EP2729632A1

EP2729632A1 - Temporary accommodation using shipping containers

Info

Publication number: EP2729632A1
Application number: EP11770493.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Robert Roddick Ackrill BREARE
Original assignee: Snoozebox Ltd
Current assignee: SNOOZEBOX LIMITED
Priority date: 2011-07-05
Filing date: 2011-09-30
Publication date: 2014-05-14
Also published as: WO2013004985A1; GB201111445D0

Abstract

A temporary accommodation system comprising a plurality of accommodation modules (121) constructed from standard ISO intermodal shipping containers demountably connected to one or more service modules (122), wherein said service modules provide mechanical, electrical and public health services to said accommodation modules and wherein said service modules are independent of mains water, sewage and electricity.

Description

TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION UTILISING SHIPPING CONTAINERS

The present application relates to a temporary accommodation system comprising a set of accommodation modules formed from standard shipping containers demountably connected to one or more service modules. The service modules may also be constructed from shipping containers or can be in the same modular size as shipping containers and will provide mechanical, electrical and public health services to the accommodation modules. The containers which form the accommodation modules and the service modules may be transported from location to location, and can be quickly set up to provide a fully self-contained temporary accommodation system within its own secure compound. Background of The Invention

There is an ongoing requirement for the provision of temporary accommodation at locations which do not have either any or sufficient hotel rooms to provide accommodation for visitors. For example, there are venues remote from conurbations, for example motor racing circuits and music festivals, which host large scale events only on an occasional basis and which do not have sufficient nearby hotel rooms to accommodate visitors, including spectators and temporary workers. There is therefore a need for a temporary accommodation system and structure which can be delivered and fully installed on site in a short space of time, which can be generally self-contained in relation to electrical, mechanical and public service utilities, and which can then be easily demounted and removed from the site and transported to a new location for reassembly.

The accommodation system can also be used to supplement capacity for existing hotels and other private accommodation sites on a short term basis. Furthermore, there is often a need for temporary accommodation in locations of military activity and locations where humanitarian aid is provided, e.g., earthquake zones where public service facilities may not be readily available. Prior Art

Accommodation systems using standard shipping containers are known in the art. A permanent hotel has been constructed in London from shipping containers, although this is permanently connected to local authority services. Shipping containers are fabricated into one or more bedroom suites. This system cannot be demounted. DE 3208308 (Haefelfinger) describes a system wherein at least two shipping containers are stacked one on top of each other and connected to form a residential block. However, each container is self-contained in terms of water, electrical and waste facilities and therefore expensive to produce. DE 102008023304 (Hennig) describes a set of container cells which are assembled to form a circle wherein the container cells are individually connected with a core service module. However, the accommodation cells and the core modules are not formed from standard units and are difficult to transport and to re-assemble. Furthermore, the core module is not self-contained in terms of public health supplies such as sewage and water.

There are also a number of offerings on the market which relate to temporary accommodation formed from wooden cabins. These cabins are less sturdy than standard shipping containers and are often damaged during assembly and disassembly. The temporary units also require connection to pre-provided facilities such as water and sewage.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable accommodation system comprising accommodation modules constructed within a standard metal shipping container and further comprising service modules, preferably also formed from shipping containers which can be connected to said accommodation modules. The service modules provide mechanical, electrical and public health services to the accommodation modules.

The container used as the basis for the accommodation unit (known generally in the art as a container, freight container, ISO container, shipping container, hi-cube container, box, conex box and sea can) is a standardized reusable steel box used for the safe, efficient and secure storage and movement of materials and products within a global containerized intermodal freight transport system. Lengths of containers, which each have a unique ISO 6346 reporting mark, vary from 8-foot (2.438 m) to 56-foot (17.07 m) and heights from 8- foot (2.438 m) to 9 feet 6 inches (2.9 m). As at the date of this present invention there are approximately seventeen million intermodal containers in the world of varying types to suit different cargoes. Aggregate container capacity is often expressed in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU / teu) which is a unit of capacity equal to one standard 20 x 8 ft (6.10 x 2.44 m) (length ^χ width) container. There are a large number of containers available for re-use for other purposes, in particular due to the high cost of cutting apart and melting an old container, which can weigh about 3,600 kg.

The preferred size of one of the modular containers used according to the present invention is 40-foot (12.2 m) by 9 feet 6 inches (2.9 m). Such a container is shown in Figure 1.

Each container which is proposed for conversion to an accommodation unit can be converted to provide a number, preferably four or five, self contained accommodation suites. The most preferable number of suites per container is four, although five more basic suites can be provided where a lower quality of accommodation is needed, e.g. for humanitarian or military purposes.

Each accommodation suite can be provided with a standard double bed, a bathroom having a toilet, a shower and a washbasin, a sitting out space and entertainment facilities, e.g. a television, a fridge, a computer docking station and so forth. More basic units can be provided with single or three-quarter or single beds to allow five or more accommodation suites for each container.

The suites are preferably screened with soundproofing material and provided with air conditioning. Windows can be provided in the entrance door which is cut into the wall of the container, one for each bedroom suite. The construction of the internal fit can be done to allow easy cleaning in view of the short time of occupation by any guest in the unit. Figure 2 demonstrates the conversion of a standard container into a four suite accommodation block. Each suite has a floor area of approximately 6 square meters, and each unit about 2.8 m wide. Figure 3 is a further view of the finished accommodation block showing the construction of four fitted bedroom suites within the container.

Figure 4 provides a plan view of an accommodation suite showing a preferred layout of the bedroom, sitting and bathroom areas. In order to provide a simple waste disposal system, it is preferred that the waste drainage is by a vacuum system. The waste system and other utility supplies run to a connection unit at one end of the container where there are connections for trunking and pipes leading to the service modules.

The accommodation modules can be stacked one on top of each other to provide denser accommodation space. It is preferred that a maximum of two units are stacked above each other to provide ease of access, although it will be appreciated that higher stacking can occur. Staircases and walkways can be provided to allow access to the upper units.

Figure 5 shows a layout comprising a plurality of 25 containers providing accommodation, reception and service facilities. Each accommodation unit (51) can be staked to double or treble the number of accommodation units, i.e. to 50 or 75. If units are stacked, demountable stairways (55) and walkways (53) are provided. Service units (57) are remote from the accommodation units and serve to provide utilities such as electricity, water and waste management to the accommodation units.

Figure 6 shows an alternative layout for a similar number of containers. As will be understood, the containers can be laid out according to the space available on the site. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the units in place on a site. A canopy (54) can be provided to provide shelter from the weather, and also to serve as an advertising platform. The canopy can be formed of canvas or plastics material, and can be stretched on a framework. As will be noted, the service modules are remote from the accommodation modules. The service modules can be screened by fencing if required. The containers are preferably sited on a fiat or terraced site. Small undulations can be corrected with jacks or through a platform onto which the containers are arrayed. Hard standing, although preferable, is not required. The accommodation system is self contained, and utilizes service modules to provide mechanical, electrical and public health services such as water and waste disposal to the accommodation containers. The service modules can be constructed from a 20-foot container, although if more service facilities are required, a 40-foot container can be utilized.

Figure 8 shows an external view of a service module constructed from a 20-foot container which will provide sufficient service facilities for a number of the accommodation modules. As the number of bedrooms increases, the number of service modules is increased to provide the required services, in particular electricity and waste management. As will be seen from the figure, there are a number of external points which can be connected to the accommodation modules. There are shown louvered doors A for generator access, louvers for the generator cooling B, a generator flue C, a satellite dish D, a cold water fill point E, an effluent outlet F and an effluent vent G. The module comprises sockets for electrical connections 81, sockets for satellite television connections 82, a generator fuel fill point 83, cold water connections 84, hot water flow and return connections 85, access doors to the electrical panel 86, further access doors to the unit 87 and a effluent inlet 88.

Figure 9 is a schematic view of the internal parts of the service module shown in Figure 8. As will be seen, there are provided an electrical generator, electrical distribution, fuel storage, cold water storage, hot water storage, an effluent holding tank and a vacuum drainage unit. The generator preferably provides 45kVA, sufficient for 16 bedroom units, and can be acoustically shielded to reduce noise pollution. The module shown in Figures 8 and 9 provides services for up to 16 bedrooms. There are shown an electrical panel board 91 with a connection for umbilicals, a diesel generator 92, e.g. 45kVA, within an acoustic enclosure, a diesel storage tank 93 holding up to 4 days supply of fuel, a cold water pump set 94, a cold water storage tank 95, not water vessels 96, an effluent holding tank 97 and a vacuum drainage unit 98.

Figure 10 is a schematic view of the internal parts of the service module adapted for a higher number of bedroom units, e.g. 32. It will be noted that an external electricity generator is preferably provided, in view of the larger electrical output and hence generator required to power the services. There are shown a portable diesel generator 101, say capable of 80kVA, an electrical panel board 102 with a connection unit, a cold water pump set 103, a cold water storage tank 104, hot water vessels 105, an effluent holding tank 106 and a vacuum drainage unit 107. Figure 11 shows in more detail the utility ports provided on each accommodation unit. The end of the container (111) provides a service zone for the bedroom units within the container, effectively drawing together all of the cabling and ducting towards the distribution connectors (113, 116, 117, 118, 119). There can be provided an air cooled chiller 112, preferably hidden behind louvers or a mesh. The connectors shown a variously an effluent outlet 113, a distribution board 1114, a socket for a satellite television cable 115, a hot water flow and return connection 116, a cold water inlet 117, a socket for an earth connection 118 and a 3 phase socket for power connection 119.

Figure 12 shows the umbilical connections between the service module 57 / 122 and one of the plurality of accommodation modules 51 / 121. The service module will be provided with sufficient ports to link to the umbilical units from the number of accommodation modules being serviced by the service module. Alternatively, the umbilical connections can be on a tree arrangement which branch out from a central trunk to the accommodation modules. As shown in Figure 12, there is provided the accommodation unit 121 and the service module 122. The various connections shown on the drawing include an effluent connection 123 in a rigid pipe laid to the fall line, a cold water 124 supply preferably within a multilayer insulation structure, a similarly insulated hot water flow and return pipe 125 and an electrical connection 126 preferably within an armoured cable. Each container should be provided with an earth rod 127. The service module can be provided with a satellite television dish, with a connector to each accommodation module through cable 128.

The service modules can be designed to be self sufficient for a few days, preferably three to four days which will usually be the duration of the event where the temporary accommodation is required. The waste can be removed by effluent disposal trucks (so- called "honey wagons") as and when required. A vacuum pump system is proposed for removal of waste and effluent from the accommodation units. The umbilical pipework is connected and configured to allow the maintenance of the flow into the service module. It is envisaged that the system could be adapted to recycle waste.

Although diesel generators are envisaged to provide the electricity, it will be understood that technology such as solar panels, wind generators, biofuel generators and the like can be used to supplement or replace the diesel generators. Load and service requirements can be tailored according to the number of accommodation units.

The container accommodation and service modules can be transported by any standard container transport means. On land, the final delivery will generally be by means of a semi-trailer truck. The containers can be transported for longer distances by freight train, or overseas by container ship. When delivered on site, the accommodation system can be set up within two days to provide high quality temporary accommodation. At the end of the required use, the system can be dismantled and moved to another site.

It will be realised that the above description is non-limiting and variations to the modular system can be provided within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A temporary accommodation system comprising a plurality of accommodation modules constructed from standard ISO intermodal shipping containers demountably connected to one or more service modules, wherein said service modules provide mechanical, electrical and public health services to said accommodation modules and wherein said service modules are independent of mains water, sewage and electricity.

2. A temporary accommodation system as claimed in claim 1 when each accommodation module comprises a plurality of accommodation suites, each suite comprising a separate sleeping area and a bathroom area.

3. A temporary accommodation system as claimed in claim 2 wherein each container comprises four self-contained accommodation suites.

4. A temporary accommodation system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein waste drainage from one or more of the plurality of the accommodation modules occurs by a vacuum system.

5. A temporary accommodation system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each service module comprises at least one of an electrical generator, an electrical distribution system, a fuel storage means, a cold water storage means, a hot water storage means, an effluent holding tank and a vacuum drainage unit.

6. A temporary accommodation system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the ratio of service modules to accommodation modules is between 1:3 and 1:5.

7. An accommodation system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the accommodation modules and service modules are connected by demountable pipe work, wherein the pipe work is connected to ports on each of the accommodation modules and the service modules.

8. A temporary accommodation system as claimed in claim 7 wherein each accommodation unit is connected its relevant service module by dedicated removable pipe work.

9. A temporary accommodation system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each service module comprises a means for removing waste through a port which can be connected to a suction pipe on a waste removal truck.

10. A temporary accommodation system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the accommodation modules are stacked into a two unit high array is by means of removable staircases and platforms.

11. A temporary accommodation system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the array of accommodation modules is substantially covered by a weatherproof canopy.

12. A temporary accommodation system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the accommodation modules are constructed from a standard 40 ft (12.12m) container.

13. A temporary accommodation system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the service modules are constructed from a standard 20 ft (6.06m) container.