SHELTER DESIGN: IGLOO SNOW SHELTER
CONSTRUCTION: CHALLENGING 2 to 3 hours for two people.
EQUIPMENT:
Sawing instrument
SEASON:
Winter
The Igloo shelter is not a shelter that should be built in an emergency situation as they are hard to
build and may take several hours to complete. Therefore, don't wait until it gets dark to start
building. The result however is an aesthetically pleasing looking shelter that is roomy warm and
provides good shelter.
KEY CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS AND TOOLS
There are four key requirements for building your Igloo.
REQUIREMENT#1: Hard packed snow is essential for igloo construction as it is constructed of
blocks of snow. The harder the snow, the easier it will be to cut and shape the blocks. You may
not be able to determine how compressed the snow is until you cut out your first snow block.
Locate an area of hard packed snow that is at least 12 inches or more in depth. The blocks should
be at least 12 to 15 inches in height or length to facilitate ease of construction. If you cannot find
hard packed snow then these options are available to you:
v Trample on the snow to pack it down. This will require you to add more snow to build up the
depth or use a larger area
v Heap snow in large quantities and then let it sit for a few hours. This would be similar to
building large mounds of snow for Quinzee shelter building.
Recycle
v Pack snow into a box. A recycle box or a home-made ‘ice box’ are
box
items that can be used. Pack snow into the box and them tip it
out. This method is like making sand castles. Note that plastic bins
become fragile in the cold weather. Once the blocks are made they
can be cut into smaller pieces.
Ice Box
REQUIREMENT#2: Snow Blocks: Effective and efficient
building of an igloo dictates that the blocks should be cut as
large as possible. The recommended size is 36 inches in length,
12 to 15 inches in height and 8 inches in depth. A block of this
size can be cut up into two smaller blocks for construction.
REQUIREMENT#3: Cutting Tools: You must have an instrument to cut blocks out of the hard
packed snow. The cutting tool should have a thin cutting edge that is at least 12 to 18 inches long.
v A “Snow Saw” is the best tool to use, however this may be hard to find or
expensive. (Cutting edge 12 to 18 inches in length)
v A “Wood Saw”. (Cutting edge 12 to 18 inches in length)
v Snow shovel with straight edge. (metal or plastic at least 12)
REQUIREMENT#4: Two persons: A minimum of two people are needed. As the walls of the Igloo
are built, one person must stay inside while the other hands the blocks over. The person inside will
eventually be sealed inside the igloo and they must then cut their way out after the shelter is
complete.
Authors:
Version:
Paul Young-Davies, Chuck Fraser
th
Version 002: Sept 12 2012
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SHELTER DESIGN: IGLOO SNOW SHELTER
CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE
v After you have created or located an area of hard packed snow, cut the
slow into blocks. The blocks should be at least 3ft length, 12-15 inches in
height and 8 inches in width.
v
Lay the blocks in a circle that is large enough to
accommodate all the people who plan to stay in the
Igloo shelter. This is your first row of the Igloo
shelter.
v It is very important to cut the edges of the blocks
so that they fit together when you create the first
row. When you fit the blocks together, the edges
should point towards the centre of your Igloo. By
doing this, you will create the circular shape of the
Igloo shelter and it will help the robustness aspect
of your shelter.
Two blocks
Shape
edges
Fit together
v After you have laid the first row, dig
out the snow from the centre of the
Igloo. This will lower the floor of the
Igloo and then cut the blocks in a
spiral fashion as shown. This angle
will help you build up the walls of the
shelter in a robust manner.
v Smooth the surface of the blocks with your cutting tool so they are as flat
as possible.
v Cut a slight angle in the blocks which points
to the centre of the Igloo. This angle helps
each row of snow blocks lean inwards and
form the rounded shape of the Igloo.
v Start the second row. Prior to placing the blocks on top of the first
row, shape the bottom of each block with a slight curve. The two lower
edges of block will crush when the block is placed and help anchor it in
place.
Overlap
v As you add new blocks ensure that they
overlap the blocks in the lower row and lean
inwards as you build up. This provides
stability in the walls of your shelter. Make
the blocks fit as tight as you can, but at this
point do not be concerned about gaps between the blocks.
Authors:
Version:
Paul Young-Davies, Chuck Fraser
th
Version 002: Sept 12 2012
Page 2 of 5
SHELTER DESIGN: IGLOO SNOW SHELTER
v When each row is finished, smooth the top surface and continue to build up the walls. Ensure
that each row curves towards the centre of the Igloo.
v Finishing the top of the Igloo: This is the most challenging part of building an Igloo. As
the walls are built up they close in and the angle becomes more severe. The person on the
inside has to be careful to position each block so it is secure and doesn’t fall in. To avoid
the blocks falling in, prop up the blocks with cross country ski poles or small spars.
v As the last row of blocks is completed, a small gap will be left at the
top of the Igloo. The person outside will place the final block on the
top of the Igloo and the person inside will shape it so that it fits into
the hole, sealing themselves inside the Igloo. Thus is it important that
they have a shovel to help them dig their way out.
v The person inside must dig their way out of the igloo. There are three means of doing this:
Ø Option 1: If there is ample snow depth, dig through the floor of the
igloo under the walls. In doing so, a natural ‘sink’ hole is created
which will trap cold air and keep the heat inside the Igloo.
Ø Option 2:If there is not enough snow to
dig down, then tunnel through the wall at ground level
Ø
Option 3: Have the person on the outside create the entrance by
digging through the Igloo wall.
v Igloo Entrance: Once the entrance hole has been created, it should be
covered with snow blocks to give protection from the weather. There are three entrance
designs to choose from as shown:
Authors:
Version:
Paul Young-Davies, Chuck Fraser
th
Version 002: Sept 12 2012
Page 3 of 5
SHELTER DESIGN: IGLOO SNOW SHELTER
Regardless of the entrance design that you choose, keep in mind the
following:
Ø Build a wall near the entrance to block the wind from blowing snow
into the entrance.
Ø The entrance must be wide enough to crawl through wearing your
winter clothing
Ø Wide enough to push your sleeping gear into the Igloo
FINISHING YOUR IGLOO
Now that you have now built your Igloo, the next step is to (1) fill in all the gaps between the
blocks, (2) add ventilation holes and (3) setup your sleeping area
v Fill in the gaps: Start on the outside of the igloo. First, fill in any large gaps with small blocks
of snow. Second, shovel snow over the Igloo and stuff snow into the smaller gaps with your
hands. Smooth the inside: Fill in any gaps on the inside and then wipe your hands over the all of
the inside to smooth it out. When you sleep in the Igloo, your breath will heat up the inside and
it may drip. A smooth interior will to make sure that drips do not fall on you while you sleep.
v Ventilation holes. Add several ventilation holes about 1 inch in diameter all around the igloo as
this stops blowing snow blocking a ventilation hole. Make sure that holes are on the upper part
of the Igloo otherwise the wind may blow on you while you sleep making you feel the cold. If
you do not create ventilation holes then you risk a build up of carbon dioxide from your breath.
v Setup your sleeping area higher than the entrance. This will save you from sleeping in an area
where cold air may pool.
PREHEAT YOUR IGLOO
If you want to heat your igloo, then place a few candles in the centre of the Igloo once you have
finished it. Light the candles and then seal the entrance. The heat from the candles will rise and
make the upper part of the igloo melt. The Because of the dome design, the water flows down the
sides will run down the sides of the igloo and soaks the blocks of snow. When the blocks are almost
completely saturated with water, extinguish the candles and open the entrance. The cold air will
freeze the water forming a thin ice shell on the inside. Caution: Do not place your sleeping gear in
the Igloo while you have a naked flame in the Igloo.
BEDDING:
Do not lie on bare snow as it will drain your body heat very quickly. You will need insulation. This
could be an air mattress, debris or cardboard sheets. If you use debris, make it thick enough to
cover the area you plan to lay on. Choose material that you would like to sleep on.
EXTENDING YOUR IGLOO
An Igloo is a great shelter for one or two people. More than two people will the Igloo a significant
amount of effort and a cramped shelter. Rather than build an extra large Igloo, consider building
one Igloo and then adding extensions to it. The choice is yours. Extending your Igloo makes a fun
overnight experience as more people can sleep together.
Authors:
Paul Young-Davies, Chuck Fraser
Page 4 of 5
Version:
Version 002: Sept 12th 2012
SHELTER DESIGN: IGLOO SNOW SHELTER
KEY TIPS
v SNOW BLOCKS: If the snow is not hard packed, use a snow box to make your snow blocks
v TIME: This shelter takes several hours to build. Do not build this shelter late in the day.
v WIND: Erect a small wall to block wind from blowing snow in the entrance.
v VENTILATION HOLES: Create ventilation holes all around the shelter. This stops blowing
snow from blocking up your ventilation holes.
v TWO PEOPLE: An Igloo is very hard to build with one person, especially as the Igloo roof is
completed.
v HEIGHT: Taller is not better. Do not build your Igloo above head height. Tall shelters take
more time, energy, and resources to build and take longer to heat up in the winter.
v ROBUSTNESS: Seal all of the gaps in the blocks and smooth the inside. This will improve the
airworthiness of your shelter. Do not build your Igloo underneath tree limbs as inclement
weather may cause tree limbs or large amounts of snow to fall on to your shelter.
FIRE
A small fire can be setup in front of this shelter to provide warmth.
ADVANTAGES
v All round protection from the weather
v Robust design provides excellent shelter
v Shelter can last several days
DISADVANTAGES
v Requires packed snow which may not be readily available
v Takes a long time to build
v Construction is complex and require careful planning
v Requires more than one person to construct
Authors:
Version:
Paul Young-Davies, Chuck Fraser
th
Version 002: Sept 12 2012
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