Self-Build Relocatable SIP Construction Mechanism for Sustainable Social Housing in UAE

What is it about?

The current ‘rigid’ construction systems and material of Emirati social housing leave little room for residents to undertake their desired adaptations and extensions of their turn-key houses that have been designed, built and submitted to them by federal and local social housing institutions. This lack of adaptability and responsiveness to the changing residents’ needs have caused undeniable social sustainability relevant problems. In response, the residents have reacted spontaneously by changing and extending their houses but, unfortunately,​ in many cases, these actions have resulted in structural, environmental and health hazards. On the other hand, the recently emerging Structured Insulated Panels (SIPs) systems have been investigated in this research as sustainable, resilient and relocatable external/internal wall-floor-roof construction systems replacing the current ‘rigid’ masonry-and-reinforced concrete one used in constructing UAE social housing models. This would help achieve the resilience of social housing and, thus, allow residents to have the lead in adapting and extending/contracting their houses without compromising environmental, structural and safety considerations. The research founds out that the use of SIPs systems is promising and thus suggested a proposed self-build construction mechanism that gives the residents the upper hand in the decisions relevant to their houses.

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Why is it important?

This self-build construction proposed mechanism would help achieve the resilience of social housing and, thus, allow residents to have the lead in adapting and extending/contracting their houses without compromising environmental, structural and safety considerations.