Armoda portable accommodation modules and the accessories that support them are used in some of the harshest environments. One of the most demanding environments these modules are utilized are offshore facilities and vessels that operate in cold weather climates. Freezing temperatures with wind and saltwater make these locations a unique challenge for portable accommodation modules and their support accessories. In this article, we will cover the different types of modules that Armoda manufactures, how they are designed to handle winter conditions, and the winterization steps taken to ensure that the auxiliary equipment can also combat these conditions.

Armoda Portable Accommodation Modules

Armoda’s portable accommodation modules come in various sizes, from 12’ to 42’. All modules are globally compliant and certified to meet all the major governing organizations. The modules can be outfitted to accommodate a range of activities, including:

• Sleeper
• Galley
• Diner
• Laundry
• Office
• Rec. Room

The modules can also be customized to meet specific project requirements, such as a single-unit galley/diner module or a sleeper/office module.

Winter Ready Modules

All of Armoda’s portable accommodation modules are fully insulated units with independent HVAC systems. Each room in a module is outfitted with a primary HVAC system and a fully redundant HVAC system.

The HVACs keep the modules' occupants comfortable and ensure that internal water and sewer plumbing are protected from the winter weather.

Even in normal conditions, getting people to agree on what temperature a living and workspace should be kept is hard. To help provide more localized temperature control in the modules, Armoda also offers additional wall-mounted heaters. These heaters allow individuals additional warmth without impacting those who prefer cooler temps.

Routine maintenance of the HVAC systems is important, especially in winter. Check out our article on routine HVAC maintenance, what it is and why you need it.

Auxiliary Equipment Modifications

Auxiliary equipment is vital to ensuring that a portable accommodation module is operating correctly. Armoda offers a large selection of auxiliary equipment that can be chosen to meet the specific needs of individual projects. The equipment is categorized into four types: communications, galley support, power, and water/sewer. When it comes to ensuring the equipment is ready for colder conditions, the communications, galley support, and power are generally prepared to handle the weather without needing modifications. The water/sewer equipment will often be fortified to ensure it can handle the conditions where it will be deployed.

The main area that needs to be reinforced for the colder climate is the exposed plumbing used to connect the water and sewer inlets and outlets to the auxiliary equipment. This plumbing also runs between the auxiliary equipment. For water, a typical setup would have water lines going from the water storage tank to a pressure set that splits the water into lines that run to each module. For sewer, the lines travel from the modules to sewer lift pumps with lines that feed into the marine sanitation device (MSD).

All these plumbing lines running between the modules and auxiliary equipment are exposed to the elements. To ensure that the liquids in the lines do not freeze, heat trace is added to the lines. Heat trace works by adding heating cables to the surface of the pipes using specially designed tape. The cables are connected to electricity, which warms the heating cables and ensures that the pipes' contents will not freeze. In addition to the heat trace, the plumbing connected to the exterior of the module and the plumbing within the first couple of feet of the interior has insulation added. Using heat trace and insulation on all the plumbing ensures these lines will not experience slow flow, pipe cracking, or bursting. This safeguards the project from experiencing costly repairs.

Extreme cold weather can cause many issues for portable accommodations if the right precautions are not taken. Armoda’s portable accommodation modules have been engineered and manufactured to handle these conditions, or they can be modified to meet specific cold weather requirements. Our portable accommodation modules have independent, redundant HVAC systems and full insulation and are ready to handle the cold. Heat trace and additional insulation can be added to the plumbing that connects the water and sewer auxiliary equipment, ensuring successful operations of the modules throughout the winter. If you require portable accommodation modules and auxiliary equipment for your next project, contact Armoda today. We have the experience and equipment to ensure your personnel is safe and comfortable all winter.