How a Fabric Structure Ensures Mission Readiness for the U.S. Military
At Big Top, it has been our great honor to provide shelters for the various branches of the U.S. military over the years. There are many reasons why our fabric structures are able to serve the needs of the military, but one key factor is that our buildings ensure mission readiness. Here’s how:
They Can Be Deployed Virtually Anywhere
Our structures do not require a concrete foundation like traditional brick-and-mortar buildings. In fact, they can be anchored to nearly anything, including gravel, asphalt, ecology blocks, and even shipping containers. Thanks to this versatility, our shelters can be erected anywhere in the world a military base is located, and they can be built quickly at a rate of 2,500 square feet per day. And, because they are temporary buildings, they won’t use up the square footage of the base.
They Can Be Relocated
Big Top’s fabric shelters can be moved around the base, and they can be disassembled and shipped to another location, if needed. This makes them an ideal choice, especially when compared to permanent buildings, to meet the changing needs of military operations.
They Can Be Customized for Nearly Any Purpose
There are plenty of accessories available to customize a shelter for specific needs. Here are some common ways the U.S. military uses our fabric structures:
Flight Line Sunshades
Our flight line sunshades allow the military and Air Force to protect their aircraft on the flight line so they can be ready to go at all times. The protection from the elements provided by our sunshades allows crews to do maintenance directly on the flight line, ensuring much less downtime than when an aircraft would need to be transported to a permanent hangar to perform maintenance. Also, our sunshades are compliant with U.S. Air Force Sunshade Management (AFSM), Air Force Instruction (AFI), and IBC as approved by USACE.
Large-Area Maintenance Shelters (LAMS)
With a clear-span design that is free from internal columns and guy wires, the entire interior space can be utilized for equipment maintenance.
Aircraft Hangars
From single-vehicle sunshades to expansive hangars that can house an entire fleet, our shelters can be designed specifically for aircraft storage and maintenance.
Vehicle Inspection Shelters & Guard Shacks
We can install a fabric building over a road and include a private lane where vehicle inspections can be conducted out of sight. Additionally, our buildings can be used as guard shacks where personnel will be safely sheltered from the elements.
Chow or Mess Halls
A Big Top fabric structure can be used as a mess hall where personnel can take their breaks. We can equip a mess hall with lightning protection, which will allow it to be used as a muster station in inclement weather.
Barracks
The interior of our shelters can be sectioned off for use as barracks, and we can include an HVAC system to ensure the troops are comfortable.
Additional Benefits of Our Fabric Shelters
The fabric roof of a Big Top building is formulated to repel 99.95 percent of harmful UV-A and UV-B radiation, ensuring your staff is protected from sun exposure. This design also helps to maximize the lifespan of your equipment’s paint job and electronics, and helps to keep the interior at a comfortable temperature that is on average 15 degrees cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter than the outside temperature, even without an HVAC system installed.
Furthermore, the fabric roof is translucent and will allow natural light to fully illuminate the interior without the need for artificial lighting, another convenient benefit for when one of our shelters is needed out in the field.
For more information about how our fabric structures ensure mission readiness for the U.S. military, or to speak with a representative about how we can meet your unique business needs with a custom design, contact Big Top today.
