a no-strings-attached offer!
