Cortex Shelter

Cutwork

Cortex Shelter is a housing solution that uses a rollable concrete fabric that hardens in place when hydrated.

Snapshot
Manufacturing & delivery
Performance & use
Research & standards
Feedback

Product description Brand name and product description

The Cortex Shelter is a self-built housing solution for emergency situations. The shelter combines a rollable concrete fabric technology and a metallic tube framing building system. The prototype module consists of a house of 24.9 m² (dimensions 11.5 m length, 3.6 m wide, and between 2.1 m and 2.95 m high) and the layout includes a multi-functional room (20.7 m²), toilet (2.07 m²), and shower area (2.07 m²).

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Worldwide

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

Cortex Shelter, Cutwork, Cortex Composites

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

Unknown

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

Lifeshelter LS4, I-Beam Pallet House, circHouse, and Lumadome

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Refugees, IDPs, and low-income families living in slums

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

Step 1: Delivery of building kit

Step 2: Unpack building kits

Step 3: Unroll concrete mats for the floor and hydrate

Step 4: Assemble envelope panels. a) assemble metallic tube framing; b) unroll concrete mats; and c) unroll and install interior insulation panels.

Step 5: Attach side panels

Step 6: Hydrate envelope and side panels, let dry

Step 7: Install doors, windows, and utilities

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

The company Cortext Composites Inc. has patented the nonwoven cementitious composite for in-situ hydration.

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Cortex Shelter

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

Unknown

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Intended number of occupants (#)

Number of individuals. 1 family = 5 persons.

5 occupants

Speed of assembly (h)

Number of hours from deployment to completion

24 h

Footprint area (m²)

Surface area of footprint

24.9 m²

Internal volume (m³)

Internal volume

90.16 m³

Material composition

Main material used

The envelope of the house (walls and roof) is made of panel segments composed (from outside to inside) of a geosynthetic cementitious composite mat, a metallic tube framing structure, and stone-wool insulating material. The floor is made of the same mat used for the walls.

Lifespan (years)

Intended number of years of occupancy

30+ years

Flammable flash point temperature (ºC)

Combustion tempurature

Unknown

Maximum snow load (kg/m²)

As calculated by manufacturer

Unknown

Maximum wind speed (km/h)

As calculated by manufacturer

Unknown

Thermal insulating capacity (m²*K/W)

Composite estimated R-value

Suitable climates

List of suitable climates for use of this components

All climates

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

The Cortex Shelter combines two main technologies: Geosynthetic composite mat for in-situ hydration or “rollable concrete mat,” and a bendable metallic tube construction system or “metallic tube framing.”

The rollable concrete mat is a fabric commonly used in the construction of infrastructure for water management, agriculture, landfill & waste, oil & gas, erosion control, and mining. The mat is applied on-site on top of the supporting surface or structure and then hydrated and left to dry for 72 hours. When it hardens, the mat creates a solid concrete shell that is also water-proof. The concrete mat is used for the floor, walls, and roof of the shelter.

The bendable tubes, on the other hand, consist of square-section tubes of custom-made dimensions. The tubes have pre-made cuts that allow builders to bend the tubes by hand to form architectural structures. The system does not require specialized tools or labor.

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Technical support Technical support provided by

Provided by the manufacturer.

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

Unknown

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

30+ years

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

The manufacturer aims to reduce up to 90% or the amount of concrete used in similar buildings and to double the compressive strength of traditional concrete. The reduction of concrete also increases carbon savings up to 90%, according to the manufacturer. Other performance targets mentioned by the manufacturer include assembly time reduction, technical labor required, and waste.

The performance statistics of the rollable concrete mat provided by the manufacture includes:

Compression Strength: 7,000 psi (AMST C-109)
Flexural Strength: 1,500 psi (AMST C-947)
Punctural Resistance: 1,500 psi (AMST D-4833)
Packaging: 8’ x 100’ x 0.5’’
Ready for use in 72 hours after hydration

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

Testing performed by the manufacturer determined compression strength at 48.62 Mpa/in (AMST C-109), flexural strength at 10.34 Mpa/in (AMST C-947), and punctural resistance at 10.34 Mpa/in (AMST D-4833), however, no third-party testing has been found.

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

Unknown

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

No known safety hazards are related to this product.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

A reliable source of clean water is required for the hydration of the rollable concrete mat.

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Scholzen, A., et al., 2015, Thin-Walled Shell Structures Made of Textile-Reinforced Concrete, Structural Concrete, 16(1), pp. 106–14.

ASTM D8173-18, Standard Guide for Site Preparation, Layout, Installation, and Hydration of Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Mats, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2018, www.astm.org

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

The rollable concrete textile used for the Cortex Shelter complies with ASTM Standards for Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Mats.

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

The manufacturer cites compression strength, flexural strength, and punctural resistence as evaluation criteria

Other information

Other key elements included in the Cortex Shelter are solar panels, safe entrance door with key, toilet, shower, and electric cooking stove.

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

Snapshot

Product description Brand name and product description

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Worldwide

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

Cortex Shelter, Cutwork, Cortex Composites

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

Unknown

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

Lifeshelter LS4, I-Beam Pallet House, circHouse, and Lumadome

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Refugees, IDPs, and low-income families living in slums

Manufacturing & delivery

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

Step 1: Delivery of building kit

Step 2: Unpack building kits

Step 3: Unroll concrete mats for the floor and hydrate

Step 4: Assemble envelope panels. a) assemble metallic tube framing; b) unroll concrete mats; and c) unroll and install interior insulation panels.

Step 5: Attach side panels

Step 6: Hydrate envelope and side panels, let dry

Step 7: Install doors, windows, and utilities

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

The company Cortext Composites Inc. has patented the nonwoven cementitious composite for in-situ hydration.

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Cortex Shelter

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

Unknown

Performance & use

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Intended number of occupants (#)

Number of individuals. 1 family = 5 persons.

5 occupants

Speed of assembly (h)

Number of hours from deployment to completion

24 h

Footprint area (m²)

Surface area of footprint

24.9 m²

Internal volume (m³)

Internal volume

90.16 m³

Material composition

Main material used

Lifespan (years)

Intended number of years of occupancy

30+ years

Flammable flash point temperature (ºC)

Combustion tempurature

Unknown

Maximum snow load (kg/m²)

As calculated by manufacturer

Unknown

Maximum wind speed (km/h)

As calculated by manufacturer

Unknown

Thermal insulating capacity (m²*K/W)

Composite estimated R-value

Suitable climates

List of suitable climates for use of this components

All climates

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Technical support Technical support provided by

Provided by the manufacturer.

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

Unknown

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

30+ years

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

The performance statistics of the rollable concrete mat provided by the manufacture includes:

Compression Strength: 7,000 psi (AMST C-109)
Flexural Strength: 1,500 psi (AMST C-947)
Punctural Resistance: 1,500 psi (AMST D-4833)
Packaging: 8’ x 100’ x 0.5’’
Ready for use in 72 hours after hydration

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

Unknown

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

No known safety hazards are related to this product.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

A reliable source of clean water is required for the hydration of the rollable concrete mat.

Research & standards

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Scholzen, A., et al., 2015, Thin-Walled Shell Structures Made of Textile-Reinforced Concrete, Structural Concrete, 16(1), pp. 106–14.

ASTM D8173-18, Standard Guide for Site Preparation, Layout, Installation, and Hydration of Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Mats, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2018, www.astm.org

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

The rollable concrete textile used for the Cortex Shelter complies with ASTM Standards for Geosynthetic Cementitious Composite Mats.

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

The manufacturer cites compression strength, flexural strength, and punctural resistence as evaluation criteria

Other information

Other key elements included in the Cortex Shelter are solar panels, safe entrance door with key, toilet, shower, and electric cooking stove.

Feedback

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

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In context files & documents (0)

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