What are the key benefits of fabric structures?

• Fabric structures give you the flexibility to relocate your building in the future, rather than write-off your asset, if you have to move, you can take it with you.
• The fabric has no radiant heat, unlike iron. It is more like working under a shady tree rather than stewing in a hot box.
• The structures are simple to install and can be installed by people with good handyman skills, ideal for remote sites where qualified building labour may be scarce.
• They are light and compact when compared with a traditional structures. This makes transport efficient.

Can I lease a fabric structure?

• We can offer finance options through our alliance with GoGetta Equipment Funding.

What are the benefits of the different types of shelters?

• Container mounted structures – The shipping containers give you the option of secure storage, offices, workshops, bunded fuel/oil storage, first aid, ablutions/shower blocks etc… This gives you flexibility and compactness in your work centre. These are ideal for workshops, hangars and storage.
• Fabric to the ground, with internal A Frames which are staked to the ground or bolted to a slab or footings. These are ideal when you do not want to use containers, or if you want a structure you can shift in the future. These are often used for aircraft hangars where there is no security of tenure or for short term storage projects, as they can be relocated.
• Structures mounted on posts rather than containers. These are good where space is limited or for purpose built roofing between existing structures.
• The towable range on skids or wheels. Often in the mining industry there are truck backs and digging buckets that weigh many tons which need extensive hard facing on a regular basis. It makes sense to drag a 2 ton shelter to the work rather than take a 10 ton item to the work shop, which may have to be moved before completion due to other more pressing priorities. The shelters are also very useful for welding pipes in the field.
• Super structures are used when you need large areas covered, up to 100m wide. These give you the flexibility to shift the structure in the future and make best use of your building assets.
• Large mobile shelters 20-30m wide are used where there is a need to be able to bring your shelter over your work area in industries such as soil decontamination.

What type of fabric is used in structures?

There are two main types of fabric used in fabric structures:

• Polyethylene – this is the main type of fabric which is used, it was developed in Australia for the big wheat stockpiles and is made in Australia and overseas. It has a high strength to weight ratio with the standard weight being 260gsm and the heavier grade for the larger structures (18m+ wide) 320gsm. This makes them lighter to transport, handle and pull over the structures. They can be repaired with glue on patches or by using bitumen tape. Life is typically 8-12 years. Polyethylene is not flame rated unless specifically treated. It does not burst into flames, rather shrivels back on itself when exposed to flames.
• PVC is normally flame rated and is used in large structures, public building such as pavilions, where there is a fire risk from the work carried out inside or where regular burn-offs close to the buildings, such as on tropical airfields. Heavy PVC fabrics are often used in the very large buildings.
• We can source specialty fabrics for your particular needs if required. This can include total blackout fabrics and internal liners for insulation or aesthetic reasons. We can also have internal sacrificial liners in dealing with hazardous materials. At the end of the project the internal liner is carefully removed and disposed of as hazardous waste with the main structure ready for reuse in the next project.

How long should the fabric last? -What is the replacement cost?

• Normally 260gsm or 320 gsm polyethylene will last 8-12 years depending on the severity of the weather and UV intensity. The replacement cost is normally 20-30% of the structure cost.
• PVC in the 600gsm range will have a similar life, with the 800gsm to 1200gsm fabrics having a 10-20 year life.

Where are the structures made?

• The Allshelter shelters are designed and manufactured in Australia, plus some of the larger structures are made in Australia.
• Shelters can be sourced from USA, Asia and Europe depending on the client’s needs.

What happens if the fabric is cut or damaged? Can it be repaired?

• The polyethylene is a tight weave product with non tear characteristics. If the fabric is damaged we can supply a patch to be attached on the top and under side with bitumen tape.
• After a few months polyethylene cannot be welded as the surface of fabric will be affected by UV and will not be suitable for welding.
• PVC clad structures can have damaged covers repaired on site, (depending on the extent of the damage).
• See our Repairs page.

How long have fabric structures been in use?

• In Australia Allshelter have been producing fabric structures for over since 1999 and overseas they have been used over 30 years.

What are the frames made of?

• The smaller shelters have square section zincalume box steel frame, either 50mm, 75mm or 100mm SHS. The large shelters have aluminium beams or galvanised steel trusses.

Do fabric structures meet council standards?

•  All structures come with engineers plans and are designed to the wind requirement of your region and are acceptable for council planning regulations. In extreme bushfire prone areas they may be extra requirements in terms of flammability.

Do I require a planning permit?

• All councils are different so it is best to check with your council prior to installing your shelter. • Remember you cannot get a permit retrospectively, so if someone complains you will have to remove the shelter before you can get a permit.
• Some councils have time limits for temporary buildings, which are usually classed as buildings without foundations

Do I need foundations for my structure?

• On your plans there will be a design for footings and alternately the weight of ballast you will need to secure you structure to the ground. The footings may be concrete piers or a plate with multiple angle driven star pickets or rods. Ballast could be concrete blocks along the sides, inside the shipping containers or fixed underneath the containers.

Can fabric structures be used in cyclone area?

• The dome structures have very little shear pressure from the side, the forces are mainly uplift, and as such they need to be secured to the ground or weighed down.
• A 16m wide shelter requires 510kg (1,100lb) of ballast per meter of each 40’ container in Region A 41m/sec (148kph) wind speed areas.

How long does it take to install the fabric structures?

• A container mounted CA12/12A (12mx12m) or a ACLS hanger type 12m x 12m would typically take 3 people 2 days without rushing.
• The large structures say a 26 x 50m will take about a week on a prepared site.

Does Taurus supply an install service?

• Taurus supplies supervisors or full install teams around the world.
• All Taurus installation staff are trained and ticketed to operate on industrial and mine sites.

Are fabric structures corrosive resistant?

•  In extreme corrosion environments we can double galvanise or use specialist powder coated finished to ensure your structure has a long life.
• The fabrics are generally resistant to most corrosive substances. In extreme corrosive situations in storage facilities our engineers will advise the best fabric to use.

Do the shelters have a warranty?

• Allshelter provides a 10 year reducing warranty on the fabric with a 3 year manufacturers UV warranty. The PVC fabrics can have up to a 15 year warranty for some of the heavier fabrics.

Can I insulate or soundproof my shelter?      

•  Insulation or sound proofing can be put on top of mesh over the frames prior to the cover being installed.

What are the wind ratings in Australia?

• Broadly inland and southern Australia is Region A, with Region B starting on the coast at Coffs Harbour in NSW and finishing past Geraldton in WA up to 100km inland, Region C Starts near Bundaberg and follows the coast to north of Geraldton mainly 50km in from the coast except in the Port Headland Karratha area which are Region D for the first 50 km. Click for indicative wind rating map.
• Wind ratings:

»Region A 41 m/sec 148 kph; 89 mph

»Region B 51.9 m/sec 188 kph; 113 mph

»Region C 64.5 m/sec 230 kph; 138 mph

»Region D 76 m/sec 273 kph; 164 mph

• Sites within ten km of the coast will require a Terrain Category One instead of Terrain Category Two. This has the effect of lifting your Region rating to the next Region up, e.g. From Region C to Region D in a Queensland cyclone Region.
• In a very exposed positions, typically on the ridges of hills or in wind prone valleys it is a cheap insurance policy to go to the Region above your geographic are Region. Valleys that funnel wind can increase the velocity of the wind
• Always check with your local building authority as to the wind rating engineering requirements applicable to your particular area.

 Contact us for further information.

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