Concrete Canvas Shelters are rapidly deployable hardened shelters that require only water and air for construction. The 25sqm variant can be deployed by 2 people without any training in under an hour and is ready to use in only 24 hours.The key to CCS is the use of inflation to create a surface that is optimised for compressive loading. This allows thin walled concrete structures to be formed which are both robust and lightweight. CCS consist of a cement impregnated fabric (Concrete Cloth) bonded to the outer surface of a plastic inner which forms a Nissen-Hut shaped structure once inflated.
A 54sqm CCS can be deployed by 2 people in less than 2 hours and is ready to use in only 24 hours.
The compressive structure of CCS has been modelled for covering with sand or earth (berming) to provide protection against small arms fire and shell fragments.
CCS concrete shells have good thermal properties. When buried they provide excellent insulation and a very large thermal mass. This dampens temperature fluctuations between day and night.
CCS are far more durable than tenting with a minimum design life of 10 years.
The sealed plastic inner of a CCS, means it can be delivered sterile; vastly increasing frontline medical capability from day one of a crisis.
Concrete Cloth is a ceramic and will not burn. Each shelter is lined with a flame retardant fibre reinforced polyethylene inner with a B1 (DIN 4102-01 05/98) fire rating.
CCS can be fitted with a combined forced air / inflation unit and decontamination module to provide full spectrum CBRN protection.
The hard shell and lockable doors of a CCS provide a level of security not possible with soft skinned structures, protecting stores, equipment and personnel.
CCS provide all the benefits of a permanent structure without the associated cost and time delays.
The CCS structure have been modelled to withstand a very high distributed compressive load enabling earth berming by piling sandbags, earth or snow on top. This gives the shelter excellent thermal properties and can provide protection against shrapnel, blasts and small arms. Current systems are specified to withstand 0.75m wet sand on the sides, sufficient to stop 7.62mm rounds and 0.5m on the roof, to protect against shell fragments.
CCS structures are designed as part of a modular system; units can be easily linked together enabling the space to be tailored to the application. CCS is designed as a generic structure with initial uses as accommodation, field offices, and for secure storage. Future product developments include specialist medical variants and much larger shelters which could be used for applications such as storage of vehicles and helicopters.
CCS structures have been designed to maximize the internal usable space. A standard CCS54 can accommodate up to 15 people according to Sphere standards, Humanitarian and Disaster Response charter. For longer term operations, CCS54 will accommodate 8 standard cots with free standing mosquito nets, see diagram right.