Reusable worker housing and methods relating thereto

Abstract

Consideration is given to parameters for providing re-use of worker housing in similar, or the same, applications at other sites or other projects as well as parameters governing re-use for alternate secondary uses usually common to the area of initial use, thereby avoiding transport for long distances or wasteful disposal of worker housing structures. Secondary uses for manufactured worker housing modules according to the present invention can be, for example, smaller or reconfigured dormitory-style housing or residences or family housing.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to worker housing and, in particular, structures and methods relating to constructing and reusing worker housing and worker housing modules. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Worker housing structures are known by many names including bunk houses, workmen dormitories, living containers, man camp accommodation and industrial housing to name a few. Specifically, worker housing structures are accommodations for work persons temporarily housed at a site that has little or no accommodation facilities. The worker housing structures include sleeping and ablution facilities for the work persons. Generally, worker housing is in the form of complexes each complex configured to contain, for example, 60 or more workers on each level. Each complex is formed of several individual manufactured modules joined together. Each module is in turn formed of two worker housing units joined together. The units may be sized to be readily transportable ov...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] In one embodiment, the invention allows for the conversion of a worker housing complex to homes for housing families that may be indigenous to the area of initial use of the complex. The homes can be, for example, configured as conventional detached, semi-detached or attached residential homes. The ability to reuse worker housing as family housing may offer significant economical benefits to the people responsible for the initial project, if the manufactured worker housing modules can be used in this manner in an area at or near the project site, including mitigating the costs of transporting the modules to another project and / or the costs of disposal if re-use is not a viable option and the elimination of idle time before re-use if use in another job site is not readily available.

[0013] In a worker complex, some units may contain few plumbing fixtures. The use of plumbing walls can be advantageous in such units, as it permits easy connection to existing plumbing, including water supply, waste, and venting, to facilitate installation of additional plumbing fixtures should that be required in a secondary application.

[0025] When constructing a complex in which the units are intended to be used for secondary applications relating to smaller worker housing or family housing, it is desirable generally to use substantially equal or greater numbers of units containing plumbing fixtures when compared to the number of units without plumbing connections, especially where the complex is intended for residential housing. This is desirable since it is easier to reuse units already containing plumbing than to require installation of plumbing at the time of reuse. In a complex containing reusable units, it is also cost effective to provide substantially even numbers of units containing HVAC appliances and units without these appliances, as the units can be combined for secondary application and thereby share the HVAC appliances.

Problems solved by technology

Other times, where it is difficult or costly to move the units or the units are so site-specific as to render them of little value for reuse, the worker housing modules are simply abandoned or discarded.

After particularly large projects, many modules are discarded or abandoned due to oversupply.

Many modules are also discarded or abandoned from projects in remote locations, but are generally of little value due to specific design for reuse only as a dormitory for housing numerous persons.

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