Mediagua

Mediagua is the name given to emergency housing in Chile.^{[citation needed]} Since the end of the 20th century, The NGO Housing Foundation and Un Techo para Chile, as well as other social assistance organizations, give this name to a type of prefabricated social housing that they build for indigent people or people who have suffered a natural disaster.

Elements

A 'standard' mediagua (also known as Emergency Housing) has its origins in the Housing Foundation. The most common has a surface area of 18.3 m² and dimensions of 6.1 m x 3 m, which is enough to house a family of approximately 4 people.

It consists of 8 panels (2 floors, 2 sides, 2 front and 2 rear), 2 ridges, felt paper, 8 masquinter sheets, 15 pilots and 8 1x4' boards; (beams) and 6 2x2" (costaneras) for the roof beam. all this together with liquid masquintape

Armed

The construction of the mediagua varies according to the characteristics of the terrain where it is located, the most common being the use of piles at the base. The piles are located at predetermined distances and at a height that allows the Mediagua to be isolated from the humidity of the ground and rain. They must be plumbed individually to ensure they are at the correct level. The panels are assembled in a 'U' shape, that is, the 3 panels on one side of the house first and then the 3 remaining panels. The idea of this is to optimize work by reducing the number of volunteers needed for certain tasks and allowing for faster progress. Then those "U" to shape the perimeter of the mediagua. The roof is reinforced with a beam. A main beam and 3 side beams as well as 3 side beams for each half of the house. The insulation (felt paper) is placed on the beam and finished with the zinc sheets. The sheets overlap depending on the direction the wind blows in the area to prevent rain leaks.