Modular Structure

The present invention relates to building systems, in particular to modular building systems and structures.

Throughout the world and, in particular, in developing countries, there is a need for housing that can be rapidly assembled without special tools, knowledge or experience. This is particularly true in countries that have high rates of migration to urban areas, resulting in large informal human settlements, and in countries that are subject to earthquakes, tsunamis or other natural disasters, or manmade crises that cause mass migrations of people. At the international level, the need for basic housing and supporting infrastructure in informal human settlements is identified by organisations such as the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) , the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) , the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank, whilst the need for effective shelter is identified by organisations such as the office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). At the European level,

the focus for relevant aid is the Humanitarian Aid Department of European Commission (ECHO) , whilst at national levels humanitarian problems are the concern of aid organisations such as Oxfam.

Accordingly, there is a need for structures that have been specifically designed to meet basic housing as well as post-disaster accommodation needs. However, many emergency structures (typically tents) do not provide structural protection, for example impact resistance against flying objects in the case of storms, or if they do, are expensive because they consist of specialised prefabricated elements that are difficult to use in situations where immediate or short-term responses to the need for shelter are required.

Where shelter-providing items are packed for efficiency in transport, other emergency supplies need to be sent separately. This can result in a choice having to be made between the provision of essential supplies such as water and food, and the provision of shelter; or it can lead to other logistical problems. For instance, some of those affected by a disaster may receive shelter but not food; and others receive food but not shelter.

In addition, whereas in fixed installations and structures, resistance to shrapnel or other projectiles may be provided by massive construction or by high- resistance panels or boards, tents or the like do not provide this type of protection.

In recent times there has been an increase in demand for ballistic protection, particularly in peacekeeping and

security operations in which increasingly well armed and sophisticated adversary forces are to be controlled. At present, multipurpose rapid shelter systems that provide protection during military operations, mine clearing activities, military and police sieges and the like are known. Although effective under prescribed circumstances, these systems have a number of disadvantages .

Firstly, the ballistic resistance of the boards reduces as the path followed by the flying objects is more perpendicular to the surface of the board. Secondly, the flat surface areas formed by the boards renders the construction liable to visual detection and detection by radar and other means of remote sensing. Accordingly, there is a need for a protection system that has the advantages of transportability and the capability of being rapidly erected and relocated, and that avoids the disadvantages of vulnerability to perpendicular or near perpendicular penetration and of ready detection.

It is a prime object of the present invention to provide a multi-functional building system which provides a shelter capable of rapid and non-specialist assembly, and which also provides means for containing and transporting goods such as emergency supplies. Of the system, the manufacturing process is such that the production capacity and the system products are such that both production capacity and stocks are instantly convertible from application to starter-homes (eg, for longer-term urban improvement programmes) to application to shelter construction (eg, following a disaster or conflict) .

It is a second object of the invention is to accompany the building system that is the primary object by a system that can adapt any buildings or structures to active conflict situations by providing an improved degree of protection against shrapnel and other flying objects and against visual and other detection.

It is a third object of the invention to provide a system that is relevant to and suitable for application in countries that are in need of improved living conditions in urban areas and that are subject to risk of natural disasters and/or manmade crises.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a modular structure is provided comprising a plurality of containers adapted to accommodate goods, said containers comprising a plurality of structural panels that form the external surfaces and internal partitions of the containers, such that a number of the containers can be arranged in predetermined shapes ho form a building, wherein the buildings are made secure by connecting the containers using connection means, and wherein said panels form structural features of the building.

Preferably, said containers are cuboid in shape.

Preferably, said containers have the same dimensions.

Preferably, four of the said containers are grouped to form a secure shelter or basic house.

Preferably, at least three of the said containers have differences in the spatial arrangement of their internal structural panels and in the size and distribution of openings in their exterior structural panels.

Preferably, said containers each have at least one removable access panel.

Preferably, said containers are provided with supporting rails located on at least one but preferably three adjacent external surfaces of the container, enabling the containers to be lifted and rotated, in order to be loaded, transported and/or unloaded in upright, flat- horizontal or upright-horizontal positions, prior to being placed in position for combination with other containers and/or other elements to form a basic house or other type of building.

Preferably, in upright position, the horizontal partitions form areas for storage, bunks, or parts of bunks that are complimented by shelves.

Preferably, some shelves are adapted to form, a table and seating.

Preferably, one or more shelves are hinged.

Preferably, at least one of said removable access panels is sized to form a roof panel.

Preferably, the two parts of the removable access panels have relative lengths of 2:1.

Preferably, at least one removable panel that closes an external opening to a container provides, upon use of that container as part of a building, an element forming a step or platform leading to the external door of that building.

Preferably, at least one removable panel that closes an external opening to a container provides, upon use of that container as part of a building, a structural element to support pitched roof panels.

Preferably, at least one of said containers or structural panels is provided with coupling means for attaching tenting thereto.

Preferably, the tenting comprises one or more tent modules .

Preferably, the tent module is provided with coupling means to connect together a plurality of tent modules.

Preferably, the tenting is provided with one or more beam to support the tent structure.

Preferably, the tenting is provided with one or more brace to support the tent structure.

The brace may be used during erection of the tenting.

Preferably, the pitched roof is provided with a ridge cap.

Preferably, the ridge cap is provided with a slot to secure- a roof covering along the ridge of the roof so that the roof covering can be inserted and removed.

Preferably, upon securing the roof covering along its lower edge the slot holds, through friction and in combination with a removable lower fixing, the roof covering in place.

Preferably, the space below the pitched roof is adapted to receive one or more primary water tanks.

Preferably, the roof space is adapted to receive one or more grey water tanks.

Preferably, one or more gutters are attached to the pitched roof .

Preferably, the gutter feeds rain water into one or more butts.

Preferably, the butt is connected to the primary water tank.

Preferably, the connection between the butt and the ^' primary tank is equipped with a pump.

Preferably, the pump supplying water to the primary tank is a hand pump.

Preferably, a shower in the building drains into a grey water reservoir.

Preferably, the grey water reservoir is connected to the grey water tank.

Preferably, the connection between the grey water reservoir and the grey water tank is equipped with a pump.

Preferably, the pump supplying water to the grey water tank is a hand pump.

Preferably, the roof supporting elements are mounted above the level of the ceiling panels constructed from the containers.

Preferably, a gap is present between the roof supporting elements and the ceiling panels of the building, which allows pipes, wires and the like to traverse the line of roof support.

Preferably, the panels of the building are substantially hollow panels comprising a pair of substantially parallel boards and containing structural spacers between the boards .

Preferably, the panels have reinforcements located between the boards around the perimeter of each panel.

Preferably, said spacers are uniformly spaced throughout the panel between the boards.

Preferably, the spacers are square in cross-section.

Optionally, the spacers are rectangular, octagonal, circular, oval or any other shape in cross-section.

Optionally, the outer surface of the building is provided with shaped attachments that are substantially pyramidal in shape and form a barrier against penetration by flying objects and/or that reduce visual detection and detection by means of remote sensing.

In accordance with this second aspect of the invention there is provided a shaped attachment for attaching to the outer surface of a building or structure, the shaped attachment forming a barrier against penetration and/or reducing visual detection and detection by means of remote sensing.

Preferably, the surfaces of the shaped attachment are fitted onto a surface to provide multiple planes of penetration-resistant material or boards whereby at least one plane is parallel to the surface to be protected and at least one other plane is constructed over the same area at an angle of no less than 25 ² and no more that 65 ^s in relation to the first mentioned plane-.

Preferably, the planes of materials are so arranged as to form regular pyramids or similar forms that by their regularity are suitable for prefabrication and easy on- site assembly.

Preferably, the regular pyramids or similar forms face outwards away from the surface to be protected so as to reduce the likelihood of visual detection or detection by means of remote sensing.

Optionally, camouflage is added by colouring or shading the panels and/or netting is provided over the pyramids or similar shapes to further reduce their detection.

The present invention will now be described by example only, with reference to the accompany drawings, in which:

figures IA to IE are a series of axonometric views of the building system in accordance with the present invention, showing various stages of construction of a building;

figure 2A is a sectional view of a building in accordance with the present invention taken along line A-A of figure 2B;

figure 2B is a sectional view taken along line 1 of figure 2A;

figure 2C is a sectional view taken along line 2 of figure 2A;

figure 2D is a sectional view taken along line 3 of figure 2A;

figure 2E is a sectional view taken along line 4 of figure 2A;

figure 2F is a reflected ceiling plan; and

figure 2G is a sectional view taken along line 5 of figure 2A;

figures 3A to 3D show a further embodiment of the present invention in which details of the roof construction are provided;

figure 3A is a front elevation, figure 3B is a side elevation, figure 3C is a second side elevation and figure 3D, parts (i) to (iv) , show the removable panels of the container which form the roof panels;

figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a building in accordance with the present invention, showing the roof coverings and building services and equipment, and showing the containers comprising, in this case, lower part 152 and upper part 154;

figure 5 shows the roof elements supported on blocks in the roof space of a building in accordance with the present invention;

figure 6 is a axonometric view of a building as shown in figure 1, with a tented extension extending from the perimeter of the building;

figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating the building of figures 1 and 6 with a built extension to a gable of . the building;

figure 8 is a front elevation of a further embodiment of the present invention;

figure 9 is a side elevation of the embodiment of figure 8;

figure 10 shows the built structure of figure 8 comprising said lower containers 152 only and supporting the weight of overheads tanks and solar equipment;

figure 11 shows containers forming the structural core, to which a structural frame is attached;

figure 12 shows the functions features of the structural core including a shower, a toilet, a sink, 43, a table, seats and areas for the secure storage of food and other valuables ;

figure 13 illustrates the principle of a further aspect of the invention related to the increased protection of the exposed surfaces or any part thereof of a building or other structure against flying objects;

figure 14 is an axonometric projection of modular components, in disassembled form, that are instrumental in achieving the increased peripheral protection;

figure 15 is an axonometric projection of the modular components in assembled form;

figure 16 is a front elevation of a building or other structure shown without and in this case with full protection of exposed surfaces according to the present invention; and

figure 17 shows how additional protection against detection may be provided by netting that , where

suspended across the pyramids, avoids the revealing of artificial straight lines.

The present invention provides a building system that is multi-functional. Figure IA shows four containers 11, 13, 15 and 17, which also provide structural elements of ^' a building. Figure IB shows container 11 having been opened by the removal or opening of panels 10. Typical' contents 19 of the container are shown. Such contents maybe water, food, blankets, medical supplies, tented extensions, tents or any other type of goods that are useful in the context of the situation where the container has been sent.

Figure 1C shows the basic construction of the building system of the present invention. The containers 11, 13, 15 and 17, are arranged in a substantially cubic formation and are connected together. In addition, the containers are constructed with door _5 and fixed windows 7 , in this example the windows being constructed of a transparent plastic sheet. As will be seen in later figures, ventilation into the building may be provided- ^' separately from the windows.

Figure ID shows a substantially completed building with a pitched roof 3, supported by central element 8 and provided with solar panel 9.

Figure IE shows a fabric awning 21 that extends from the front of the building, and a panel 22 forming a step outside the door 5. In transporting container 11, the panel is used to close the opening of door 5, which is temporarily stored inside the container. In use as a

building, door 5 is inserted in the opening and the panel forms the step 22.

Figure 2A is a sectional v,iew of a building in accordance with the present invention. This view 27 shows the building mounted on support beams or rails 29. The building has an entrance platform or step 22 also mounted on rails 29. External wall 33 was originally a wall of the container 11, which is shown as being connected to container 17, which in turn is shown as being connected to containers 15 and IB to form the building shown. The canopy 21, which is supported by the strut 35, has gap 36 for ventilation and the passage of pipes and other technical services. The pitched roof 3 is shown with guttering 39 extended to allow rainwater to flow into water tank 37 illustrated as being situated, in this case, in an upper part 17 or 11.

View 27 shows a similar upper part in container 15, here shown to open for use as a bunk, which is accessed by ladder 43.

The eight potential bunk spaces in the houses are formed by horizontal structural partitions that in the initial container phase provide storage space for goods and, in the subsequent building phase, provide space for bunks or, in the case of containers 13 and 15, parts of bunks. In the case of container 15, these parts are supplemented by removable shelves supported on battens 41, with similar battens supporting internal features of the building such as table and seats 45, formed from removable shelves.

In the case of container 13 , the shelves are hinged or equivalent on similar battens and when not in use, turned up to provide additional living space.

Figure 2B shows in view 53 the floor plan at section 1 of figure 2A, and provides further information on the manner in which the space inside the building is used. Doors 5 connect the exterior and interior by forming an entry and airlock separating the ablution area from the living space 51, which may be enlarged by means of turning up hinged shelves 61. The position of hinged shelves 61 and table and seat 45 is interchangeable. Living space 51 is defined by the substantially square structure formed by the containers. In general, the interior is designed. to provide the basic requirements to sustain and foster human life.

Accordingly, the entry/airlock provide access to shower 63 and toilet 67. Toilet 61 may be a crouch-type or seat-type toilet in accordance with cultural preferences. The position of shower 63 and toilet 67 may be reversed or the use of the spaces 63 and 67 may be otherwise varied. Further, living space 51 features kitchen unit 65 comprising, at the lower level, a structural horizontal partition that forms a fixed shelf and above this a drainage board and sink that is, on the user's side, fitted with a washboard for optional use for laundry purposes. Within living space 51, the lower bunks have fixed areas 55, 58 and 59 for the storage of personal belongings and bedding whilst the narrower movable shelves 57 and 61 are in use as table and seats, folded against the wall or otherwise not used as bunks

for the duration. Figure 2B also shows central infill panel 62 that forms the floor of living space 51.

In locations where it is customary to cook on the floor, panel 62 is built or lined with a fire resistant material. Due to its interlocking shape, panel 62 aids the correct positioning of the main elements of the building.

Figure 2C shows the cross-section of the house at line 2 of figure 2A. The section shows the fixed parts 58 and 59, and movable parts 57 and 61 of the intermediate level bunks of the building, and the void parts of living space 51, kitchen 65 and the ablution and airlock/entry section of the house.

Figure 2D view 69 shows the cross-section of the house at line 3 of figure 2A, and shows the accommodation in the upper part of the building, which comprises upper level bunks 71, 73, 75 and 77. The bunk spaces, which are accessible via ladders 43, encircle the vide part of living space 51.

In figure 2E view 79 shows a cross sectional view at- line 4 of figure 2A. This figure shows roof support elements 93, uprights 78 for locating and blocks 84 for supporting elements 93, and typical locations of hinges 81 that connect the pitched roof panels to the top of elements 93 and to the building below.

Figure 2F is a reflected ceiling plan in which the ceiling panel 95 that is similar in shape to floor panel 51, fills the central space between containers 15,13 11

and.17, which are connected at interface positions 83, 85, 89 and 91.

Figure 2G shows a sectional view at line 5 of figure 2A. This shows the location of rails 29 and optional attachments 101. Attached rails 101 may have footing pedestals 103 (shown in Fig.8) appended that have either a fixed height or that are adjustable in height and/or in the angles at which the soles of the pedestals meet the ground.

The appendices to attached rails 101 vary with foundation conditions found on site; such optional variations include, for instance, for sites that are flooded or subject to flooding, pontoons; for steep sites, scaffolding-type structural supports; for sites where a high degree of mobility is required, castors,, sledges or skis; for sites that are accessed from the air or that have unknown or unreliable foundation conditions, air bags or tyres; and for sites where uplift needs to be taken into account, means of tying structure to suitable - footings .

Such devices extend from the building, for instance to provide increased stability of constraint.

Figures 3A to 3D show a further embodiment of the present invention with emphasis on features of the roof and arrangements for lighting and ventilation.

View 111 in figure 3A shows a front elevation with door 5. Like door 5 separating the entry/airlock from the living space, external door 5 consists of two parts, the

upper part, of which a part is filled with a transparent material, transmits light and can be opened separately for ventilation and communication.

Figure 3B shows a typical vertical distribution of vents 117, which are fixed or adjustable and provide airflows into the building. In the illustration, the adjustable vents comprise a louvered section, and a series of slats, such that the louvered section can be slid across the slats to open and close the vent. As the vents are ^' relatively small and low cost, they can be allocated to all bunk spaces so that each bunk occupant is able to control his/her own ventilation.

Figure 3C shows fixed window 131. This window is made from clear plastic or other transparent material, and is shown in an example location. Fixed windows, in combination with vents 117, are cheaper than opening windows and are therefore preferable where the building is to be low cost. Also shown are optional ventilated windows 132, which have fixed or adjustable, transparent or opaque louvres, opening frames, or rimless or other opening sections of a transparent or opaque material. Optionally, fixed arid/or opening ventilators, skylights or hatches are employed in the ceiling of the structure.

Figure 3D shows the elevations of containers 15, 13, 11, and 17 that, in transport, have movable panels 147 and 144 attached to securely enclose the contents of the containers. Adjacent panel 146 is a fixed panel that after assembly of the containers into the building as illustrated in figure 2F, interfaces at locations 83, 85 89 and 91 with the adjacent containers. Panels 147 and

144 provide the roof panels for the pitched roof of the building. Panels 147 are approximately one half of the size of panels 144. As can be seen from figures 5B and 5C, each half of the pitched roof comprises large panels 144 and small panels 147 comprising roof parts 123 and 125 respectively. The use of these panels provides a further advantage to the present invention, in that it avoids the need for additional building materials to complete the structure. Notably these movable panels also perform a dual function. Firstly, they allow the containers to be closed, and secondly they provide parts of the umbrella-type roof of the building, which is open at both ends for cross ventilation and access.

A void may be present between the panels 144 and 147 and the containers when the system is configured for transport. When the containers form the building this void, which extends form the floor to the ceiling, is part of living space 51. In transport, the void contains goods that are longer than the width of the container, including and specifically the poles that are used for the construction of the awning that is suspended from the building plus one adjacent tented corner, together forming one quarter of the total peripheral tented extension of the building.

The poles are attached to one another in five groups: awning right top, awning right bottom, awning left top, awning left bottom, and corner. In assembly, the poles in each group are unfolded/extended, after which the groups are linked to the adjacent groups by means of connectors, and to the upper and intermediate rails 29 that are attached to the facades of the building and that provide

the structural support required for the suspension of the tented structure .

This method of constructing the tented structure has the following advantages : ease and efficiency of the assembly and attachment of the frame and of the attachment of the fabric; avoidance of guy ropes, which tend to be a source of problems in tented camps; and extension in modules. Therefore the size of the tented structure can correspond with the need for shelter; peripheral and internal fabric walls/partitions that are suspended from the structural supports; a continuous ventilation gap at the top of the tented structure, below the overhang of roof of the building; and the relatively high strength of the tented structure.

Figures 4 and 5 show a further embodiment of the present invention, with emphasis on roofing and associated building services and equipment. The building 151 has a pitched roof 153 constructed from a pair of roofing panels 155 constructed from the panels 144 and 147 of the containers from which the building is constructed. At the ridge, the roof panels are fixed to element 175; at the eaves, the roof panels are fixed to battens 173 that are fixed to the top of the ceiling of the building. In turn, hinges 81 are fixed to these battens as well as the top of elements 175, thus securing the roof against uplift.

Roof covering 157 protects the upper . surface of the roof panels 155. In this example the roof covering is a corrugated impervious material with a miniature profile or similar. Storm water that is travelling upwards along the surface of the roof is controlled by ridge cap 177,

which is made of galvanised steel, moulded plastic or another suitable material. In addition, ridge cap 177 extends down the pitched side of the roofing panel 155 so as to form a slot 179 for receiving roof covering 157. Resilient means 181 are provided such that the lower end is slightly turned up or rounded in order to receive the roof cover 157, which is pushed into the slot, where it is held by a combination of friction at the upper edge and conventional removable means of fixing, such as ^■ roofing screws, along the readily accessible lower edge.

The gutter 161 is attached to the lower end of roof panel 155 and connected via a down pipe 163 to a tank or butt 165. In turn, butt 165 is connected to a hand pump 167, such that rainwater that has been collected from the guttering in butt 165 can be pumped up into the primary water tank 168. After water treatment where and as . required, the outlet 172 of the primary water tank 168 provides water for use in the shower and kitchen. Once water has been used in the shower, it is collected in a grey water reservoir located below floor level, and pumped from there via inlet 187 into the grey water tank 185, from where it can be fed out via outlet 189 for re- use in flushing the toilet. The method of disposal of the wastewater from the toilet and the kitchen depends on and varies with local conditions.

Advantageously, the water system used in the present invention can be a low-pressure system because even where water is available via a mains supply, the water supply system can be disconnected from the mains—pressure. This means that the connections- between the various tanks and water outlets need not be made to a high specification of

materials and/or workmanship. Further, the arrangement means that where the supply of drinking water is intermittent, or dependent on intermittent supplies from tankers, the house has a buffer facility that enables the occupants to collect and store such water as is made available to them. Further, where water is supplied by a low pressure tanker or where water is to be otherwise brought in from a remote source, such water can be poured into the butt, from where it can be pumped to the primary water tank; whilst non-drinkable but otherwise acceptable water can be poured into the grey water reservoir via the shower, from where it can be pumped to the grey water tank.

A solar panel 159 may be fitted to the roof of the building 151. The solar panel stores electricity in storage means 160, and then supplies safe, low voltage electricity to electrical appliances such as lamps and radios. In tropical regions, daylight ends at 6.00 pm or 7.00 pm. As education is especially important to the poor, the ability to read after natural daylight is also important. Similarly, for educational purposes as well as communication in circumstances of distress, the ability to listen to a radio may be crucial.

Further, especially in the rapidly changing circumstances that arise from natural disasters or manmade crises, it is important for the organisation that owns, sends or manages the containers/shelters/starter-houses, to know during transport and in their later use where the units are located, and/or to be able to access other information that will support better management and distribution of rare resources. Therefore, the energy

system may also feed telemetric and/or other GPS-based devices that are incorporated in the structure and capable of conveying crucial information.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention the building can be made from flat-packed panels . This is preferred in cases where the system is not required to carry essential items to disaster or crisis areas but where there is a need for basic houses, for instance in post-emergency situations and/or for use as starter- houses in site-and-services schemes. In such circumstances, it is preferred that the panels are portable and therefore, in general, not more than 800mm wide. This width is suitable for self-build activities as it allows persons to carry such panels, without the need for capital-intensive lifting equipment.

As a further alternative, the containers 15, 13, 11 and 17 may be assembled, as shown in figure 4, in lower parts 152 and upper parts 154, which are connected on site. The arrangement has the advantage that parts 152 can be transported, or flat packed. The latter arrangement has the advantage that parts 152, especially of containers 11 and 17, which are complicated by sanitary and other fittings are manufactured off site whilst parts 152 of . containers 15 and 13 and parts 154, which can be assembled in a straightforward manner, are assembled off site.

Figure 6 illustrates the tent consists of eight parts; four side extensions or awnings and four corners linking the awnings. Of these, one or more may be installed so as to provide more or less floor space for the occupants

whilst adhering to minimal standards in terms of floor space per person. The tent optimizes a commonly applied standard of floor space per person in relation to another commonly applied standard setting a ratio between numbers of persons in camps and numbers of toilets. In this case, the population of the total structure is normally partly accommodated in the built and partly in the tented structure. The advantage of the arrangement is that influxes of displaced persons or other people on the move can be accommodated in the tented extensions with the host families living in the built structures, thus forming temporarily extended families . After the new arrivals have also been allocated shelter, the built structure, which can accommodate up to eight persons, reverts to single family use, e.g., for use as a starter- house in the existing or in a new location (e.g., in a re-settlement scheme) , where the unit typically provides a structural and utilities core for self-built extensions.

Figure 7 shows a further embodiment of the present invention in which building 1 is extended through a typical addition shown as building 25. In this case, building 1 provides a starter-house that provides people such as, for instance, people that have migrated to informal human settlements near urban areas, or people that have been allocated sites in sites-and-services schemes, with initial shelter; and enables them to seek employment and education in their new location. It is anticipated that, once they have become economically active and established, they will themselves extend the building to provide more spacious and longer-term accommodation .

Alternatively, building 1 may be enlarged through lean-to or similar construction to one or more sides in the manner of figure 6, building 1 being of sufficient strength to support the peripheral addition of structures.

Building 1 may also be combined with identical or similar buildings or parts of such buildings with or without other forms of extensions . Such increase in volume may be by vertical stacking and/or, in horizontal direction, by connecting sides and/or backs of such buildings to form clusters or composite buildings.

Containers such as used in the construction of building 1 may be re-assembled in other combinations and/or combined with other elements to form buildings or structures.

Panels and/or other elements such as used in the construction of the containers may be assembled in other combinations and/or combined with other elements to form buildings or structures.

Clearly, such extensions and optional variations in the manner of combining the buildings, containers, panels and/or other elements of the building system are not confined to residential or similar applications but may serve other uses such as field hospitals, classrooms, stores, offices, security facilities, or the like.

An alternative tented structure may be attached to one or more sides of the building, supported by uprights or columns that are partly attached to the building and

partly freestanding but linked to the building by horizontal members or beams . A structure of this type is shown in figures 8 to 12 . The examples of figure 6 and f igures 8 to 12 may be assembled without guy ropes , stays or other form of rigging, which has advantages in tented camps .

The embodiment of figures 8 to 12 is used to accommodate large numbers of people (e.g. refugees) quickly in emergency situations where the provision .of starter- houses for individual families is not a first priority. It comprises four lower container units 314-317, which provide structural support to tented extensions that house 20 persons in four tented units typically accommodating five persons each. The tented units consists of modular elements 330, so that the total structure may be readily adapted to cater for five, 10, 15 or 20 persons, the last situation still complying with relevant minimum sanitary standards. Columns that are shown attached to the built structure are linked to the freestanding columns 334 by beams 335 and additionally by braces 336. Preferably, a tented roof module is also used to form a roof over the containers, conveniently forming a porch for cooking and other communal activities.

Additionally, the central module of the tented roof may also cover water tanks 301 that are elevated and structurally supported by the containers 314-317. Preferably, the two containers equipped with sanitary services and equipment are brought on site filled with the required number of columns, beams, braces, and soft elements, whilst the containers containing a table, seats and secure storage facilities (e.g. for food) may be

brought on site in flat-pack form as they are readily assembled by unskilled labour.

In the post-emergency phase, unskilled labour may be employed to convert the units of figures 8 to 12 into the units of figures 2 to 5 and figure 7 to form starter- houses for families in the recovery and reconstruction phases of disaster mitigation programmes.

As the building system of the present invention is foreseen to meet a wide range of circumstances, the building system may use any suitable size or type of panel for the construction of the containers or the flat panels for use with the invention.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention panels of the type discussed in International Patent Application No. PCT/GB2003/002040 can be used. Such panels may consist of two panels such as for instance panels consisting of wood composite board, separated by a number of regularly spaced spacers, which may have any one of a range of shapes.

In the case of the present invention, the spacers are preferably square or optionally, rectangular, octagonal, circular, oval or any other suitable shape in cross- section. In addition, the edges of the panels are connected by reinforcements that further improve the mechanical properties of these panels.

Where circumstances so require, the cavities in the panels in the present invention, can be of the type discussed in International Patent Application No

PCT/GB2003/002040 and may be filled with impact resistant materials so as to further reinforce the panels .

Optionally, or in addition, the panels used in the present invention may be lined with impact resistant boards that are fitted parallel to the surface of the panels or, preferably, that are also fitted with additional surface features that are substantially pyramidal . These pyramidal shapes are designed to provide an additional barrier where the building of the present invention or any other building, structure, re- locatable structure, mobile installation, frame or object is used for military, peacekeeping or similar applications. In such circumstances, and in particular where the surfaces of the pyramids are also camouflaged, the presence of the pyramidal super-structure has a two- fold effect. Firstly, it prevents or reduces the effect of shrapnel or bullets by providing a two-fold barrier to the penetration of such elements through the building itself, and secondly the overall shape is more difficult to detect visually, on radar or by other remote sensing means.

The functions of vulnerability to penetration and to detection may be separated, leading to separate applications of the present invention. For instance, there may be no need for reduced detection, in which case there is no need for camouflage. Or there may be no need for protection against penetration, in which case there is no need to use extra strong boards to form the parallel and pyramidal surfaces.

In the combined embodiment of the latter, the structure provides at least one surface that is at a non- perpendicular angle to the path of a flying object, irrespective of the angle of its approach; and that eliminates the large flat surfaces that promote detection. Preferably, the angle of the boards that form the surfaces of the pyramids differ from the surface of the underlying boards by no less than 25 ^s and no more than 65 ^s .

With reference to figure 13, surface 201 represents the surface of a board that has a given resistance to impact, or a wall with similar resistance, that will be impacted by a flying object (eg, a piece of shrapnel) ; path 202 illustrates a path of a flying object that is perpendicular to the surface of 201 and illustrates the subsequent penetration thereof; path 203 illustrates the deflection of a flying object that approaches 201 at an angle; path 204 illustrates a path that is perpendicular to 201 but where inclined surface 206 deflects the flying object; path 205 illustrates a path that is inclined in relation to 201 but perpendicular to inclined surface 206, whereby the flying object penetrates surface 206 but is deflected by surface 201.

Similarly, figure 13 demonstrates that rays (eg, light rays, x rays) are reflected back in the case of impact that is perpendicular to 201 and that the reflection in the direction of the source is reduced in cases where the impact is on one or more inclined surfaces.

With reference to figure 14, modular components are used to form inclined surfaces 206 and the bases of pyramids.

In cases where 201 does not represent a wall that has the said similar resistance, modular components 208 are used to form the sides of pyramids, nesting components 209 provide pre-formed pyramids, nesting components 210 provide pre-formed half pyramids and nesting component 211 provide preformed quarter pyramids, nesting components 210 and 211 incorporating part of the base of the pyramids. Furthermore, four elements that are pre- hinged for flat-packing and that comprise of one quarter of the base and one full side can be assembled on site to form pyramids that have complete bases and sides.

With reference to figure 15, modular components 207-211 are shown in a sample assembly, in which dotted line 212 illustrates the option of providing boards connecting the tops of the pyramids in lieu of providing bases to the pyramids, or supplementary thereto. In turn, boards 212 may be treated as the base of a next pyramid; which allows for the construction of multiple layers of pyramids and/or for variation of the regularity of patterns of reflection. By breaking up a larger surfaces and their reflection of light, the pyramids also reduce visual detection, especially where the pyramids are combined with conventional means of camouflage.

Optionally, where no impact resistance is required, the pyramids can be constructed without a base or equivalent and, in lieu of impact resistant boards, with boards that suit the purposes of concealment.

With reference to figure 16, elevation 213 illustrates a typical elevation of a structure, in this case an orthogonal structure such as a structure providing

shelter for men and/or materials, the structure requiring ballistic protection and protection against detection (eg, by radar) . Elevation 214 shows elevation 213 in a protected state, with similar protection provided to side elevations 215 and, if desired, to roof surface 216 (eg, by pyramids that do not provide ballistic protection but that do protect against detection through remote sensing) .

With reference to figure 17, netting 217 is illustrated to be draped over the three dimensional shapes formed by 214, 215 and 216, thus providing freeform concealment to orthogonal structure 213.

The present invention provides an integrated system that allows rapid assembly of secure shelters, houses and other structures by means of elements that also can serve as containers for transporting emergency goods and, as in the case of starter-houses in site-and-services schemes, by means of flat packs designed for local assembly and capacity building. Thus, the present invention provides a tool for extending disaster relief from rapid response to emergencies, to post disaster recovery and development. As the invention is multi-functional, it also relates to and improves relocatable and other structures, including mobile installations, as used for peacekeeping, police, military and related security operations that require protection against fragments and bullets, and/or reduced detection -by sight, or by radar or other means of remote sensing.

In addition, the present invention provides, in the case of mobile and relocatable structures, protection provided

by prefabricated, modular, high strength elements or boards that can be mounted and dismounted on site so as to protect personnel and/or property. In order to be portable and manageable on site, such boards are typically confined to relatively small sizes and limited thicknesses, and hence limited resistance to penetration. In the present invention, multiplicity of such boards may be achieved either in parallel or in angled formations, and by the use of elements that are wholly or partly self-supporting due to the use of hinges, or due to their three-dimensional form of manufacture. An advantage of such preformed elements is that they, in disassembled form, are stackable so that they can be readily transported to and from remote locations.

Improvements and modifications may be incorporated herein, without deviating from the scope of the invention .