+1-907-344-1565 | E-MAIL | REQUEST A QUOTE PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES TECH MILITARY ABOUT BLOG THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU BUY A TENSION FABRIC BUILDING HomeConstructionThings to Consider Before You Buy a Tension Fabric Building A wave of new technology and innovation in the design and engineering of fabric structures has made these buildings far more popular for industrial and commercial uses in recent years. Fabric structures can provide an ideal alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar buildings when used in almost any application. Most provide durable, long-lasting shelter and facilities for residential, commercial, and industrial uses. However, there are a number of manufacturers of fabric structures, so there are several important things to consider before you buy a tension fabric building. Strength of materials. Since it’s being used as an alternative for or in replacement of a brick-and-mortar building, a fabric structure in any application must provide reliable shelter relative to that of a normal building. A fabric building’s strength and durability comes down to its materials. Poorer quality metals and thin-gauge steel frames could cause buckling or excess flexing that could completely compromise the structure and even lead to catastrophic building collapse. Galvanized steel is the optimal framing material for fabric structures, followed by the more lightweight option of high-strength aluminum. The frame is enclosed by a tension fabric material made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Foundation requirements. The location, climate, and applicational use for a fabric building will determine the appropriate options for its foundation. Fabric buildings can be secured to a variety of foundations, providing the ground is relatively level and flat. Concrete, wood, and gravel/earth pad foundations are common, but a fabric structure can also be secured directly into the ground using an assortment of anchoring systems. Some of the most popular anchoring systems include spikes, duckbill earth anchors, lag bolts, concrete wedge anchors, and ballast bars for weight anchors. Bracing with these materials will provide the building with multidimensional strength to counteract tension. Precision engineered fabric structures. Proven design and engineering. Like any building, a fabric structure requires a financial investment that is lost if the building cannot withstand poor weather conditions or long term use. While many fabric building manufacturers advertise durability and longevity with their products, it helps to know that your purchase will last with more surety. Alaska Structures designs fabric buildings that are independently tested in the field by third party companies to provide unbiased assurance of the fabric buildings’ effectiveness, durability, and longevity. Resilience in extreme weather. One of the primary perks of high-end fabric structures is their incredible capacity for resilience under the effects of harsh weather and extreme climates. Top-of-the-line fabric buildings, such as the systems Alaska Structures manufactures, can sustain high winds and heavy rain and snow loads -- even for extended periods in hazardous environments. The PVC fabric exterior is designed for optimal resistance to abrasion and to shed snow, and the galvanized steel framing can be further reinforced with a protective powder coating and/or electrostatic spray for added durability and lifespan. If your application doesn’t require these additional treatments, you can still expect your fabric building to withstand severe weather. Meeting building codes. All of our fabric buildings meet the standards of International Building Codes (IBC) for safety, and can also be designed to satisfy additional area-specific building code requirements. If your location has mitigating circumstances that require additional safety and security precautions with your buildings and systems, a specially-designed fabric building may be a preferred, less expensive alternative to constructing a traditional building. Energy efficient EnerLayer insulation. Energy efficiency. The protective PVC fabric membrane enclosing Alaska Structures systems is not only designed to shield it from the elements and offer optimal snowshed; it is also highly insulating and is resistant to UV rays. Our fabric structures are incredibly energy efficient in a range of ways. We offer additional insulation systems to offer any R-value of resistance to thermal energy, reducing energy consumption even further and improving the efficiency of the internal environment and HVAC systems. Versatility of use. Today’s fabric buildings can accommodate far more applications than mere storage facilities or carports. With a near-endless variety of customizations, from flexible sizing and equipment fittings to additional protective treatments and HVAC/electrical systems, a fabric structure is a sufficient (and often, more ideal) alternative to any traditional building. In industrial and commercial uses, our fabric structures are commonly used for storage, maintenance, operations, housing, hygiene, cooking/dining, and even medical treatment facilities. Some common industries that use Alaska Structures fabric buildings include oil & gas, mining and mineral exploration, Arctic exploration and research, industrial storage and warehousing, public works, construction, aviation, and renewable energy. Add-on components. With such versatility for applicational use of these buildings, the variety of additional systems and features is unsurprisingly vast. You can fit your tension fabric building system with anything from simple cots for billeting personnel, to highly sensitive equipment for delicate medical procedures. Alaska Structures offers many options for add-on components, including heating, environmental control, lighting/electrical, rail-based rolling, flooring, hygiene, and portability systems. Alaska Structures excels in each of these areas, providing an ideal option when considering the purchase of a single tension fabric building or a multi-building camp system. For more information or to order your Alaska Structures fabric buildings today, call +1-907-344-1565, email inquiry@alaskastructures.com, or contact us online. Construction, Industrial Warehouse & Storage Buildings June 29, 2016 Alaska Structures 5 RESPONSES James High-end fabric structures are incredible. REPLY July 4, 2018 Pam What sizes do your fabric buildings come in? REPLY January 14, 2019 Alaska Structures, Inc. Hi Pam! We custom design and engineer fabric buildings to meet your building specifications up to 150′ wide, to any side wall height, and to any length. Just like you would do with a conventional building, we can add windows, personnel doors, equipment doors, hangar doors, as well as lighting and electrical systems, HVAC, and insulation packages to increase energy efficiency and interior comfort if you are using the tensioned fabric building in locations with extreme hot or cold weather. Our modular building systems provide many benefits over traditional and other prefabricated building solutions. We would love to discuss those with you. Please contact us at 907-344-1565 or send us an email with your building specifications to inquiry@alaskastructures.com REPLY January 15, 2019 Clyde S. Interested in how long it takes to build one of your fabric structures. I also want to know the price range. The building would be used in Michigan and approximately 150 ft. wide by 1,000 ft. long by 60 ft. tall. Also, can these fabric buildings be heated and hold heat in Michigan weather? REPLY August 24, 2020 Alaska Structures, Inc. Hello Clyde! One of the many benefits of a fabric building system from Alaska Structures is that they are designed for rapid installation. Our buildings drastically reduce the setup time compared to metal or steel buildings, pre-cast or tilt-up concrete buildings, and traditional building construction, as well as other prefabricated buildings. If you have a specific requirement for how fast the 150′ x 1,000′ x 60′ building needs to be delivered on-site and assembled, our building specialists and engineers will work with you to custom design a building. Our fabric structures are engineered to meet local or international building codes, withstand specific wind and snow loads, providing a safe work or storage space during those harsh Michigan winters. If you would like more information, please contact us at 907-344-1565 or send us an email to inquiry@alaskastructures.com REPLY August 31, 2020 LEAVE A COMMENT Your comment* BLOG CATEGORIES ARCTIC EXPLORATION & RESEARCH AVIATION CONSTRUCTION COVID-19 EDUCATION INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSE & STORAGE BUILDINGS MINERAL EXPLORATION MINING NEWS OIL & GAS PUBLIC WORKS TESTIMONIALS RECENT POSTS GUIDE TO WORKFORCE ACCOMMODATIONS IN REMOTE LOCATIONS FEBRUARY 13, 2019 Work sites in the mining, mineral exploration, oil and gas, ENGINEERED FABRIC STRUCTURES FOR INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 Learn about the different modular building applications for construction projects, SHIPPING CONTAINERS FOR FABRIC BUILDINGS FROM ALASKA STRUCTURES SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 Alaska Structures® products are engineered for long-lasting, rugged durability — ADVANTAGES OF ENGINEERED FABRIC STRUCTURES FOR MINING OPERATIONS SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 Based out of Alaska and in business since 1975, Alaska WHY CHOOSE US ABOUT US ENGINEERED FABRIC STRUCTURES FABRIC BUILDING DESIGN SERVICES FABRIC BUILDING FAQ BLOG REQUEST A QUOTE SITEMAP PRODUCTS SQX SERIES MTX SERIES XPL SERIES GTX SERIES DENALI SERIES HGX SERIES GBX SERIES TSX SERIES XT SERIES INDUSTRIES OIL & GAS MINING MINERAL EXPLORATION ARCTIC EXPLORATION INDUSTRIAL WAREHOUSE & STORAGE BUILDINGS PUBLIC WORKS CONSTRUCTION AVIATION RENEWABLE ENERGY FOLLOW US TWITTER FACEBOOK LINKEDIN CONTACT US 9024 VANGUARD DR #101 ANCHORAGE, AK 99507 TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE: +1-888-370-1800 LOCAL TELEPHONE: +1-907-344-1565 SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT Alaska Structures © 2021 - Disclaimer