Specialty Fabrics Review March 2024 - 35

for larger pole tents and clearspans,
running in size from 40 feet by 80 feet
to 40 feet by 100 feet, installed most
often for command posts, mess halls,
storage and warehousing. Smaller
frame and marquee tents (10 feet by
20 feet or 20 feet square) are generally
used for first aid, for distribution of
SUPPORT DISASTER RELIEF/RECOVERY
ased in Bulls, New Zealand, Byond Disaster Relief NZ is a
not-for-profit registered Charitable Trust with overseas Donor
Status, says Lyndon Tamblyn, who heads up the organization.
It's part of a family of other independent Byond Disaster
supplies and as information centers.
" When it comes to demand, it's
typically what will do the job, what
will meet the need and what is readily
available, " he says, explaining that
urgency makes people more flexible
about sizing.
MEETING THE NEED
What is required of structures used
for such purposes is quick deployment
and the ability to tolerate demanding
conditions, says Keith Krzeminski,
executive vice president of Shelter
Structures America. Located in Los
Angeles, Calif., the company distributes
a variety of clearspans to the U.S. and
beyond, serving markets/industries
such as disaster relief, emergency first
response, event rental, military, hospitality
and more. Among the structures
he mentions as being especially useful
for disasters/first response are the company's
A-frame clearspans.
" These were created out of a need
to provide a tenting option that is
more robust than a traditional frame
tent, " Krzeminski explains. " A-frame
structures are able to stay up long term
while withstanding the elements. They
also offer more options such as hard
wall or glass wall, lockable doors for
security and more. "
A-frame options include the
company's disaster relief tents, useful
when time and resources are scarce
and there's a high demand for help.
In addition to being lightweight
and easily transported, what makes
these particularly well-suited is their
Relief organizations that operate in countries including the Philippines,
Australia, the U.K. and Brazil.
Among other purposes, the trust is tasked with providing material
aid and emergency relief, assisting communities affected by a natural
disaster. To this end, it trains volunteers to provide and coordinate
emergency relief aid, transitional assistance and early/long-term
recovery support.
Byond Relief NZ is
repurposing donated PVC
tarp-type fabric/cutoffs
and banner/signage
fabrics for temporary
shelters and for use as
ground sheets, water
collection and water
buckets; for covering
equipment; and for
the protection of food
and other aid supplies,
especially for those living
in rural areas.
PVC isn't easily
recycled, so using it for
emergency disaster relief
After a cyclone hit an outer island of Fiji, Byond Disaster
Relief New Zealand quickly deployed its personnel to
the scene of the destruction. Here, someone from the
organization is conducting an assessment, determining
the immediate shelter and water needs of the impacted
community. Image: Byond Disaster Relief New Zealand
has greater benefits than shredding or chemical recycling, he says.
" After a disaster, the PVC can be incorporated into the traditional Pacific
thatched-roof method as a waterproof membrane, " Tamblyn explains.
" Many NGOs, etc., use new PVC-type fabric as part of their response aid
kits, but I don't know many organizations using repurposed fabrics like we
are at Byond Disaster Relief.
" In addition to the PVC fabric we use, we also value donor support for
rope, roofing screws, cordless drills, tools-such as scissors, hammers,
nail pullers, saws, etc., " Tamblyn continues. " These all complement the
use of a PVC industrial textile fabric in times of a disaster response. "
Byond Disaster Relief describes its mission as " joining the dots
between the needs of victims in a disaster with our willing donors. " As
such it partners with various entities like Rotary clubs, corporations,
schools, other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), volunteers, and
local and national governments.
" There are more disasters and/or the intensity of natural disasters is
increasing, " says Tamblyn, citing climate change as one of the causes.
" There will always be a demand, but if the industrial textiles industry
partnered with NGOs, etc., then more could be done after a disaster event. "
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Specialty Fabrics Review March 2024

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