Evaluation of Lightweight, Relocatable Structures for Use in Theaters of Operations.

Identified and evaluated were lightweight structures that are now being used by the military services and private industry, and that meet Army Facilities Component System AFCS requirements for initial to intermediate standards of construction buildings to be used from 0 to 24 months. To gather information about structures meeting these requirements, Department of Defense agencies and private manufactures were surveyed. To evaluate and rank the shelters, the Theater of Operations Building System Evaluation Procedure TOBSEP computer program was used. This study found that off-the-shelf relocatable buildings available commercially can meet AFCS requirements, although the size correspondences may not be exact. The current DOD inventory of lightweight, relocatable structures does not meet the needs of AFCS-except for tentages and the Marine Corps Knockdown building system. Prefabricated panel and pre-engineered building systems can be used for structures with an 8-ft 2.4-m ceiling and a width less than 60 ft 18.29 m. Requirements for larger facilities can be met by fabric structures. Most interior facilities provided by commercial manufacturers are expensive and exceed the requirements for military facilities. Most commercial structures do not adapt effectively to various climates temperate, desert, tropic, frigid without the use of mechanical systems.