In a move to get more COVID care centers, Shriti Pandey has set up two self-sufficient solar powered units in Bihar and Punjab using agro-waste. These inherently thermally insulated structures not only trap carbon dioxide and heat but also keep the interior cooler. A report by SURFACES REPORTER (SR).
Less than 80 days with zero water
Shriti Pandey and her initiative STRAWCTURE ECO, took less than 80 days to set up a self sufficient and fully operational COVID-care unit in Patna and Jalandhar for her client 'Doctors For You.' The Patna center has collaborated with Selco Foundation while the Jalandhar center is in collaboration with the Batra Hospital.
Read more: No Smart Cities without Smart Healthcare | SR News Update
Talking about design approach taken during the design of Batra Hospital, Strawcture ECO said, "Active hospitals like Batra do not have the luxury of down time. To serve people expeditiously with higher responsibility, management wanted to build the facility within a short time. Our BioPanels were the only solution for the applications, as embodied carbon and VOC emissions from plywood and cement can prove to be fatal for high-risk patients. Pre-finished walls were installed, eliminating the need of on-site finishing work and water-curing time."
"The dry-wall partition with 40dB+ acoustic insulation, helped all doctors’ OPDs share a wall without any hassle. A special 30mm and 8’x4’ ft sized fire-rated solid core door with extreme strength and impact resistance was installed despite reducing material wastage during the door production. A classy wooden-finish and moisture proof false-ceiling was installed, achieving a 30% reduction in cost when compared with other products. With clear understanding of the requirement the entire construction was accomplished within a span of 25 days with the help of our highly experienced Lead applicators, a team of 6 local carpenters," it added.
How the structure is created
The panel by Strawcture Eco, are 100% sustainable building materials.It manufactures BioPanels made from agri-fiber like straw, husk and bagasse. Agri-fiber helps in carbon sequestration with a footprint of --500kg/m3. The panels can be readily used for constructing drywalls, partitions, false ceilings, mezzanine flooring, doors and furniture products. They are Fire (2hr+), Moisture and Termite resistant. The panels are also E1 grade certified and can be used for acoustic solutions with an insulation of more than 40 dB. These bio-composite panels, having superior features and higher performance ratings, are a Greener and more Sustainable alternative to the conventional existing options in building materials' market like plywood, gypsum, wood, MDF, FCB etc.
Talking about the fire resistance, Shriti says, "We use silica, which makes the wall fireproof, and each wall structure can store up to three kilos of carbon dioxide. Each panel is inherently thermally insulated which means it absorbs heat and keeps the interior cool, which is conducive to patients with breathing discomforts. The roof has a corrugated sheet that also absorbs the heat. Selco was mindful of the electricity problems in the area and no medical facility can run without it. We installed the solar panels on the roof, which provides power for the entire facility, thus making it self-sufficient."
"A project is truly sustainable when it not only uses ecofriendly materials and processes, but also eliminates wastage of time and efforts. Our mantra is to enable the most time-efficient solution for construction while augmenting the 3Rs of sustainability - Reuse,Reduce and Recycle," she added.
SR Take
During the current vulnerable time when the infection is at its peak, there is a desperate need of such structures that can not only be assembled quickly but also are a much sustainable and self sufficient option particularly for rural areas where there is a lack of basic amenities. SR applauds the efforts of Shriti and hopes that more such initiatives will come forward in future.
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