Fabric Building FAQs
Considering a fabric building? Here are straight answers to the questions we are asked most, covering planning permission, how long they last, insulation, moving your building and installation times. If your question is not covered here, our team is always happy to talk it through.
Do I need planning permission for a fabric building?
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Often, yes. A fabric building is a substantial structure, so unless it is small or genuinely temporary it usually needs planning permission. Whether you need it comes down to the building's size, its use, how long it will stay in place and where it sits on your site. Smaller or short-term buildings can fall under permitted development, and structures below 100 square metres or in place for less than 28 days are often treated differently, but a large permanent building on a commercial site will normally need a full application.
Building regulations usually apply to a permanent fabric building too, covering foundations, fire and structural safety. We take the guesswork out of it. At the design stage we tell you which route your building falls under, and if an application is needed we prepare and submit the drawings, structural information and supporting documents, then manage the process through to approval.
How long does a fabric building last?
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A well-built fabric building is a long-term structure, not a short-term stopgap. The steel frame is hot-dip galvanised after fabrication, which resists corrosion far better than standard galvanising, and a properly engineered frame has a life expectancy well beyond 50 years. The tensioned fabric cover is the part exposed to the weather, and kept properly tensioned it typically lasts around 25 years or more before it needs replacing.
When the cover does reach the end of its life, you do not replace the whole building. We re-sheet it, fitting a new cover to the existing frame for a fraction of the cost of a new structure, which resets the clock on the part that wears. With that in mind, a fabric building can serve you for decades. Frame and fabric warranties vary by specification, and we confirm exactly what applies to your building when we quote.
What insulation options are available?
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Yes, a fabric building can be insulated to suit how you use the space, whether you need to take the edge off for a working environment or hold a more controlled temperature for stored goods. Insulation is added as part of the build, using liner and insulation systems fitted to the frame, and it is far easier and more cost-effective to specify it up front than to add it later, so it is worth raising early.
Fabric has a natural advantage here. Unlike steel, it does not heat up in the sun and radiate that heat inside, and with the right ventilation, such as ridge vents and eave openings, a fabric building avoids the condensation that often forms in metal buildings. Tell us the temperatures and conditions you need to hold, and we will specify the right combination of insulation and ventilation for your building.
Can a fabric building be relocated?
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Yes. Fabric buildings are modular by design, so they can be specified as permanent, temporary or relocatable to suit how long you need the space and where. The steel frame is bolted together and the cover is tensioned rather than fixed permanently, so a building can be dismantled, moved and re-erected on another site rather than written off when your needs change.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind. A relocated building has to be re-engineered for the wind and snow loads of its new location, and the foundations need to suit the new site, so a move is a planned job rather than a lift-and-shift. If you know from the outset that you may need to move the building, tell us, and we will design it with relocation in mind so it comes apart and goes back up cleanly.
How long does installation take?
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A fabric building goes up in weeks rather than the months a traditional steel or concrete building takes. Because the frame and cover are manufactured off site and arrive ready to assemble, our crew can erect the structure quickly once the groundworks are done, with far less disruption and labour on site than a conventional build.
The overall timescale depends on the size of the building, the foundations it needs and site conditions. A straightforward building on good ground goes up fast, while a larger building, or one that needs slabs, piers or extensive groundworks, takes a little longer, because the foundations have to be in and cured before the frame goes up. We give you a clear programme with your quotation, so you know what to expect from the first delivery to a finished, weathertight building.
Still have questions?
Speak to one of our experts about your project and we will provide answers, guidance and a fixed-price quotation. Call, email or fill out the form and we'll be straight back to you.
Lucas Hooijenga, Managing Director
lucas@eurodome.com | 07500 66 44 22
Cameron Dickson, Commercial Director cameron@eurodome.com | 07868 20 88 47