ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES OF A 100-MAN UNDERGROUND SHELTER

Abstract : Tests were conducted to determine the adequacy of the NRDL 100 man shelter to maintain comfortable living conditions for at least 14 days. Temperature studies were conducted during both simulated and human occupancy. The temperature of the shelter remained comfortable during 14 days of human occupancy. The ventilating air movement through the shelter designed for 16 cfm per occupant was adequate to reduce the carbon monoxide concentration from heavy smoking to below safe tolerance limits and it removed 69 % of the heat generated by the occupants with only 31 % of the heat being dissipated through the walls. The shelter temperature varied between 74 and 90 F with an outside air temperature of 50 to 94 F during the simulated occupancy test and between 70 and 82 F during the human occupancy tests with an outside air temperature of 36 to 67 F. Poor distribution of the inlet air resulted in uncomfortably cool areas in the front of the shelter during the human occupancy test. A preliminary analysis was conducted on a thermal analyzer to determine its potential as a tool for predicting shelter temperatures under various climatic conditions. This analysis showed only about 10 % deviation from the measured temperature reported here.