Thermal Values within Tensile Fabric Structures

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FEBRUARY 11, 2015

Thermal Values within Tensile Fabric

Structures
Thermal values within Tensile Fabric Structures have not
historically caused architects or tensile engineers too many
problems. However, with tensile fabric buildings becoming more
and more popular due to their cost savings and the design
freedom which they offer, such fabric structures are increasingly
being used within architecture where Thermal Values are proving
to be problematic.

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Thermal Values, also known as U-Values, covered

by Part L of
Airsculpt
the Design and Build Regulation had a massive upgrade in 2013;

C/O Sattler
however, tweaks and upgrades are continuingly coming
North
throughespecially within commercial buildings
whereAmerica
Tensile Fabric Structures are predominantly being used.

Airsculpt Ltd

Suite 20,
Bowman
Corp
With commercial
buildings roof U-Values currently
being
aimed880at

+1
(844)
Court,
0.2W/m2k, traditional Tensile Fabric Buildings are struggling to
9900
meet suchWhitehill
ecological thermal values. A single membrane layer of
1200gm
info@airsculpt.com
PVC orPTFE/glass weighing in at around
per meter
Lane,
Royal
square has a U-Value of approximately 4.4W/m2k. With this in
mind we can quickly see that such a PVC or PTFE fabric
Wootton
membrane building offers a similar U-Value
to that of glass. If we
Germany
then add aBassett
second internal membrane layer, also known as a
Airsculpt
double skin and, create an air gap of 200mm, it will
reduce the Ltd
U
Wiltshire
Value down
to around 2.6W/m2k, without reducing
C/O
the fabrics
CENO-Tec
translucency benefits. But this still doesnt
achieve
help us+49
(0)a 2571
SN4
7DB
thermal value or U-Value which Part L of the Design and Building
9690
Regulations can and does ask for on certain commercial

01249

mail@sattlerbuildings.
http://www.airsculpt.com/latest-news/thermal-values-within-tensile-fabric-structures/[1/6/2016 5:18:23 PM]

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Thermal Values within Tensile Fabric Structures

848649
0844 8111382
With more and more architects wishing to push the boundaries of
form
info@airsculpt.com
design,
and function within their craft, Tensile Fabric
global.com
Use of Tensile Fabric Construction within Modern
Architecture

Architecture is increasingly being used to help realise the

architects vision. And why shouldnt it, after all membrane

structures can last upwards of 30-years Just as long as most

traditional forms of roofing structure. Additionally, with
Copyright AirSculpt 2014 - All Rights Reserved | Web Design by Imagine
advancements in fabric technology this longevity is set to
increase significantly. Add this to the free flowing clear span
design function which only tensile engineering can offer and you
soon see why Fabric Architecture is helping architects design
the future.
A current and emerging trend we are seeing at Airsculpt is the
amalgamation of traditional construction and tensile construction.
This is allowing architects to develop some truly amazing,
practical and cost efficient design solutions. However, this trend
in design is highlighting the potential conflict with Fabric
Architecture whilst achieving the ever lowering Thermal Values.
What Affects Thermal Values within Tensile Fabric
Buildings?
We could write an entire book trying to answer this, what seems to
be a relatively simple question; however, the best way of
answering this is with another question..what is the
building to be used for?
For instance, if you want to have a tensile fabric structure to cover
and protect goods or property, such as a Temporary Fabric
Warehouse, U-Values dont really come into it, unless you need
to keep the goods at a certain temperature that is. However, if
you add an office area or toilets within the tensile fabric building,
it dramatically changes not only the Thermal Value / U-Value
regulation requirements but also the planning regulations. A good
example to demonstrate this on would be a fabric building such
as a Tensile Fabric Sports Hall. If the Fabric Sports Hall
contained nothing but Tennis, Badminton or Basketball courts
etc., all you need to think about how to keep the temperature
even throughout the year. Add ventilation together with a form of
heating matrix and youve practically sorted this out with M&E
(Mechanical and Electrical). However, add changing room
facilities with showers and toilets and suddenly the structure is
then deemed as a permanent building. In such instances your UValue requirements would drop to that of around 0.2W/m2k which
falls in line with the same U-Values / thermal values which are
found with traditional permanent steel and brick forms of
commercial buildings.

http://www.airsculpt.com/latest-news/thermal-values-within-tensile-fabric-structures/[1/6/2016 5:18:23 PM]

Thermal Values within Tensile Fabric Structures

How to Lower U-Values within Tensile Structures

One way is by suspending a quilted insulation layer such as
Rockwool between the air gaps which have been created by
adding an internal membrane. With such an approach you could
potentially get U-Values down to meet practically any building
regulation requirements. However, with this approach you would
need to use an extremely dense insulation layer, resulting in the
loss of natural lighting benefits which translucent tensile fabric
buildings offer. Quilted insulation layers therefore only offer part
of the solution to meet the ever lowering U-Values within modern
Building Regulations.
At Airsculpt we have seen the need for Tensile Fabric Designs
and engineering to evolve and meet this U-Value challenge head
on. This is why we have been working on developing workable
solutions to help our fabric buildings achieve and surpass the
latest U-Value requirements.
A particular design and build project which we at Airsculpt have
been working on, with such U-Value stipulations, is a sports hall
in Lowestoft. Once built this project is set to see Airsculpt
delivering the first Tensile Fabric Building in the UK to surpass
0.2W/m2k U-values for a roof. Although, we cannot provide
specific details on how we have achieved this U-Value
breakthrough, as it would provide our competition with our
intellectual property, we can say that we have achieved this by
utilising a thermal dynamic air flow and layer system, unique to us
and us alone. Such advancements with U-Values within Tensile
Architecture will soon see membrane buildings becoming one the
most environmentally sound, and, economical forms of
commercial building constructions around.
To find out more about U-Value changes and the challenges they
pose within Tensile Buildings, please feel free to contact us on
+44(0) 1249 848649 or email us at info@airsculpt.com

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Thermal Values within Tensile Fabric Structures

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