Reusable worker housing and methods relating thereto

Abstract

Consideration is given to parameters for providing re-use of worker housing in similar, or the same, applications at other sites or other projects as well as parameters governing re-use for alternate secondary uses usually common to the area of initial use, thereby avoiding transport for long distances or wasteful disposal of worker housing structures. Secondary uses for manufactured worker housing modules according to the present invention can be, for example, smaller or reconfigured dormitory-style housing or residences or family housing.

1 . A worker housing unit for initial use in constructing a worker housing structure to accommodate a plurality of personnel and capable of being reused to construct another form of residence, comprising: an exterior wall formed suitable for exposure to the exterior of a building; an openable side suitable for connection to other units to form a worker housing structure; a heat generating appliance capable of generating heat for heating the module; a plurality of interior partitions forming at least a first bedroom and a second bedroom; a plumbing room in which there is piping to support a plumbed-in water supply and sanitary liquid waste disposal system; and the worker housing unit being pre-built to include an internal configuration supporting conversion to a secondary use after its initial use, the secondary use being other than the initial use.  
   
   
       2 . The worker housing unit of  claim 1  wherein the internal configuration includes a room in which there is an electrical system rough-in suitable for supporting at least some kitchen electrical requirements.  
   
   
       3 . The worker housing unit of  claim 2  wherein the electrical system rough-in includes a conduit at a position within the unit for accepting the electrical cables to be installed at the time of conversion of the worker housing unit.  
   
   
       4 . The worker housing unit of  claim 2  wherein the electrical system rough-in includes a cable suitable for supporting an electric cooking appliance installed to a position within the unit and covered by a wall panel cover such that it is accessible for conversion.  
   
   
       5 . The worker housing unit of  claim 2  wherein the electrical system rough-in includes at least some electrical outlets at a height from the floor greater than a countertop height.  
   
   
       6 . The worker housing unit of  claim 1  wherein the internal configuration includes provision in the plumbing room of at least two operable sinks, at least two operable toilets, urinals or a combination thereof; and at least one operable shower.  
   
   
       7 . The worker housing unit of  claim 1  wherein the internal configuration includes limiting fixtures in the plumbing room to no more than two toilets and two showers.  
   
   
       8 . The worker housing unit of  claim 1  wherein the plumbed-in water supply and liquid waste system are provided but not connected to any plumbing fixture.  
   
   
       9 . The worker housing unit of  claim 1  wherein the plumbed-in water supply and liquid waste system are connected to an operable plumbing fixture.  
   
   
       10 . The worker housing unit of  claim 1  further comprising a third bedroom.  
   
   
       11 . The worker housing unit of  claim 1  further comprising a room in which there is an electrical system rough-in suitable for supporting at least some kitchen electrical requirements.  
   
   
       12 . The worker housing unit of  claim 1  constructed to be of a size suitable for transport.  
   
   
       13 . The worker housing unit of  claim 1  reused to construct a stand alone worker module.  
   
   
       14 . The worker housing unit of  claim 1  reused to construct a detached or semidetached house  
   
   
       15 . The worker housing unit of  claim 1  further comprising a plumbing wall between the plumbing room and the first bedroom.  
   
   
       16 . A worker housing module to accommodate a plurality of personnel and capable of being converted into another form of residence, comprising: at least four exterior walls each wall formed suitable for exposure to the exterior of a building; a heat generating appliance capable of generating heat for heating the module; a plurality of interior partitions; a first bedroom; a second bedroom; a plumbing room for which there is piping provided to support a plumbed-in water supply and a sanitary liquid waste disposal piping system; a room in which there is an electrical system rough-in suitable for supporting at least some kitchen electrical requirements and an access point for interior access to an adjacent worker dormitory module, the access point being closable for conversion to a module for another purpose.  
   
   
       17 . The worker housing module of  claim 16  wherein the plumbing room is a bathroom including an installed toilet and an installed washing fixture.  
   
   
       18 . The worker housing module of  claim 16  wherein the electrical system rough-in includes a conduit at a position within the unit for accepting the electrical cables to be installed at the time of conversion of the worker housing unit.  
   
   
       19 . The worker housing module of  claim 16  wherein the electrical system rough-in includes a cable suitable for supporting an electric cooking appliance installed to a position within the unit and covered by a wall panel cover such that it is accessible for conversion.  
   
   
       20 . The worker housing module of  claim 16  wherein the electrical system rough-in includes at least some electrical outlets at a height from the floor greater than a countertop height.  
   
   
       21 . The worker housing module of  claim 16  capable of being converted into a residential house and further comprising a truss roof or eaves overhanging the exterior walls.  
   
   
       22 . The worker housing module of  claim 16  capable of being converted into a residential house and wherein at least some building components and systems meeting a building code for a residential house.  
   
   
       23 . The worker housing module of  claim 22  wherein the at least some building components and systems include wiring, insulation, heating and/or emergency escape.  
   
   
       24 . A worker complex structure for accommodating a plurality of personnel and capable of being separated into a plurality of smaller modules, comprising: a plurality of modules arranged in side by side configuration, each module including at least four exterior walls each wall formed suitable for exposure to the exterior of a building, a furnace capable of generating heat for heating the module, a first bedroom, a second bedroom and a plumbing room in which there is provided a plumbed-in water supply; and an interior access between adjacent modules.  
   
   
       25 . The worker complex structure as defined in  claim 24  wherein at least some of the plurality of smaller modules are capable of being converted into another form of residence.  
   
   
       26 . The worker complex structure as defined in  claim 24  wherein the complex structure is constructed such that the modules are intended to be used for secondary applications relating to smaller worker housing facilities or family housing.  
   
   
       27 . The worker housing complex structure of  claim 24  wherein the modules are each formed of units and the units are selected such that there are substantially equal or greater numbers of units containing plumbing fixtures when compared to the number of units without plumbing connections.  
   
   
       28 . A method for constructing a worker housing complex including a plurality of worker housing units, the method comprising: reviewing any requirements of the worker housing complex to be constructed; considering a possible secondary use for at least a portion of the plurality of worker housing units to be used in the worker housing complex; planning the worker housing complex based on the requirements; constructing the plurality of worker housing units to form the planned worker housing complex; pre-building the portion of the plurality of worker housing units to support conversion to the possible secondary use; and assembling the plurality of worker housing units to form the worker housing complex.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the possible secondary use includes residential housing the step of considering includes a review of the building codes for residential housing.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the step of pre-building includes forming at least some of the at least some building components and systems to meet a building code for a residential house.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the step of pre-building includes installing a conduit at a position within the unit for accepting the electrical cables to be installed at the time of conversion of the worker housing unit.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the step of pre-building includes installing a cable suitable for supporting an electric cooking appliance installed to a position within the unit and covered by a wall panel cover such that it is accessible for conversion.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the step of pre-building includes installing at least some electrical outlets in a room of the unit at a height from the floor greater than a countertop height.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the step of pre-building includes installing in a room of the plurality of units at least two operable sinks, at least two operable toilets, urinals or a combination thereof; and at least one operable shower.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the step of pre-building includes installing in a room of the plurality of units no more than two toilets and two showers.  
   
   
       36 . A method for building a worker complex to hold a plurality of personnel and capable of being separated into a plurality of smaller modules, comprising: providing a plurality of modules, each module including at least four exterior walls each exterior wall formed suitable for exposure to the exterior of a building, a furnace capable of generating heat for heating the module, a first bedroom, a second bedroom and a plumbing room in which there is provided piping for accommodating a plumbed-in water supply; arranging the modules in side by side configuration; and providing interior access between adjacent modules.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the plumbing room is provided with at least two operable sinks, at least two operable toilets, urinals or a combination thereof; and at least one operable shower.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the plumbing room no more than two toilets and two showers.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the plurality of modules are pre-built to support conversion to a secondary use when separated into a plurality of smaller modules.  
   
   
       40 . A method for reusing a worker complex comprising: providing a worker complex including a first module and an adjacent module arranged in side by side configuration, each module capable of accommodating a plurality of personnel and of being converted into a module for a secondary purpose and including at least four exterior walls each wall formed suitable for exposure to the exterior of a building, a furnace capable of generating heat for heating the module, a first bedroom, a second bedroom and a room in which there is provided a plumbed-in water supply; and an interior access between the first module and the adjacent module; and separating the first module and the adjacent module such that each module stands alone and the interior access between the modules is cut off.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising converting the first module to a residential house.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 39  wherein the first module includes a corridor from its first end to its opposite end, the corridor including wall panels and further comprising after the step of separating, removing at least some of the wall panels to remove at least a portion of the corridor.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 39  further comprising installing a kitchen in the first bedroom.