Automotive Applications of Our Fabric Structures
Thanks to their versatile design and exceptional thermal performance, Big Top’s fabric structures are often used for automotive applications. In fact, our shelters can be designed for maintenance, fabrication, detailing, and mechanical services, and they offer outstanding protection from the elements.
Versatile Design
Unlike some of our competitors, Big Top custom designs our fabric structures to meet the unique needs of our customers. Our shelters do not require a concrete foundation and can be anchored to nearly anything. For instance, our buildings can be anchored to asphalt and span roadways, making them a convenient solution for vehicle inspections at borders and restricted areas, crowd management at events, and drive-through medical testing for health care companies.
Exceptional Thermal Performance
One of the key reasons why our fabric structures are so effective at thermal performance is the UV-reflective roof. The fabric roof is formulated to repel 99.95% of harmful UV-A and UV-B radiation. This impressive attribute helps to keep the interior at a mild temperature that is, on average, 15 degrees cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter than the outside temperature, ensuring the comfort and safety of personnel tasking with managing vehicles inside the shelter.
Designed for Long-Term Applications
Though Big Top’s fabric structures are considered temporary buildings, they nonetheless offer long-lasting performance. They are built with an industrial-grade galvanized steel frame and will therefore hold strong season after season, year after year, with proper maintenance. They can also be engineered for heavy wind and snow loads for vehicle services in climates where inclement weather is a concern. Furthermore, the fabric used for the roof is rip resistant and NFPA701 flame retardant.
A Solution That Moves With You
Because Big Top’s fabric shelters are not permanent, they can be relocated when the need arises. This includes being moved intact within your current footprint via crane, or disassembled and shipped to a new location to keep pace with the changing needs of your business.
Cost Saving Benefits
The advantages of Big Top’s fabric structures over permanent, brick-and-mortar vehicle facilities are many. In addition to all the benefits above, our shelters are more cost- and energy-efficient. They require fewer materials, take less time to build (at a rate of 2,500 square feet per day, in fact), and do not require the specialized skills of an outside contractor. In fact, Big Top offers turnkey installation services to make installation easy.
Furthermore, the fabric roof is translucent and will allow sunlight to naturally illuminate the interior, sparing you the costs of having an electric lighting system installed and running it throughout the day. And, thanks to their superior thermal performance, our fabric structures do not require artificial climate control, further saving on energy costs.
Case Study: Expanding Infrastructure for AutoNation USA
Big Top had the pleasure of working with AutoNation USA in Houston, Texas. This auto center is located right off a major interstate and needed to expand their infrastructure to provide services to drivers in need. We custom designed three facilities for AutoNation USA: a service and repair center, a wash and detail center, and an auction center. Equipped with its Big Top fabric structures, this busy service center can now accommodate its many customers without having to overspend on permanent buildings.
Contact Big Top Fabric Structures Today
When you consider all these advantages, it’s easy to see why Big Top’s fabric structures are used for many different automotive applications. To learn more about the benefits of our shelters, or to speak with a designer about custom building one for your needs, contact Big Top today.
