Tension Fabric Structures
What Are Tension Fabric Structures Used For?
Tension fabric buildings are commonly used for recreational areas, workspace, and storage. People who enjoy sports such as tennis, soccer, and horseback riding choose fabric structures because of their big open area, high ceilings, and weather dependability. People frequently look for the most storage space they can afford to protect goods they want to save.
No matter the industry or function, these strong steel buildings are built to withstand the harshest environment. Skyler Structures fabric-covered buildings can be used for animal housing, equestrian riding arenas, materials storage, warehousing, protecting important equipment, increasing your company’s office, and much more.
Who Uses Tension Fabric Structures?
Fabric buildings are versatile and are a popular choice among a wide range of people and sectors due to their ease of installation, low cost, and natural ambient light. Fabric structures have replaced pole buildings and traditional salt sheds as the preferred method of storing road salt and sand by public works and road maintenance departments. Other businesses that store and process commodities, such as fertilizer makers, recyclers, cement producers, composters, potash producers, and mining, use fabric buildings to efficiently manage enormous amounts of material. Fabric buildings are popular for garages, workshops, boat storage, and RV storage.
Installation
Tension fabric building installation is a rather short and straightforward operation due to the size of the buildings. Fabric buildings are frequently installed in less than half the time that similar steel or conventional buildings take. Offsite construction and straightforward assembly are two intrinsic benefits of fabric buildings that speed up the construction process.
These structures are made out of prefabricated components that are manufactured in a climate-controlled offsite construction facility. For that reason, no time is lost due to weather delays. Furthermore, while the structural components are being manufactured at the manufacturing facility, a site team can be preparing the construction site and foundation at the same time, increasing efficiency and downtime.
Despite their size, cloth structures are deceptively simple to assemble. Truss segments are bolted together using basic connectors. Once the components arrive at the construction site, installation frequently boils down to days rather than weeks or months.
Foundation Options
Temporary Foundations
Temporary foundations will cost less, but won’t have the longevity of their permanent counterparts. They are also offered in limited sizes, so larger buildings may not be supported. Installation is relatively easy; a small crew and common tools are all you need to install a temporary foundation. Since most models don’t include a subfloor, they are ideal for agricultural buildings, riding arenas, and basic work areas. Since they can be taken down and are in place for a shorter period of time, temporary foundations have a small environmental footprint once they are removed and the tension fabric building is taken down.
Permanent Foundations
Build to last, permanent foundations are more expensive but are more versatile, as they are available in a wide variety of sizes to accommodate even the largest buildings. They require heavy machinery and a large workforce to install. Permanent foundations are made to last; they feature a solid, durable floor and usually include a subfloor. This makes them the perfect choice for airplane hangars, sand and salt storage stations, fertilizer storage buildings, and recycling plants.
Temporary and Permanent Foundation Options
Hogan Stakes
A Hogan stake foundation is made out of a series of high tensile steel stakes that are driven into the ground with a sledgehammer or jackhammer. At each base plate, two stakes are typically necessary. Hogan stake foundations are typically utilized as temporary foundations that may be simply removed with the building. The foundation can be built with few resources and people, resulting in a low overall cost. In sheltered areas, this method works really well. This foundation is appropriate for small fabric buildings.
Duckbill Anchors
DUCKBILL® anchors function in soil much like a toggle bolt. The duckbills are pushed into the ground, resulting in a secure and environmentally friendly installation. When the anchor tendon is pulled upward, the duckbill rotates into a perpendicular “anchor lock” position. Duckbill anchor systems are commonly utilized as temporary foundations because they provide effective, lightweight, and cost-efficient anchoring options. Duckbill anchor foundations can be installed with few resources and labor, resulting in a low overall cost. This foundation is appropriate for small fabric buildings.
Wood Posts
For projects 62′ and narrower, wood post mount foundations are an excellent choice. Wood posts are commonly used on agricultural properties for hay shelters, calving barns, and even small equestrian arenas. 8″x8″ treated posts, put 4′-6′ in the ground and standing 4′-6′ above grade, are the most typical post sizes. Most installers will use pea gravel and cement powder to tamp the posts. Wood post foundations may be installed with few resources and labor, resulting in a low overall cost.
Helical Anchors
Helical Anchors (or Screw Piles) are excellent choices for agricultural and commercial applications. Hydraulic machinery capable of monitoring KPI resistance is used to drive helical anchors into the soil at each truss footing. The pile sizes will be determined by the size of the structures as well as the soil conditions. Helical anchors can be utilized for permanent or temporary applications that do not require a footprint to be removed. Helical anchors necessitate some hydraulic equipment but are often erected with little labour and at a low cost. This foundation is perfect for tension fabric buildings ranging in size from medium to large.
Ballast Blocks
Ballast Block foundations are a common and simple fabric building foundation. Ballast block foundations are commonly utilized for commercial and industrial constructions. When necessary, local engineers can design and stamp these foundations. Ballast block foundations are popular because they are completely relocatable and leave no trace of the building once it is moved. Ballast block foundations are difficult to install but are one of the most cost-effective and adaptable foundations for larger buildings.
Rig Mats
Rig mat foundations are often employed by oil industry builders, since rig mats are commonly used for other oil field functions. Rig mats are made of layered lumber that has been bolted together and is occasionally encased with a steel beam perimeter. For smaller structures, the trusses are directly fastened to the rig mats. Ballast blocks or anchors are used to counteract lateral displacement as building requirements increase. Rig mats are installed with minimal resources and labor at a cheap total cost.
Shipping Containers
Shipping containers can be utilized as a simple, low-cost, and versatile foundation for fabric structures up to 62 feet wide. Truss base plates are simply fitted to two shipping containers to offer an additional 8′-9′ of raised foundation for fully enclosed or open-end structures. Local experts can design and stamp container foundations, allowing them to be used in nearly any application. Shipping container foundations necessitate the use of heavy machinery to install, yet they are one of the most cost-effective and versatile foundations for small to medium fabric buildings.
Poured in Place Piers
Poured-in-place concrete piers are built by excavating shafts at each truss footing, inserting concrete forms, and filling the form with concrete. The building can be mounted on grade or at ground level thanks to truss base plates inserted in the concrete piers. Poured-in-place piers are typically utilized as long-term foundations. Pier foundations necessitate a significant amount of resources and people to install. This foundation is appropriate for medium to large fabric structures.
Grade Beam
A grade beam foundation, also known as a grade beam footing foundation, is made up of a reinforced concrete beam that transmits structural load onto spaced foundations such as pile caps or caissons. Excavating the footing area, inserting concrete forms, and pouring concrete into the forms are the steps in constructing the grade beam foundation. As permanent foundations, grade beam foundations are used. The installation of grade beam foundations necessitates a significant amount of resources and people. This foundation is appropriate for medium to large fabric structures.
Poured In Place
Pouring concrete onto a form with steel reinforcing creates a complete poured-in-place foundation. Pony walls or knee walls, which are concrete-formed walls on which the fabric construction is mounted, can also be included in poured-in-place foundations. Poured-in-place foundations are permanent foundations that give a strong conventional floor. Installation of these foundations necessitates a significant amount of resources and people. This foundation is appropriate for medium to large fabric structures.