This document describes the Sisal House project, which aims to provide disaster victims with jobs building sturdy emergency shelters and transitional housing. Sisal House panels are made from natural fiber composite similar to fiberglass. A "Factory in a Box" would contain equipment and materials to produce the panels on-site, providing immediate economic benefits. The program seeks to move beyond temporary tent shelters by empowering locals to construct their own permanent homes. Initial steps outlined include creating a press, building sample structures, and developing partnerships with Rotary International.

1. Sisal picture from Incipi

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

3. ShelterBox
• The ShelterBox program is an excellent short
term solution.

4. ShelterBox

5. 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.

6. A New Rotary Disaster Response
• Sisal House provides residents of tent cities
with jobs building sturdy shelters and houses.
Emergency
Displaced Transitional
ShelterBox Sisal House
Victims Sisal House
Shelter

7. 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.

8. Similar to Fiberglass
• Fiberglass is proven technology.
• Sisal House
panels are are
similar to
fiberglass.

9. Manufacture
Sisal is a strong
Sisal fiber from the
Agave plant
Resin
Sisal
Panels
Press

10. 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.

11. 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

12. Green Housing
• Natural Product
• Potential use of new
bio-resins

13. 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)

14. 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/

15. 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