1. Laprise Homes presented itself as a leader in the prefabricated home industry in Quebec. 2. After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Canadian Red Cross announced a program to provide 7,500 transitional wooden shelters. Laprise Homes was awarded an initial contract to construct 3,750 units. 3. Identifying needs in Haiti posed challenges including debris removal, land ownership issues, lack of infrastructure, and hurricane season. The shelter design needed to be quick to install, durable, portable, and safe for occupants and the environment.

2. SUMMARY
1.PRESENTATION OF THE COMPANY
2.THE CRC SHELTER PROGRAM
3.INDENTIFYING THE NEEDS
4.IDENTIFYING SOLUTIONS

3. 1. PRESENTATION OF
THE COMPANY

4. 1. PRESENTATION OF THE COMPANY
LAPRISE HOMES:
Since 1989,
Now 5 companies,
Part of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies since 5 years,
Main player in the prefab home industry in Quebec,
We produce Over 1 Million Feet2/Year,
Proud supplier of the Canadian Red Cross (Transitional
shelters in Haiti),

5. A Group of 5 Companies…
Present in more than 20 Countries!

6. Proud Supplier of the Canadian Red Cross -
Shelters Program in Haiti

7. Pre Fabricated Homes Since 1989…

8. Certified energy-efficient wall panel system

9. Commercial Division

10. Exportable!
The Canadian Quality Now Available…
Everywhere…
Habitaflex, The Quick Building Solution !!!

11. Acquisition in
2001,
by Laprise
In Business
since1920…

12. 2. THE CANADIAN RED
CROSS SHELTER
PROGRAM

13. January 12, 2010: 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the
western coast of Haiti.
Buildings all over the Haitian capital of Port au Prince collapsed,
Thousands were killed and thousands more were trapped,
3,000,000 people affected by the disaster, and 200,000 have
been left homeless.
Source : http://www.redcross.ca/

14. 2. THE CRC SHELTER PROGRAM
Few weeks after the earthquake, the Canadian Red Cross
announced that it will be supporting communities in Jacmel and
Leogane with 7,500 wooden shelters.
Source : http://www.redcross.ca/

15. 2. THE CRC SHELTER PROGRAM
•Production of •Conception of •Identification of •End Users
the Shelters the Shelters, the needs
•Management of •Financing of
the supply the program,
chain, •Delivery of the
program,

16. 2.1 THE TENDER PROCESS
An invitation to tender (ITT) was announced on April
16 by SNC-Lavalin, the supply chain management
advisor of the CRC.
Companies were invited to respond to the ITT before
the deadline of April 26, 2010.
The companies were chosen based on their
certifications and a set of basic criteria.
Source : http://www.redcross.ca/

17. 2.1 THE TENDER PROCESS
The lowest bids were evaluated by SNC-Lavalin and
by the Canadian Red Cross,
In addition, each company's facilities were inspected
by SNC-Lavalin and the Canadian Red Cross. Elements
that were considered included production capacity,
equipment, and resources.
 At the end of this process the contract was awarded to
Maison Laprise. The company has been given an initial
contract of $13.8 million for the construction of 3 750
units
Source : http://www.redcross.ca/

18. 3. IDENTIFYING THE
NEEDS

19. 3. IDENTIFYING THE NEEDS
The situation in the field often dictates the
needs in response & recovery missions.
In Haiti the challenges were great…

20. 3.1 CHALLENGES (THE SPACE)
19 Million cubic meters of debris to be removed.
Enough rubble to fill the Rogers Centre (home of the Blue Jays)
nearly 12 times.
In New York City, it took two years to clear the debris from the
World Trade Centre.
Source : http://www.redcross.ca/
Picture: l’Organisation Nationale pour la Sante, Education et le Progrès Economiques du Pays (ONSEPEP)

21. 3.1 CHALLENGES (THE LAND OWNERSHIP)
Difficulties to have viable plots of land,
Ownership issues, between 70-80 per cent of homeless people
in Haiti were renters before the earthquake struck,
 Landowners must be identified and permission must be granted
before the shelters can be erected.
Source : http://www.redcross.ca/
Picture: Perspective monde, University of Sherbrooke

22. 3.1 CHALLENGES (MORE CHALLENGES)
Population movement,
Lack of access to clean water and sanitation,
Logistical issues,
Hurricane Season...
Source : http://www.redcross.ca/
Picture: http://digitaljournal.com/article/295141

23. 3. IDENTIFYING THE NEEDS
To meet the challenge, the Shelters had to be…
Quick & simple to install: Emergency & Limited resources
Durable : Long term solution to the homeless needed,
because reconstruction will come only after the rubbles’ removal…
Light, transportable & easy to relocate: Logistics ,
Population movements & Landownership
Safe for the human and the environment:
Eco friendly,
Earthquake resistant,
Withstand winds of up to 240 km/hour,
Termites, fungus and rot resistant,

24. 4. IDENTIFYING
SOLUTIONS

25. 4. IDENTIFYING SOLUTIONS
Solutions were numerous, but…
Time mattered and fast decisions had to be taken,
7500 is a significant amount of Shelters!
A “final” design had to be adopted at some point…
An industrialized production means that the design and
specifications cannot be revised each time a new idea
comes up!

26. 4.1 THE ORIGINAL DESIGN
A Wooden framed shelter... What a great idea!
Wood is durable,
Wooden-framed structures can be earthquake &
hurricane resistant,
The timber can be treated to ensure that the houses
are termite, fungus and rot resistant,
Pre fabricated kits can be quick & easy to put up, easy
to relocate & Optimize the shipping volume.
Many mills have a certified chain of custody to ensure
that the wood comes from a sustainably managed forest.

27. 4.1 THE ORIGINAL DESIGN
The original request for quotation (RFQ) sent to the bidders
had the following technical specifications:
Wooden-framed houses to be shipped in bundles to be hand
lifted,
A new solution was identified during the bidding process:
A panelized structure for ease of installation,
 Pre-cut, pre-drilled and pre-assembled components for greater
installation efficiency and speed.
Minimum tools and skills required,
Components designed to be easily maneuvered by hand.

28. 4.1 THE ORIGINAL DESIGN
The original request for quotation (RFQ) sent to the bidders
had the following technical specifications:
Capability to withstand winds of up to 233 km/hour (145 mph) –
Hurricane Category IV.
The solutions identified by the designers:
Structural wood posts, extending into post-type foundation, 3
feet deep (90cm) into the ground beneath the floor level,
Wooden-framed structure with “Impact resistant” wall panels
(plywood), bolted onto structural wood posts.
Multi-directional bracing structure,
Strong strapping system to secure roof trusses and building
components.

29. 4.1 THE ORIGINAL DESIGN
Post-type foundation, 3 feet deep
(90cm) into the ground…

30. 4.1 THE ORIGINAL DESIGN
The original request for quotation (RFQ) sent to the bidders
had the following technical specifications:
Timber had to be SPF Construction Grade (Spruce, Pine, Fir)
The joists & studs had to be of Grade SPF Construction or
Structural Select,
Timber had to be Certified to ensure that the wood comes from a
certified, sustainable mill under either:
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC),
Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI),
Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC),*
Canadian Standards Association certification (CSA), *
*Option that came later in the process to facilitate the supply

31. 4.1 THE ORIGINAL DESIGN
The challenges for the designers & bidders:
Necessity to use pressure-treated wood to prevent decay and to
repel water and termites,
Timber had to be SPF Construction Grade to be mechanically
sounded but these species have a limited capacity to absorb the
treatment,
Pre drilling the components without affecting the repelling
performance,
Maintaining the Moisture content below 19% after treatment,
The availability of certain wood species & certified products, ex:
4x5 posts, 105 000 plywood sheets (5/8”, BC Fir Select &
Certified, Canply), etc.

32. 4.2 THE SECOND DESIGN
The parties agreed to start working on a first lot of 3750 Shelters
& use the experience to be acquired during the first half of the
project in order to improve the design & lower the cost for the
balance of the program.
The main changes brought to the original design:
The new shelters will be designed to withstand winds of up to
180km/hour (112mph) –Hurricane Category III (Rather than
Category IV),
The post type foundation will be replaced by a permanent tie-
down system (rotating plates and steel cables),
A wooden floor structure would be buried in the ground,

33. 4.2 THE SECOND DESIGN
Tie Downs

34. 4.2 THE SECOND DESIGN
The new design facilitated the production &
permitted lowering the cost :
Production time went from 8 ½ Minute/Shelter down to less
than 4 Minutes/Shelter with the second design!
From 9 to 7 Roof trusses…
Straight framing rather than alternating studs,
Optimized Container space (from 6.25 Shelter/container, up to 9
shelters/container)
Etc.

35. 4.2 THE SECOND DESIGN
The new design facilitated the installation in
the field:
No more need to dig trenches,
Suited to most ground types,
Lighter components,
Etc.

36. 4.2 THE SECOND DESIGN
The Industrial Solutions to meet the order:
Four (4) weeks reaction time after PO,
1000 Shelters/Month,
Pressure on our suppliers….
New manufacturing plant (tools, equipment,
machinery, etc),
60 New employees,
Need NOT to jeopardize the regular production…

37. 4.3 SOLUTIONS IN MOTION
The First Generation of Shelters
By Laprise
The Second Generation of Shelters
Note: Some pictures are from the CRC web site and
may show shelters made by other suppliers.