When your project calls for a large structural installation, there are many considerations to be made. Materials, ease of installation, permitting, and other factors need to be addressed. Do you require a full steel building structure, or can a temporary building structure serve your needs and help you save down the line?
It’s likely that in many cases, a temporary structure will be well suited for your project. Nevertheless, the decision-making isn’t quite over yet. Even within this category, there are several options in temporary building solutions. It can be difficult to decipher which one is right for your needs.
You may be surprised to learn that tensioned fabric buildings are useful for a wide range of applications. So how do you know if they’re right for your project?
These quick tips for tensioned fabric buildings can help you decide for yourself in no time:
- You want to create a natural, peaceful environment (a signature of TFS)
Perhaps you’ll be housing a large group of people within the structure, or clients and agencies will be regularly visiting the location and its visual appeal will matter.
Compared to a steel structure that can create a dark, dank atmosphere that’s perhaps effective but very uninviting, tensioned fabric buildings create an attractive, welcoming environment. This is because they let in diffused, ambient natural light that fills the interior of the space. This feature makes tensioned fabric buildings ideal for events, shelters, and other applications that need to accommodate large numbers of people.
Beyond the technical advantages a tensioned fabric building possesses, is the beautiful interior space that is created with an abundance of roominess and light.
From our article regarding TFS uses and applications. Read more here.
- You’re looking for an energy-efficient solution.
When considering the overall cost estimate of a structure, it’s important to think about both the initial cost as well as on-going “hidden” costs, like how energy-efficient the space really is.
Tensioned fabric buildings often reduce or eliminate the need for heating and cooling, helping you to save on overall operational costs. Even if you do choose to heat or cool the space, tensioned fabric buildings are designed to prevent air leakage.
As an added incentive, tensioned fabric buildings also have a lower environmental impact than other types of structures – an important factor for some government agencies, waste management facilities, and other green-conscious organizations and companies.
- You don’t want to worry about maintenance.
Wear and tear on tensioned fabric buildings is generally minimal. Should a tear occur, they are fairly simple to replace / repair should the need arise.
By comparison, metal, steel, and other materials are prone to rust, especially in moist climates. Rust works like a cancerous decay, spreading quickly and rotting the entire structure. Rust issues require immediate attention and are an expensive and time-consuming task to address.
- You need a space that can be versatile.
One of the best aspects of tensioned fabric buildings is that they can be effectively used for a variety of purposes. When you have finished using the structure for one purpose, it can be relocated or used in the same space, but for a new purpose.
Examples of common usages for tensioned fabric buildings include:
- emergency situations / evacuations/ refuge
- remediation sites
- aviation storage
- government functions
- gaming or casinos
- military storage or training
- sports & recreation
- recycling facility
- waste management
- construction sites
- events & tradeshows
- You want to avoid obtaining permits and extra paperwork.
Structures that require engineering and take a permanent or semi-permanent form usually require permitting prior to installation.
In most cities, tensioned fabric buildings do not require permits and are therefore an excellent, accessible solution to simplify planning and installation.
Of course, regulations vary by city, so be sure to check with the city where the installation will take place to ensure it’s the best option for you.
Did this article help you decide whether tensioned fabric buildings are the right solution for you? We hope so, but if you still have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly. As the experts on fabric-based temporary structure solutions, our team is always happy to help provide any needed information.
Want to see for yourself? View examples of our tensioned fabric buildings here in-situ and to visualize what your installation will look like.
