During hurricane Katrina make-shift field hospitals were set up in tents. Local and federal governments needed more substantial structures that were also portable. Through their supplier they turned to Innovative Panel Technologies, Inc. (IPT) to develop a solution. IPT designed a stressed skin sandwich panel that was a light weight wood-free composite insulating foam material laminated to an aluminum backing. These panels became the walls for easily transported portable field hospitals that are still in use today in a variety of applications and conditions. Additionally, these panels had to meet specific fire and building codes.