Rules of Temporary Fabric
Covered Buildings
In the
beginning… Everything has a start and so did fabric covered buildings. "Fabric
buildings" were
new and the code people did not know what to do in order to regulate "fabric
buildings". I can
remember going to the building department and spending many hours trying to even
convince them what we wanted to build in their county. At that point in the
fabric covered buildings history we often only needed to meet the fire retardant
rules and that was all. Some fabric buildings manufacturers started calling and selling
fabric buildings as “temporary buildings” and because they were fabric covered buildings it
would often work and there was no permit needed. It was only after they had been
constructed and they realized these fabric buildings were getting much larger, had a
long life span and were being used for other uses than agricultural applications
that the code world people started to take notice of fabric buildings. The question was how do we
address fabric covered buildings, how should they be regulated?
One of the
first things they decided to
do was define what a “temporary” structure
could be. Because they were unique in their characteristics a new section in the
code was developed (Chapter 31) to cover fabric buildings and a few other similar items like
canopies and walk way covers.
In the
meantime in order to not lose the momentum of fabric buildings sales many companies decided to
continue to tell their fabric covered buildings customers that they did not need to get a permit. Which
was quite a sales ploy huh? Many people bought and constructed fabric covered
buildings only to find out they must take them down because they were in
violation. Well meaning, but uneducated fabric building buyers would call us up time after time
and tell us that they did not need a permit to construct fabric buildings, in fact we still
hear it today. The fact is even if you obtain a temporary designation for your
fabric covered buildings or any other building larger than 120 square feet, you
still have to submit the proper documentation for a permit. Fabric buildings also must meet
the required fire resistance ratings of the IBC.
Below is the
description from the IBC Chapter 31, which includes fabric buildings.
SECTION 3103
TEMPORARY
STRUCTURES
3103.1
General. The provisions of this section shall apply to structures erected for a
period of less than 180 days. Tents and other membrane structures erected for a
period of less than 180 days shall comply with the International Fire Code.
Those erected for a longer period of time shall comply with applicable
sections of this code.
3103.1.1
Permit required. Temporary structures that cover an area in excess of 120 square
feet (11.16 m2). including connecting areas or spaces with a common means of
egress or entrance which are used or intended to be used for the gathering
together of 10 or more persons, shall not be erected, operated or maintained for
any purpose without obtaining a permit from the building official.
3103.2
Construction documents. A permit application and
construction
documents
shall be
submitted for each installation of a temporary structure. The construction
documents shall include a site plan indicating the location of the temporary
structure and information delineating the means of egress and the
occupant load.
3103.3
Location. Temporary structures shall be located in accordance with the
requirements of Table 602 based on the
fire-resistance rating of the exterior walls
for the
proposed type of construction.
3103.4 Means
of egress. Temporary structures shall conform to the means of egress
requirements of Chapter 10 and shall have a maximum exit access travel
distance of 1OO feet (30 480 mm).
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MBD Fabric Covered Buildings Cost - Pricing