Frequently Asked Questions About Tensile Fabric Structures
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Frequently Asked Questions About Tensile Fabric Structures 1. What are you prepared to do for free? We are really pleased to work with potential clients in developing initial ideas and also providing outline costs. If, for instance, you can supply a drawing or even a rough sketch of the area you want to cover, we can give you a budget estimate for a tensile fabric structure usually within 24 hours. We can also provide examples of similar canopies we have created and we’ll follow this up with a sketch of how your canopy might look. On larger projects we may undertake some preliminary analysis without any forward commitment, to provide you with some feedback on shape, loads and costs that you can build into your proposals. 2. How long will a tensile structure last? This will depend on the materials used. So 35-40 years if you specify a PTFE or silicon coated glass cloth - otherwise 15-20 years for PVDF coated membranes. The structural steel frame and cables should perform upwards of 40 years. To keep the structure looking at its best and operating safely, some routine bi-annual maintenance will be required. 3. What about wind and snow loads? Every structure we design satisfies International and National Codes for wind, snow and seismic loading. We also take into account its location, height and surrounding buildings and if it is designed for permanent or just seasonal use. Please be aware that some companies offer sail shade structures that are inevitably lower in cost, but are not engineered for year-round use. If this is what you require, this will need to be incorporated into the specification. 4. Are tensile structures expensive? A useful comparison is with other types of translucent roofing. A fabric structure over a retail center, courtyard or sports facility could be half the cost of a glass roof - particularly as the steel frame can be much lighter. However, custom tensile fabric structures would not compete with inexpensive polycarbonate. The overall cost needs to be compared with the application and the aesthetic appearance. 5. Can you describe the fabric membranes available? This will be determined by the application. For large scale external structures we work with PTFE (Teflon) coated glass, Silicon coated glass, TENARA (PTFE coated PTFE) and PVC coated polyester. We also offer a single skin ETFE framed ‘glazing’ system. All are fire rated and all the external fabrics are supplied with the manufacturer’s warranty. 6. What does your service include? We offer a one-stop shop - from design, manufacture, installation and maintenance support. We can supply everything above foundation level - i.e. the steel frame, cables etc. and even glazing and cladding if these are closely integrated in the design. 7. What about lighting? One of the key benefits that a tensile structure provides is the ability to make it really stand out with architectural lighting systems. We can work with your lighting designer or offer our own services to maximize the visual impact. By either back lighting or front/up lighting you can achieve some remarkable effects. TensileSystems.com 8. How green are tensile structures? Tensile Fabric structures are probably the most efficient method of achieving long span enclosures. Compared to conventional steel frame and glass alternatives the embodied energy is significantly less. One of the biggest environmental contributions tensile membrane can make is in the over cladding of structures where savings of up to 40% in the energy required for cooling have been recorded. 9. Can you have insulated canopies? Yes you can - using two layers of fabric with a suspended insulation layer in between. Nanogel insulation allows the natural light to filter through. 10. What about vandalism? Fabric can be cut however that is why we design our canopies to be sensibly out of reach if they are in vulnerable sites. Most fabrics can be patched and repaired in place or can be designed in modular panels that can easily be replaced. 11. What warranties do you offer? All fabric manufacturers offer fabric warranties which can vary from a standard five years up to a 15 year warranty. We will be happy to discuss all options to provide the best overall value for your project. 12. So what’s new in the wonderful world of tensile architecture? Well here are just a few things we are excited about: A new family of high translucency PVC /polyester fabrics has just been launched. They offer around 30-40% transparency and can be used on their own or integrated into a fabric membrane to form varying translucencies. Fabric facades… over cladding an existing façade can transform a building visually as well providing massive energy savings. 13. Do you work overseas? Yes we do. We have an strategic alliances in all areas that cover UK, Europe, the Middle and Far East. Where possible, we will utilize local resources for steel manufacture and skilled labor to reduce costs and our carbon footprint. All installation work would be controlled by trained site supervisors. 14. Where does ETFE fit into the scheme of things? ETFE foil has made a huge contribution to the architect’s palette of materials. We see its major potential in the future not so much in the form of inflatable pillows, but mounted as a single skin in framing systems as a substitute for traditional glass (glazing) cladding. ETFE is the material of choice if you need high visibility as opposed to just translucency in a lightweight design. 15. How often and how should you clean tensile structures? Translucency is one of the major benefits of tensile structures, so keeping them clean has to be an advantage. But compared to glass, the cleaning regime is substantially less demanding - usually amounting to an bi-annual wash down with soapy water and soft brush. TensileSystems.com .