Tension Fabric Building Foundations
There are a number of foundation options available for use with tension fabric buildings. While cost is always a factor, the first consideration in determining the proper foundation is whether the installation is a temporary or permanent structure.
Generally, temporary foundations will be less expensive to install but are limited in the size of buildings they will support, and will not match the longevity of permanent foundations. Temporary foundations do not normally require heavy machinery or a large workforce to install. Often a couple of people with common tools can prepare a temporary foundation. Temporary building foundations, most of which do not include a sub floor, work well for agriculture buildings, riding arenas and work areas.
Permanent foundations, often chosen because they feature a solid, durable floor as part of the foundation, are well suited for sand and salt storage buildings, fertilizer storage buildings, water treatment plants, recycling facilities and aircraft hangars.
All foundations should be approved by a local foundation engineer to ensure that they are designed to accommodate the design load requirements for the site.
In the following section we will review the common foundation methods utilized for tension fabric buildings.
