Do you need a spacious warehouse for your business’s needs but think steel is too costly? Engineered fabric might be a great choice. Despite what it is, it doesn’t sound as weak as you think.
Engineered fabric structures, often known as “tensile structures,” are catching on fast. Why? They’re the Swiss Army knife of buildings – versatile, tough as nails, and easy on the wallet.
Not convinced that they could be useful for your business? Then, keep reading to know why fabric buildings are ideal for warehouses.
Cost-Effectiveness
Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar warehouses, which cost quite a penny to build and maintain, engineered fabric structures come with several cost-saving advantages:
Lower Construction Costs
Fabric structures use materials that are considerably cheaper compared to those used in conventional construction. Talk about steel and concrete whose prices jumped 67% and over 10%, respectively, based on recent reports.
Engineered fabric structures can also be constructed quickly, cutting down labor costs and shortening project timelines. Think of them as a more stable version of pitched tents. Reputable manufacturers can provide you with a high-quality engineered fabric building that stays in place for a fraction of the time. So, if you need a sturdy warehouse within a short timeframe, these structures are your best bet.
Energy Efficiency
Engineered fabric buildings are designed to be highly energy-efficient. Their top-notch insulation keeps the inside comfy without cranking the heating or AC. Your wallet will thank you in the long run as those energy savings stack up.
Less Structural Maintenance
Fabric structures are constructed from sturdy materials that resist corrosion, limiting cases of expensive repairs and changes. The fabric could also have a protective powder coating to increase durability and withstand rust, salt air, and other environmental factors that often damage other structures.
Efficiency
Engineered fabric structures are developed to be highly efficient and functional for warehouse operations.
- Increased storage capacity: The open-span design of fabric structures allows for full capacity. High ceilings with clear spans provide enough space for stacking goods.
- Improved workflow: You can customize engineered fabric structures to optimize how materials flow and are handled, helping you work faster and smarter.
- Enhanced working conditions: Fabric structures can include features like natural lighting and ventilation to create a comfortable and productive working environment. These improvements may help boost your team’s morale.
Overall, fabric structures allow warehouse operations to achieve higher efficiency through maximized storage space, optimized workflows, and a comfortable workplace.
Flexibility
Engineered fabric buildings are quite flexible, making them apt for many warehouse applications.
These structures are easy to expand or modify, so you can tweak them to match your changing business needs. Whether you need to increase storage capacity or adapt to new product lines, fabric structures can be adjusted for them.
When your business takes a new direction, these fabric structures can also keep up. Need a retail space or a manufacturing area? Maybe you need an event venue. They’ve got you covered, transforming to fit your new requirements.
Here’s another thing: you can customize the fabric structures according to your design preferences. Several fabric materials allow you to create a rather unique and functional warehouse space with various colors and finishes.
Fabric building structures are also easier to transfer when the need arises. Dissembling the materials is less complicated, too, which is fitting for businesses that are always on the go.
Sustainability
Engineered fabric structures are also a sustainable choice for warehouse construction:
Materials in fabric structures are more environmentally friendly than traditional construction materials. They can also be recycled or reused at the end of their lifespan. And as mentioned earlier, fabric structures are designed to save energy. Your business could reduce its carbon footprint with one.
Consider installing solar panels on tension fabric structures for more sustainability. While a little pricey, generally USD$250,000 to USD$500,000 for commercial buildings and USD $1,000,000 for industrial complexes, they’ll help you save more on energy costs.
Additional Benefits
Engineered fabric building structures have more pros for businesses seeking a warehouse.
- Rapid deployment and scalability: Need a large and solid warehouse ASAP? Fabric structures have you covered. These quick-to-erect buildings are great for when unexpected demand surges or the aftermath of natural disasters occurs.
- Customizable interior spaces: You can design custom interior spaces with engineered fabric structures to meet specific storage needs, including mezzanine levels, shelving systems, or special equipment.
- Weather resistance: Gone are the days when fabric meant flimsy. Fabric materials today stand tall amidst wind, rain, and snow, and are, thus, suitable for almost all geographical locations.
- Improved safety: Safety features, such as fire-resistant materials and an emergency exit plan, can also be installed in the fabric structure to ensure every person’s wellbeing.
While tension fabric buildings are beneficial to different industries and applications today, they’re relatively new and entail some challenges. For example, the behavior of the engineered fabric today can’t be predicted when confronted with specific amounts of load. Hence, research is continuously being carried out to ensure better designs for future fabric buildings.
Wrapping Up
Engineered fabric structures are an ideal choice for warehouses. They’re cost-effective, efficient, and highly flexible buildings with little, if any, impact on the environment.
Thinking of getting your own modern, functional, and sustainable warehouse? Fabric building designs can help you construct just that for your business.
*The information in this article does not necessarily reflect the views of The Global Hues. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of any information in this article.*
