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Overcoming the cold in military camps and field hospitals

4 min read
Dantherm VA M40 camp

In this article, we cover some of the climate challenges that affect military and humanitarian operations taking place at the Earth’s extremities. You’ll also find out why more than 30,000 rapidly deployable mobile cooling and heating units from Dantherm have been put into operation across the globe over the last 35 years.

In areas of conflict, natural disaster zones, or camps for refugees and displaced people, tents and portable buildings alone offer little protection when temperatures drop and severe weather closes-in. As these harsh conditions add to already dangerous situations, the fast and efficient installation of portable heating is vital.

During deployment, military personnel exert high amounts of energy and need to be able to perform at their best when faced with critical situations. In particularly cold environments, low temperatures can have a big impact on human metabolism and other vital functions. This can affect both physical ability and decision-making.

Furthermore, hypothermia and cold stress in field hospitals create additional risks for patients recovering from injury and trauma. When the body can no longer maintain its normal temperature, patients exposed to extreme cold for long periods of time may develop other cold-related illnesses and injuries or even death.

For refugees living in temporary camps across Europe, unheated tents have become permanent accommodation as the global humanitarian crisis worsens. During the winter, freezing conditions can be life-threatening to already vulnerable families. The dangers of cold can reach those living or working from tents in almost every corner of the globe. Even in the desert, where people battle the scorching sun by day, temperatures can drop to below freezing overnight as heat rapidly escapes the especially dry atmosphere.

Why military and humanitarian aid organisations rely on Dantherm

Dantherm’s military-grade and fuel-fired VA-M15MKII and VA-M40MKII mobile heating systems are built to handle some of the most inhospitable conditions imaginable. Tested on site in our state-of-the-art facilities and put through their paces out in the field, both units are tough, mobile and designed with safety, logistics and ease-of-use in mind. In some countries and organisations, the brand Dantherm has become so known and popular that people now say 'the Dantherms' and not 'the heaters'.

The VA-M15MKII and VA-M40MKII offer the following benefits:

  • The provision of comfortable working environments in outside temperatures as low as -40°C

  • Reducing wear and tear to sensible equipment

  • Outstanding reliability with minimum maintenance

  • Easy to transport, set up and operate even in icy and snowy conditions

  • All units are compliant with military standards, as well as ISO 9001 and 14001

Having supported military field camps for over 35 years with more than 30,000 deliveries, our field-deployable mobile heating and cooling solutions have now become the NATO standard. Complying with NATO requirements, we work closely with tent and container manufacturers to develop site-specific solutions based on our tested standard equipment. This ensures fully functional military camps, field hospitals and more under all conditions.

To stay up-to-date with the needs of military, NGO and humanitarian projects as they continue to expand across the globe, our research and development team make frequent visits to camps and field hospitals currently using Dantherm technology.

To learn more about the heating systems available, or to find out about our expert support and extensive training courses, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Related products

Dantherm VA-M15MKII – tent heater
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Tent heaters

The VA-M15 MKII warm air heater is a transportable 17.9kW unit primarily developed to heat tents and temporary buildings.

Dantherm VA-M40MKII – tent heater
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Tent heaters

The warm air heater VA-M40 MKII is a mobile 38kW unit primarily developed to provide heating in temporary or transportable buildings or tents.

Dantherm FH 40 – tent heater
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Tent heaters

These tent heaters are based on the indirect fired (clean air) principle to avoid introducing combustion or fumes into occupied spaces.

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