Van Office Design Guidelines and Recommendations

Overview
This document is a continuation of my 509 projects located in the same folder as this
document. The goal of this continuation was to mock up a general design for a van home
build and evaluate the design. Ultimately this lead me to a redesign focused on creating a
mobile workspace, since in recent years van homes and offices have become more
popular especially among more nomadic individuals. What follows in this document are
my recommendations and considerations for design a mobile workspace.

Chassis of Choice
I have chosen to use a Ram Promaster high-roof for my design. This is a cargo van
featuring one of the largest cargo areas in its class, and has nearly 90-degree walls, which
makes both designing and building easier in such a confined space.
 Van Office Design Guidelines and Recommendations

Environment analysis
Before beginning a design it is important to take into consideration the
environment it will be used in. If you are a nomadic individual who will experiences a
range of weather and temperature it is a good idea to consider what weather and
temperatures van will spend most of its time in.

Warm Climates Considerations

In warmer climates a major consideration is temperature regulations. The
guidelines below will discuss accommodations for warmer temperatures.

Cooling
Air conditioning in a van is generally not a realistic option due to energy
constraints. Therefor your best option for cooling is circulating air in and out of the van,
which is typically best achieved through roof fans. Typically many full time van dwellers
have had success with a single fan located near the sleeping area. However for a mobile
office setting if you are using a high-end laptop or desktop for work a second fan located
on the opposite side of the van can help address the additional heat generation while
providing better air circulation.
Insulation
Insulation for vans in warmer climates can be tricky to navigate. As having more
insulation will delay the heating of the van during the day but slow heat dissipation as the
temperature outside cools. Therefor if you are spending a majority of your time in a
warmer climate I would recommend less insulation and more ventilation.
In warmer climates a user should consider how much time they plan on spending
inside the mobile workspace. If you are working remotely and have the option of using
public spaces to complete your work, like a library or coffee shop. You can reduce the
time and discomfort spent in a warm van. However if you are in a location where you do
not have access to a publicly cooled building. I would consider implementing a sliding
screen near the sliding door to allow air to move freely between the cabin space and
outdoors. Furthermore closing off the driving space from the workspace can reduce heat
transfer from the driving area to the office space.
 Van Office Design Guidelines and Recommendations

Windows
In warmer climates having windows in the office space can greatly increase heat
transfer, increase outdoor sound transfer, and reduce privacy. If you are considering
purchasing a cargo van with rear windows you should weigh the pros and cons. If you
will primarily be located in cities I would highly recommend avoiding windows for both
increased comfort and security.

Cold Climate Considerations

Heating
In colder climates staying cool is not as difficult however heating can be a
problem. Many van dwellers opt for one of the following options, a natural gas heater,
electric space heater, fuel-based space heater (diesel or gas), and in some cases a wood
chip burner. In regards to safety a natural gas heater will release toxic gases into the
space, which can be dangerous, an electric space heater could tip over causing a fire, and
a wood chip burner will produce both toxic gases as well as humidity. My
recommendation therefore would be to have a diesel or gasoline heater professionally
installed into the van. Diesel and gasoline heaters are hooked up to your gas tank and use
minimal gas and electricity to heat the space.
Insulation
In a colder climate insulation will greatly help keep your van warm. When
choosing an insulation type your main concern should be the R-Value for density. The R-
value for insulation refers to the materials ability to resist heat transfer, and in a small van
space is quite limited. Some of the various types of insulation include boards, sprays,
loose material, and reflective materials. My recommendations would be to utilize a high
R-value board under the flooring and sheep wool insulation along the walls of the van
and any empty cavities.
Windows
Even in colder climates windows make poor insulators, if you decide you would
like to have more windows in your van you should consider using a reflective type
insulation cut to the shape of each window. This can greatly reduce heat transfer and
prevent the cold from penetration the van.
 Van Office Design Guidelines and Recommendations

Energy Considerations
Energy Consumption
Energy consumption is one of the most challenging aspects of designing a van for
both dwelling and work use. In most cases van dwellers will have a large battery bank
with inverters to power appliances and necessary appliances.

A solar or energy calculator can be used to determine system requirements

Battery banks
A battery bank should consist of sealed batteries, a charge monitor, and inverter to
convert power to a usable form. The first consideration when determining your battery
bank needs is to identify what you will be powering, how much reserve power you need,
and how you will recharge your battery bank. Another consideration is overall battery
health, ideally for good battery health you do not want the battery to drain below half its
capacity. So if you calculate your power needs to be 100 amp hours, you should not have
less than 200 amp hour’s worth of battery capacity.
Charging Battery Banks
Typically there are three methods to charging battery banks in a van. The first is
solar, the second is through your vehicles alternator, and lastly through shore power. My
recommendation would be to utilize a combination of solar and your vehicles alternator if
 Van Office Design Guidelines and Recommendations

it is an option. When considering solar power you need to consider if the area or
environment you are in will sufficiently supply power. If you are in a warm climate you
will need to be in direct sunlight to charge the solar panels resulting in more heat
exposure for your van. That being said solar technologies have been improving
drastically over the last few decades and are a valid solution for most energy demands.
Using your vehicles alternator is a safe and efficient way of charging your battery
bank. If you are an individual who plans on spending a few hours a week driving, you
will most likely meet your power demands through the alternator alone. Lastly in regards
to shore power if you are able to frequently hook up to shore power, you should be able
to meet all your short-term power needs without any additional charging methods.

This image indicates solar potential throughout the united states.

This diagram shows how a solar and alternator setup charge and transfer power through you system.
 Van Office Design Guidelines and Recommendations

The remainder of this document will focus on prototypes, design, and the workplace. For
examples of major Human factors considerations and the iterative design process please
reference the Tiny Home Big Van document.
Van Office Design Guidelines and Recommendations

Prototype one
 Van Office Design Guidelines and Recommendations

Prototype one
Prototype one was my first attempt at modeling a van home design in Fusion 360.
This prototype was aimed at accommodating one to two users regularly with a focus on
outdoor activities. This prototype features a queen size bed that will sleep two users. A
storage area accessible through the rear of the van, with space to accommodate two full
sizes bikes with additional storage for other sports gear. The rear compartment penetrates
slightly into the cabinet space to accommodate longer items likes skis or a snowboard.
In this prototype a requirement was an indoor area for a shower and bathroom,
which did not compromise overall space. In order to meet this requirement the shower
would be modular, by lifting up the angled board above the shower drain a shower
curtain will extend out to prevent water from leaving the shower area. In terms of
bathroom use a compost or chemical toilet would be placed inside the shower area. Many
of these toilets are compact in size and would not interfere with shower use, however
these toilets could be easily moved in and out of the shower area to clear up space.
In regards to cooking and kitchen use the area directly left of the shower would
feature a sink, burner, and other necessary kitchen supplies. A low power fridge and
freezer could be integrated into the cabinet or directly under the bed to reduce wasted
space. In terms of the seating area a bench seat sits on the passenger side of the vehicle.
In order to address a usable eating and working area a slide out table will extend out from
the bed. Lastly all above head cabinets would open upwards and utilize compressed air
struts to keep them open while in use, while featuring a magnetic locking mechanism to
prevent unintentional opening from vehicle movements and bumps.
In regards to evaluating this design a few approaches could be taken. Firstly a
mock up build could be set up in an open space to asses space concerns and get an idea of
moving around the space. While this could take time to set up and test, it could prevent a
user from fully building out a van only to find it does not adequately meet their needs.
While I am unable to mock up the space there are a few problems I could address through
the model alone. For example if we consider that the shower is not closed off, it is likely
that water damage and spilling could occur in addition to humidity problems. If a user
were to utilize this shower design they would like have to take time each day to clean up
any water that exits the area in addition to venting humidity from the cabin space.
 Van Office Design Guidelines and Recommendations

When addressing usable space this design does its best to accommodate a large
storage area while using some modular features to address feature concerns while saving
space. Furthermore due to the compact nature of this design there is limited space to
navigate the area. So unless the user is primarily lying in bed or sitting on the bench seat,
this space is quite confined. I won’t go into much detail about evaluating this design
further as I will go more in-depth with the second iteration.
Van Office Design Guidelines and Recommendations

Prototype 2 Figure 1

Prototype 2 figure 2
Van Office Design Guidelines and Recommendations

Prototype 2 figure 3
 Van Office Design Guidelines and Recommendations

Prototype 2

Changes From Previous Design

Prototype 2 moves away from the focus on outdoor activities and trades off
storage space for a focus on a mobile workspace. Some of the major changes include the
removal of a fixed bed to create space, a modular cabinet space to change between a
kitchen state and workplace state, a closed off shower, and room for an ergonomic office
chair.
In regards to the sleeping area a fixed queen size bed was swapped out for a full
size Murphy style bed. This can be seen in prototype 2 figures 1 and 2. By changing to a
murphy style bed the bed can switch between two modes allowing spaced to be freed up
when a user is not sleeping. The murphy style bed also allows a user to utilize the bench
style seat for more recreational seating.
 Van Office Design Guidelines and Recommendations

The shower was altered to address humidity and water damage concerns from the
previous design. By utilizing an enclosed shower water spillage should be severely
reduced, while closing off humidity from the rest of the cabin. In addition a roof fan will
be installed directly above shower to vent moisture and heat. Like the previous design I
would continue to utilize a chemical or compost toilet in the same fashion.
The kitchen area in prototype two will be modular to function as a work desk. The
sink, burner, and other kitchen essentials will be integrated in the lower cabinets and
below a raisable surface (see prototype 2 figures 2 and 3 for the transition). For cooking a
diesel oven will be integrated into the cabinet as it does not release harmful gasses into
the air and has consumes very little resources.
Climate control in this design will utilize three roof vents. The first roof vent is
the previously mentioned roof fan located in the enclosed shower. Second there will be
two 16-inch roof fans, one located to the rear above the Murphy bed, and one towards the
front. All three fans will feature rain sensors to automatically close when triggered. As
well as the ability to pull air in and exhaust air out, in order to create circular airflow.
 Van Office Design Guidelines and Recommendations

Electrical
This prototype will include a 600-amp hour battery bank, which will give a user
approximately 3600-watt hours of electricity, without any external power being put into
the system. This would allow a user to power a high-end laptop and two auxiliary
monitors for at least 24 hours. While this does not factor in power consumption of lights
and other appliances, with regular charging of the battery banks it is unlikely you would
run out of power.
In order to charge the battery bank the van will be fitted with two 200-watt solar
panels running in parallel. The solar system will be equipped will a charge monitor to
ensure battery damage or fires do not occur, and a reader in the cabin area to convey
battery information to the user. In addition to the solar setup, the battery banks will be
hooked up to vehicles alternator in order to charge the battery bank while driving.

Mobile Workspace
Anthropometric considerations
When determining anthropometric data, we must first consider who we are
building for. If we are designing for a specific individual we may not need to design for
95% of the population, instead your design might be best built to your personal
anthropometrics. Some anthropometric considerations should be hip breadth, knee height
when sitting, sitting height, working wingspan, and gaze height.
 Van Office Design Guidelines and Recommendations

If I were to design the workspace for myself I would mount two low watt
monitors to the wall above the desk, while taking into account clearance needed to raise
the desk and access the kitchen. If I were using a laptop for my work needs I would
consider using a stand to raise the screen to an ergonomic height. In addition I would use
a Bluetooth keyboard to achieve a more comfortable typing position. If my job required
me to view physical documents a document holder with an adjustable arm could be
mounted to the wall. This would allow me to angle documents towards myself, while
preventing any unnecessary moving of the holder or interference with the kitchen mode.
In regards to seating I would utilize a foldable office chair that is equipped with
certain ergonomic features. These features would include adjustable armrests, lumber and
neck support, a proper tilt function, and the ability to be raised and lowered. The reason a
foldable chair is necessary is due to the ability to breakdown and store the chair when not
in use. In order to secure the chair I would store the chair in the space your feet occupy
when working. Some form of a stopping mechanism would be placed at the feet of the
chair and a cable would be strung across the open area to prevent the chair from rolling
out of the foot space when driving.
As far as usable surface space goes the desk will extend past any users arm reach.
If a user needed more desk space than their reach allows in a fixed position. Elongating
the foot space horizontally would allow some chair travel and additional desk space.
Once consideration in doing this is you cut down on usable storage space under the desk.
Evaluation of Prototype 2
Currently I do not have an evaluation completed for prototype 2. This document
was written over the course of my first two prototypes with some edits towards the end of
the spring semester. The main reason an extensive evaluation has not been conducted is
because I started on a third design, which eliminates the Murphy bed in favor of a
modular table bed similar to what many RV’s have. The reason I started on the third
design before evaluating the second was to evaluate the second third iteration in unison.
At this time I am still finishing up modeling the third iteration.
Van Office Design Guidelines and Recommendations