Sisal picture from Incipi

Vulnerable to Disasters

• Houses in the developing world are often poorly built and vulnerable to disasters.

ShelterBox

• The ShelterBox program is an excellent short term solution.

ShelterBox

Moving Beyond Tents

• A follow up program to ShelterBox is needed.

• Rotary can empower victims to build their own houses.

– Micro factories can use local labor and low cost materials to build houses.

A New Rotary Disaster Response

• Sisal House provides residents of tent cities with jobs building sturdy shelters and houses.

Displaced Victims

ShelterBoxEmergency Sisal House

Shelter

Transitional Sisal House

What is a Sisal House?

• Sisal House is panelized system for building emergency shelters.

– It uses premade panels like this wooden shed.

– Panels are made of “natural fiber composite” similar to fiberglass pole-barn siding or roofing.

Similar to Fiberglass

• Fiberglass is proven technology.

• Sisal House panels are are similar to fiberglass.

Manufacture

Sisal

Resin

Press

Sisal Panels

Sisal is a strong fiber from the

Agave plant

Sisal House

• Can be used as emergency shelters and:

– Later disassembled and reused

– Or Converted into permanent houses

• Process is similar to the Shelter2Home steel shelter system.

Sisal House - Factory in Box

• Contains– Press(es)– Resin/Catalyst– Pre-formed Sisal Fiber Mats– Optional House/Shelter plans– Hardware– Paint Brushes– Basic Hand Tools– Plastic sheeting

• Potential Upgrades– Self-powered Air Compressor– Pneumatic Press– Pneumatic Resin Sprayer

Green Housing

• Natural Product

• Potential use of new bio-resins

Economic Benefits

• Immediate– Local growth and processing of Sisal– Local sisal panel production– Local installers

• Potential / Sustainable– Export of Sisal House panels to disaster areas.– Manufacture of other products from roof tiles to

furniture.– Larger scale local production for

residential/commercial buildings.– Local production of resin. (Especially bio resins)

1st Steps

• Create Press

• Make “sample house”

• Apply for Rotary District Grant

• Develop Rotary International Partnerships

• Learn more about the Sisal House Project or add your input at http://sisalhouse.incipi.com/

Potential Start Up Costs

• Sisal “Manual” Press

– $300

• Exterior Walls & Roof for 20’ x 30’ house

– Fiber, Resin & Catalyst: $900 - $1,000

• Additional Costs

– Interior Walls

– Hardware, Fasteners & Adhesives

– Footing & Site Prep