Fabric Structure Case Studies
Specialty doors
For the first of fabric structure case studies I will take you to Mount Isa Mines in Queensland. Taurus Fabric Build had installed six 26m wide x 36m deep fabric structures. These were mounted on double stacked containers, to store 90,000tons of copper concentrate.
A year later the EPA required these six structures to have doors installed. Taurus could not source any of these huge doors within the time frame, either in Australia or overseas.
To meet the clients expectations they hired an engineer and boilermakers to designed and built the six 20m wide x 7m high door frames with manual lift mechanisms in Cairns.
Taurus designed the fabric covers, and had the fabric door covers made in Brisbane. They also designed the quick opening mechanisms, as there was no power at the storage sites.
Even though time lines were tight, and the product was not available, the Taurus team was able to create a timely outcome at an acceptable price to their client.
Mangrove swamp base
For the second of the fabric structure case studies. Taurus Fabric Build imported a 40m x 40m fabric structure from Slovenia, to extend Toll's trucking depot at Gladstone.
The challenge we had was the yard was build over an ancient mangrove swamp. It had about a metre of fill, then a concrete slab over the top. We also found when we started to install footings there was an underground stream that ran under the site.
The footings were designed for Region C Terrain Category 1, 273 km/hr winds, which created an uplift of 33 tons for each footing.
We achieved this hold down by using two 10m deep ground anchors per footing, with 300mm wide heads, and grouting them in place.
The ground anchor holes were augured first to ensure we were able to get the grout to the head of the anchor. It took 3 weeks for the grout to set and be ready for testing, which was not conducive to restful nights sleep during this period. But we achieved 100% success with the tests.
Starting at the end
In a recent quote a Taurus was asked to quote on 50m x 50m of workshop and storage space under fabric structures for a wind farm installation. Initially the client wanted 2 x 50m long x 25m wide post mounted structures.
The project was to take two years to complete, then the structures were to be sold off or relocated. In this case the real cost included; The cost of the structure, its efficiency of operation, and the value realised for the structure at the end of the project.
Taurus quoted two 61m long x 20m wide shipping container mounted structures, as they cost considerably less per m2 than the 25m wide post mounted structure, plus they are more marketable, to sell at the end of the project.
As the structure was for smaller components for the wind farm we recommended containers as they added further secure storage and potential office space.
The 40' containers enabled the use of six joined, separate structures, 4 structures 24.4m long and 2 x 12m long. Having multiple structures enhances the resale market price as 20m wide structures are used in aviation industry and agriculture.
The structures are to be secured with ballast blocks, which can be made on site, leaving the soil undisturbed. At the end of the project these can be sold to an established market with developers, in the two adjoining towns, for ground retaining walls.
By taking a "cradle to the grave," approach Taurus was able to come up with a more cost effective option, that had a much lighter environmental footprint, with less wastage.
Summarising this project the client
- Saved money at the start by having a more economical structures.
- Had the flexibility of having office space and secured storage as part of the structure.
- Had six structures to market at the end of the project which had a much wider market than just having two 61m long structures. This should realise a substantially higher price and quicker sales.
- The ballast can be produced economically with moulds on site and there is a an established secondhand market in the region.
- The environment impact will be minimised by having reusable structures and ballast. the site can return to its original form at the end of the project.
- The overall usable space was slightly larger, 2,885m2 with the 20m wide structures compared to 2,500 with the two post mounted structures.
At Taurus Fabric Build our focus is on the best long term solution, that reduces the environmental impact to a minimum.
Contact Taurus
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Taurus Fabric Build Mob: 0400 030 835, Email: [email protected],
Office: The Bunker, 79 McLeod St Cairns QLD 4870, Australia