What is a Quonset Hut
A Quonset hut is a simple semicircular prefabricated structure made from corrugated steel. The huts were first developed in the United States in 1941 during the Second World War as housing units and storage facilities for US Navy troops. They were named Quonset huts after their first assembly site, Quonset Point, in the town of Davisville, Rhode Island. Quonset huts were constructed to imitate Nissen huts, which were introduced by the British during the First World War.
Design
Quonset huts were first manufactured in the United States to cater for the need of a multi-purpose simple structural unit that could be transported easily. The original design imitated British Nissen huts and were made from corrugated steel with the ends covered in plywood that included doors and windows. The inside was shielded with hard-pressed timber linings and a wooden floor.
The structure was placed directly on the ground with a wooden or concrete floor.
Although the first structures were made from non-strategic steel, they were replaced with high-quality galvanized steel to prevent
rusting and ensure longevity. The flexible open space allowed the huts to be used as barracks, latrines, offices, medical facilities (including isolation wards), housing units, and bakeries.
History
When the US took over the island of Guam during the Second World War, construction commenced in the hopes of transforming the island into a strong military base capable of raiding the Japanese mainland. In order to cater for the sizeable arrival of troops, temporary structures were needed and Quonset huts turned out to be important in Guam. Quonset huts were easy to assemble and required no skillful expertise to construct. The standard measurements were sixteen feet by thirty-six feet, with an eight foot radius. Roughly 170,000 huts were built and used during the Second World War.
History of Quonsets
Who invented the Quonset hut and when?
The George Fuller construction company is credited with being the first company to manufacture Quonset huts on behalf of the US Navy in 1941. The exact inventor or designer isn’t known, but the design is based on the Nissen Hut design that originated from World War I.
- Clear span interior - with no structural support poles or walls, they allow for unobstructed building space
- Strength of building - by using steel, they have undeniable strength
- Quick construction - because they are designed to be produced and assembled as kits, they take minimal time to erect
- Portable - they can be assembled, disassembled and moved to different bases depending on their need
How did the Quonset get its name?
Construction Manuals
DIY Quonset huts are a cost-effective, easy-to-assemble building solution, but how exactly do you put them together?
Our building guide for Quonset hut construction will give you:
- More details on the assembly process, including what equipment and tools you may need
- A general overview of how to put your steel structure together
MODERN-DAY QUONSET HUTS
Modern day Quonset huts as designed by SBS use a deep corrugated section to ensure a strong structure to guard against the Australian climate. We use high grade Zincalum in a variety of thicknesses from 1m to 1.8mm depending on the span required for the structure.
