Design Shelter Technical Specification Site   
Design Shelter
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Design Shelter
Design Shelter
Design Shelter Inc.
P.O. Box 1445 STN. "B"
Mississauga Ontario
Canada L4Y 4G2


Design Shelter Technical Specification Site
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Description
Introduction

Design Shelter Systems proudly presents an outstanding innovation in portable camps and shelters, The Habitat and Long Habitat.

The octagonal shape of the Habitat along with its vertical sidewalls and full-sized hinged and latched door are the standard features that interest most natural resource industry professionals. The octagonal shape was incorporated to model an Arctic "igloo". This shape maximizes the resistance to wind. Full-sized vertical sidewalls and hinged door add comfort to those inside, while making full use of all available floor space. The Habitat fulfills a need more effectively than any other shelter.

The Habitat and Long Habitat are designed and manufactured by Design Shelter Inc.. Design Shelter Inc. is a wholly owned private company incorporated under the laws of Ontario, Canada. In-house design capability allows the company to respond to customers’ specific modification requests. 

Flexibility Is the Key To Habitat’s Success

The Habitat family of shelters has become popular around the world for its unlimited range of applications and superior design. Some of the current uses of our shelters include: kitchen tents, dining halls, sleeping facilities and field offices for tree planting crews, prospectors and developers, forest fire fighters, exploration crews and scientists. Outfitters across North America use our products as outpost camps for their clients and public and private campground owners and operators use the Habitat as overnight accommodations for park guests.

We have sent cabins internationally for use as first-aid and surgical facilities in Ethiopia and as base camps for expeditions climbing Mount Everest and Mount Gasherbrum in Pakistan. The Habitat has consistently withstood the elements. 

The Habitat is now widely used as remote field accommodations. The design is ideally suited to camp situations of a portable and semi-permanent nature. Where short- term portable camps are required, the Habitat assembles and breaks down quickly and easily without tools. The unique articulated mainframe folds down to a manageable size, suitable for transport. On the other hand, due to the strength of its aircraft grade non-corrosive aluminum frame, it is also ideal for extended camp operations of long duration. 

An International Product

The Habitat and Long Habitat series of shelters have a long history of being placed in active service in markets world-wide. This experience has proven that the products are universally accepted across some of the more demanding environmental conditions present. From the windswept coast of Baffin Island to the harsh deserts of Ethiopia and Somalia, and from 19,000 feet in the Himalayan Mountains to the deep forests of Canada, Habitat performance is unsurpassed.

In order to make the product more widely available in local markets, Design Shelter Inc. is actively soliciting distributors and/or area directors world-wide. If you are interested in potentially representing Design Shelter in either Europe, Africa, Asia, New Zealand or Australia as a distributor, agent or area director, please contact us by e-mail or telephone at your earliest convenience.

 

Product Description / Features
Habitat Mainframe
Our one piece articulated mainframe is precision engineered on a simple hinged system. All mainframe components are manufactured from aircraft grade aluminum for structural strength yet lightweight for transport and assembly. All aluminum components are anodized to resist oxidation. All bolts and rivets are zinc plated to resist corrosion.

The mainframe unfolds in a manner similar to an umbrella. When open, the octagonal characteristic of the shelter takes shape. This shape was selected to offer our shelters the maximum in resistance for high wind conditions. Due to the articulated mainframe, no tools are required for assembly. The Habitat's unique hinged system allows for quick and simple field repair. Any damaged parts are easily replaced in the field with a 12 mm (7/16 “) wrench.

Horizontal stability is effected by way of eave and base bars which snap lock into place at each corner. Eave bars contain inlaid velcro style fastening strips used to secure the roof and cover to the mainframe. Eave and base bars are completely interchangeable at any eave or base location on the main frame. 

The Habitat is completely free standing and self-supporting. Our 1.83 metre ( 6’- 0” )high vertical sidewalls allow for maximum utilization of available floor space and unprecedented comfort. No guy wires are required unless severe wind conditions exist [i.e. wind speeds greater than 60 km/hr (40 mph)]. Our unique base plate design permits the use of suitably sized metal stakes or bolts to secure the mainframe to bare ground or any prefabricated base. The Habitat has been designed for erection by two (2) people in less than thirty (30) minutes.

Long Habitat Mainframe
The Long Habitat mainframe is constructed identically to that described above. The Long Habitat is an extended version of the Habitat. Two (2) articulated mainframes with a centre support added form the Long Habitat standard skeleton structure. 
Single Door
Standard with every Habitat cabin is one (1), one-piece full sized, hinged and latched door. Each door is fabricated from anodized aluminum for maximizing resistance to corrosion. The door is designed with velcro style inlaid vertical and horizontal members to fasten the cabin roof and side walls for a tight and secure fit. The door is covered with standard cover material. Each door comes with a lockable door latch. 
Standard Vented Weather Cap
One (1) cap is supplied with each Habitat. Each cap is fabricated from anodized aluminum to resist oxidation. The vented cap is secured to the mainframe at the centre peak of the articulated mainframe. (i.e. key flange). Long Habitats have two (2) caps per cabin. Caps are designed to allow fresh air ventilation and to exhaust excess heat at the highest location in the shelter. These caps are also designed to deflect rain and inhibit water penetration to the cabin proper at the peak(s). 
Habitat Roof Cover
The Habitat's roof is a one-piece weather tight cover secured to the mainframe with heavy duty velcro style hook and loop fastener (1.4 kg/sq.cm. shear strength). The material used is a vinyl laminated polyester fabric (Density = 475 g/sq.m.). All seams are heat welded. The covers are 100% waterproof, rot and mildew resistant, UV protected, flame retardant and cold resistant to -35° C. The fabric texture allows for cleaning simplicity yet is highly resistant to tearing and abrasion. Standard with each roof is a 10 cm eave overhang. Each roof comes standard with guy rope grommets for use as anchor points to secure the shelter to the ground. These guy ropes are highly recommended in excessive wind conditions [greater than 60 k/hr ( 40 mph )]. 
Long Habitat Roof Cover
The Long Habitat's roof is identical to that described above. Long Habitat roofs are also one piece and heat welded to prevent leakage at the seams. 
Habitat Sidewalls
The Habitat's sidewall fabric is identical to the roof's fabric discussed above. The sidewalls are secured to the roof eave bars, base bars and doors with heavy duty velcro style fastener. The Habitat comes standard with three (3) sidewall panels. A 0.25 m ( 10” ) storm skirt is standard around the entire circumference of each cabin to direct water away from the cabin interior at ground level. 
Long Habitat Sidewalls
The Long Habitat sidewalls are identical to that described above. Long Habitat sidewalls come standard with four (4) panels. 
Windows
Each Habitat Shelter comes standard with four (4) windows. Each window is designed to provide protection from inclement weather and provide fresh air ventilation when so desired. Window insect screen is sewn directly to the sidewall panel. All screening is manufactured from the same material as the covers. The clear vinyl window panel is positioned between the exterior bug screen and the interior privacy flap. This clear vinyl window panel is sewn to the bottom of the window and secured on three sides by velcro style fastener to prevent rain from entering the cabin proper. This flap can be simply removed to allow fresh air ventilation. The innermost panel is simply a flap of standard cover material secured by velcro style fastener at the top. This panel is intended for use as a night flap or privacy panel only. Long Habitat's come standard with four (4) windows.
Insulation - Optional
Our insulation package consists of an insulating material (bubble pack) sandwiched between two sheets of flameproof aluminum foil bonded together. The insulated cover is identical in dimensions and is similarly secured to the cabin mainframe as per the roof and sidewall covers described above. The insulation is attached to the mainframe first. The standard outer cover is then secured on top of the insulation with velcro style fastener. The insulation package offers a more comfortable interior temperature control environment (Approximate R-Factor 3) than that provided with the standard cover only. Only a minimal radiant heat source will keep the interior temperature of the Habitat comfortable due to the high reflective nature of the insulation material.  The insulation does not protect the Habitat interior from the effects of infiltration in and around the Habitat door, cap and cover.
"Not your ordinary tent"

Email Design Shelter

Design Shelter Inc. P.O. Box 1445 STN. "B" Mississauga Ontario Canada L4Y 4G2
British Columbia
Tel: (604) 921-8805
Fax: (604) 921-8806
Ontario
Tel: (905) 275-5586
Fax: (905) 279-9149
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