Custom Tension Fabric Buildings
Tension fabric buildings are versatile structures, and at Big Top Fabric Structures, we take advantage of this fact. As a custom manufacturer, we build tension fabric buildings that are optimized for the task at hand. Since 1979, we have worked with various organizations in many industries, ranging from environmental and construction to aviation, marine, military, and more, helping them create the structures they need to stay productive. Thanks to our commitment to custom manufacturing, we have gained invaluable experience building various types of fabric structures for different applications. Examples of tensioned fabric buildings that we custom design for our customers include:
Warehouses & Storage Facilities
Our high-tension fabric buildings can be nearly any size, spanning 20–174 feet wide and up to 80 feet high. And because there are no internal columns or guy wires, there is plenty of space to accommodate storage and racking. We can install bay doors for shipping and receiving, as well as personnel doors for your staff. If you work with environmentally sensitive materials, we can also add climate control with HVAC systems and insulation.
Large-Area Maintenance Shelters (LAMS)
Big Top’s tensioned fabric buildings are ideal for equipment maintenance. They can be large enough to accommodate nearly any oversized equipment, and the thermal-protective roof keeps crew members safely shielded from the sun. Indeed, the fabric roof of our buildings is formulated to repel 99.95% of UV-A and UV-B radiation, providing superior protection for staff, equipment, and materials.
Blast & Paint Shops
Our tension fabric structures provide proper containment for all blasting, even Black Beauty abrasives, as required by the Environmental Protection Agency. HVAC, ventilation, and air-scrubbing systems safely remove hazardous fumes and particles from the air. Plus, our fabric buildings can be erected faster than traditional sandblasting and paint containment buildings, at a rate of 2,500 square feet per day, making them a more affordable option.
Military Hangars & Sunshades
Big Top’s fabric hangars and sunshades can be anchored directly to the flight line and ensure mission readiness. Thanks to the protective benefits of the UV-reflective fabric roof, maintenance crews can work comfortably and the lifespan of the aircraft’s electronics and paint job will be maximized.
Fabrication Shop/Equipment Maintenance
Our tensioned fabric buildings can be used for fabrication or equipment maintenance and can be conveniently anchored to shipping containers, which can then be used for storage or administrative offices. Another feature we can add to the design is telescopic maneuverability for the fabric roof, which will allow crane access.
Lunch Rooms & Safety Meeting Facilities
Our design experts at Big Top can create lunch rooms, safety meeting facilities, and other general use fabric structures where employees can gather. The UV-reflective roof helps to maintain a natural interior temperature that is, on average, 15 degrees cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter than the outside temperature, ensuring the comfort of your staff as they attend a meeting or enjoy a break. We can engineer our tension fabric buildings for heavy wind and snow loads, and we can add lightning protection so the structure can be used as a muster station in inclement weather.
Medical Tents
Big Top’s rapid-deploy tensioned fabric buildings can be erected in less than a day and anchored directly to asphalt. As medical tents, our fabric structures are used for drive-through testing, triage, quarantine, emergency response, disaster relief, and other vital services from healthcare companies and local municipalities.
Waste Management & Recycling
Waste management and recycling operations that are conducted in open-air facilities are at the whims of Mother Nature, and a sudden storm can grind production to a halt and potentially destroy recyclable value of sensitive materials. Big Top’s high-tension fabric structures provide shelter so that operations can continue without interruption. And, they’re naturally ventilated and can help minimize odors.
Other Benefits of Our Tensioned Fabric Buildings
Thanks to nearly endless customizability, Big Top’s fabric structures can be utilized for virtually every application. The benefits of purchasing one of our tensioned fabric buildings over a permanent structure are many. In addition to those noted above, other benefits include:
Natural Lighting
The fabric roof is translucent and will allow natural light to fully illuminate your operations in the interior. Because of this energy-efficient design, our buildings minimize and can even eliminate the need for artificial lighting, saving you significant energy costs.
Long-Lasting Performance
At Big Top, we construct our tensioned fabric buildings with an industrial-grade, galvanized steel frame and rip-resistant fabric for extra strength. Plus, they’re NFPA701 flame retardant as required by International Building Code. With proper maintenance, our fabric structures can last for decades, providing your company with a reliable, long-term solution.
Cost Savings
When you consider how our tension fabric structures require fewer materials and take less time to erect than traditional brick-and-mortar buildings, it’s easier to see why they’re a more cost-effective alternative. They can also lead to tax benefits as you’ll be able to deem your Big Top fabric structure as equipment with the IRS.
Portability
Big Top’s tensioned fabric structures can keep pace with the evolving needs of your company. If you need to move your building to somewhere else on your property, it can be lifted and moved intact with a crane. Additionally, it can be disassembled and shipped to a new location or stored for future use.
Versatile Deployments
Not only can our fabric buildings be deployed quickly, but they can also be anchored to nearly any foundation. This includes asphalt, shipping containers, and ecology blocks. Indeed, our structures can be erected nearly anywhere!
Difference Between Tensile Fabric Buildings & Tension Fabric Buildings
At Big Top, we specialize in designing tension—as opposed to tensile fabric—buildings. The latter are light structures that are meant for short-term use. Our buildings are custom-designed for industrial applications and are strong enough to provide the shelter you need for your operations.
Learn More
For more information about our tension fabric buildings, or to begin designing one for your business, contact Big Top Fabric Structures today and one of our knowledgeable representatives will be happy to help you. We are proud to be the fabric building manufacturer of choice for many businesses in a variety of industries across the United States.
