Telecom Shelter for Coastal Environments Case Study
Custom Designed Fiberglass Communications Shelter
Recently, a military installation on the Gulf Coast reached out to Shelter Works looking for a durable and efficient protective enclosure to house seven 19" customer-furnished equipment racks and the associated ancillaries. The shelter had to maintain an internal temperature of 72°F while dissipating the heat generated by five 1000-kilowatt transmitters, all within a compact 300 sq ft footprint. Further challenges included stringent coastal building codes, the need for wind resistance up to 135 mph, and high humidity conditions that could compromise material integrity over time.
Strength in Demanding Environments
The 10' x 30' x 10' fiberglass shelter was manufactured using Shelter Works' exclusive FiberBeam™ construction with added encapsulated wood reinforcement throughout the walls, doors, and roof. Adding wood and manufacturing with 2" fastener spacing improves the enclosure's structural stability, allowing it to meet building standards for a windborne debris protection zone. Due to the installation's proximity to the coast, Shelter Works used ¾" marine grade plywood (MGP) instead of the standard 19/32" OSB due to its increased durability and moisture resistance, making it ideal for storm-prone, humid regions.
Energy Efficient Equipment Protection
Energy efficiency was another priority. The structure includes 3" foam insulation in the walls, roof, and floor, yielding an estimated R-value of 19. This level of insulation helps maintain consistent internal temperatures while reducing HVAC workload. The interior floor consists of 3/16" diamond plate steel, supported by a C6 perimeter frame and C4 cross members, ensuring maximum load capacity and stability.
Two 5-ton air conditioning units provide sufficient cooling redundancy and optimize thermal regulation. They were mounted and pre-wired on a short wall to minimize shipping costs and streamline onsite installation. The units are connected to an Internet-enabled lead-lag controller, allowing for remote monitoring and management, including the ability to alternate unit startup cycles to improve efficiency and extend service life.
This intelligent control feature ensures that the interior climate remains within specified tolerances, protecting sensitive electronic equipment from overheating and failure.
Design Flexibility and Warranty
Custom bulkheads, areas of fiberglass only, were manufactured into specified areas of the walls to allow multiple access points for cable routing without compromising structural integrity or voiding the 25-year manufacturer's warranty. The shelter was installed on a concrete deck foundation, which serves as a base for the structure and simplifies the routing of transmission lines and utility cables through the base of the shelter.
These features were essential for ensuring the shelter's adaptability to the evolving needs of telecommunications installations.
This project highlights the thoughtful design choices needed for protecting sensitive telecommunications infrastructure in environmentally demanding parts of the country. By prioritizing high-quality materials like marine-grade plywood, advanced thermal insulation, and intelligent climate control systems, the shelter is well-equipped to provide long-term protection and reliability. The structure's performance under extreme environmental conditions ensures that critical telecom operations remain uninterrupted, even in the face of tropical storms and extreme heat.