Another significant step that leading fabric structure suppliers have taken to distinguish themselves is vertical integration—bringing all their design and manufacturing processes in-house and being the primary point of contact for all project communication.
It is common in the tension fabric building market to outsource the fabrication of the structure’s metal frame. However, some manufacturers have invested in their own on-site facilities to produce the I-beams for their building projects. With certified welding inspectors as part of staff, these companies help ensure a higher level of quality control (QC), while avoiding the occasional surprise of receiving out-of-spec framing components from an outside source.
As an extension of manufacturing the I-beams, some companies now have their own paint shops to treat them. This capability has allowed manufacturers to offer premium coatings such as epoxy paint at an affordable cost, gradually replacing hot-dip galvanizing as the fabric building industry’s preferred method for protecting steel frames and components from corrosion.
The change is significant. The thin layer of zinc added during galvanizing comes with a limited service life, as that layer basically exists to sacrifice itself until it is eaten away, leaving the frame unprotected when it reaches that point. Epoxy paint, by contrast, creates a true barrier between corrosive elements and the steel beam, helping to prevent corrosion from ever touching the steel.
Aluminum framing systems, which are naturally corrosion-resistant, are another alternative in the fabric building industry. However, depending on the application and design goals with respect to structure size and frame strength, they are not always a compatible project solution.
Some companies have taken fabric production in-house as well. This allows internal personnel to fully handle another major component of the building, ensuring a controlled environment for the fabric cladding to be prepped and manufactured to the proper specifications.
To further ensure all in-house services are achieving the desired standards, leading manufacturers also go through an ongoing audit process to maintain International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) A660 certification. In particular, fabric buildings in Canada must be code compliant with CSA S367, covering all air-, cable-, and frame-supported membrane structures.
