building manufacturer is involved from start to finish – with one main point of contact who is not just coordinating the project, but who is actually employed by the company responsible for every phase of the construction process. Designing The design phase of a tension fabric structure project builds upon the early engineering work to go deeper into the drafting and designing of the building plans. It can be daunting for customers—especially those who are working on only their first or second project—to wrap their arms around all the different details that must be accounted for when designing a customized fabric structure. The manufacturer’s drafting department helps ensure that all bases are covered. For example, a building might require mechanical systems, light fixtures, sprinkler systems, and overhead cranes to all be suspended from the ceiling. The possible placement of these items will be assessed and discussed with the client, all with the understanding that these components must jive together and not interfere with each other in the final layout. Furthermore, the weight of these kinds of hanging loads must be accounted for when engineering the individual I-beams within the structural frame. For especially large complexes, the drafting team will also work closely with the general contractor to ensure all details are correct before they’re finalized. This is yet another situation where a manufacturer with in-house drafters will be better positioned to design a building successfully, based on having direct lines of communication with all parties and a deeper involvement with the other phases of the project. Proper design should not be taken for granted. Some industry horror stories involve companies supplying non-insulated structures to customers who require climate-controlled buildings in order to meet the latest energy codes – and then not disclosing that they didn’t meet code until it was too late. The fact is that some suppliers have dedicated salespeople for every industry niche, while others may be trying to sell the same basic type of structure to all corners of the market; unfortunately, the finer details of a situation can sometimes get lost with the latter approach. Tension fabric buildings are utilized in all kinds of public and private applications, ranging from agriculture, solid waste and mining to aviation, athletics and event centers. The needs and requirements of building users can vary significantly, and it’s critical that the manufacturer understands both major and minor design differences. Communication The most obvious service offered by fabric structure suppliers, but definitely not always the best executed one, is communication. For manufacturers with a basic product offering, the customer might only communicate with them once during the sale and again upon delivery, leaving all other details in the hands of other involved parties.
Other companies put a higher value on communication’s role in the process, scheduling regular meetings with customers to give progress reports. Furthermore, buyers can essentially contact just one person at the company to get their questions answered, versus having to wade through different departments or talk to multiple companies handling various aspects of the job. Internal communication is another key to success. For one-stop-shop suppliers, this includes the physical manufacturing processes. Legacy fabricates its own steel I-beams at its factory and employs its own full-time Certified Welding Inspectors to thoroughly inspect all steel components. Legacy also has an on-site fabric plant where PVC fabric panels are properly stored and cut to the correct specifications. And because in-house manufacturing personnel work under the same roof as the design engineers, any issues can be directly discussed without causing project delays. Installation It’s not uncommon for a tension fabric structure supplier to not actually see a project through to its completion. Many companies hire local subcontractors to have their buildings erected. In other cases, they’ll even leave it to the customer to hire their own assembly team. In either situation, the people doing the construction work may not have much experience with putting up fabric structures. Manufacturers like Legacy maintain the hands-on approach to the very end, utilizing their own professional in-house crews for every installation. With specific training on I-beam construction and fabric panel tensioning, these crews are in a far better position to get every detail right—ultimately delivering a building with the proper fit and finish that will hold up against the elements over its lifespan. Service Comes Full Circle For complex facilities, the structure itself may be completed, but more interior or exterior construction might need to take place on the backend before the building can be fully operational. Staying in touch and helping facilitate this additional work, even if not contractually obligated, is a responsibility that leading manufacturers take very seriously. One size does not fit all for a new facility, nor does it fit every business relationship between the purchaser of a fabric building and the manufacturer supplying it. Some companies view a fabric structure purely as an item they sell, while others commit to offering service at every phase—from the initial conversation, all the way through the final walkthrough, to make sure everything turns out exactly as envisioned. Being a true partner with the customer and providing a service-based approach is the surest way to successfully complete a tension fabric building project.
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Summer 2024 csengineermag.com
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