When comparing fabric vs steel buildings, there are a number of factors to consider. All rigid-framed buildings use the same proven engineering principles. Below is a complete comparison of Legacy buildings to steel structures.
Structurally, the main difference between a Legacy fabric structure and steel building is how the material interacts with the frame. Steel sheets provide an exoskeleton around the building that aids the frames and the fabric provides tension on the building frames. An experienced fabric building design firm will include the fabric tension load from the earliest design phases.
The building envelope of a fabric structure is superior to that of a steel structure. There are several advantages of fabric structures over steel buildings, including:
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- Abundance of natural light
- Longevity in corrosive environments
- Energy efficient
- Expedited construction
Fabric vs Steel Buildings: Natural Light
Natural light is one reason building owners choose fabric structures over steel.
The sunlight inside fabric buildings has several advantages:
- Lower lighting costs
- A more natural, enjoyable environment
- Reduced “dead spots” caused by darkness
Depending on the fabric color chosen, it will have up to 16% translucency. On a sunny day, this provides plenty of light for working inside the building. Natural light also creates a more pleasant environment for workers.
Studies have shown that workers are more efficient when exposed to natural light.
Although insulated fabric buildings lack natural light, the white fabric liner enhances the light inside, providing even more glare-free light in all directions and increasing the lighting system's efficiency.
Fabric Buildings in Corrosive Environments
One advantage of fabric over steel buildings is that fabric is a building material that is not impacted by corrosion. This is crucial when storing corrosive materials – such as road salt, fertilizer or mining tailings – and in corrosive environments, such as marinas and ports.
Building fabric is not susceptible to pitting, galvanic reactions, uniform corrosion or stress-cracking corrosion. The scrim and protective layers are made of materials that are not affected by corrosion, oxidation or rust.
All steel will eventually corrode. Exposure to pollutants, chemicals and moisture will speed up this process. Corrosion and rust wreak havoc on steel buildings – causing the material to weaken and thin.
One of the significant advantages of fabric buildings is their resistance to corrosion. Fabric buildings last longer in the face of corrosion, so the building owner experiences less downtime and costs due to maintenance and replacement.
Galvanizing is a way to protect the frame of both fabric buildings and metal buildings. However, even galvanized frames will eventually corrode. Lining the inside of the building with an air-tight, non-corrosive seal that shields the frame from stored materials will prevent corrosion.
Advantages of Fabric Buildings: Energy Efficiency
Fabric has non-conductive properties that don’t radiate the outside temperatures into the building like metal does, reducing the need for electrical lighting. This leads to greater energy efficiency and more sustainable operation.
Interested in going completely off the grid? Explore how we did this off-the-grid hangar.
Another benefit of fabric is that it is airtight, creating a better building envelope. Unlike metal cladding which is attached to the frame with thousands of screw holes that leak air over time, the airtight fabric eliminates significant heat or cooling losses. Insulated fabric buildings have been 20% more effective to heat and cool than insulated metal buildings because of their non-conductive and airtight properties.
Advantages of Fabric Structures: Expedited Construction
Using Legacy’s patented installation system, fabric cladding is often installed in about one-third the time of steel sheeting. Rather than installing thousands of tiny fasteners – consuming hours of time – the Legacy fabric is pulled into a keder rail and attached by a professional crew.
The shorter construction time means a faster return on investment: the building is ready for use weeks sooner, and the costs of wages, expenses, and downtime are drastically reduced.
Construction on this project was completed within one month!
Professional installation is another advantage of Legacy buildings. By adding construction management services, this has given the building owner a way to remain hands off the project from start to finish.
There are many advantages to tension fabric buildings that make them the preferred option in many applications.