Frequently Asked Questions

There are several benefits to using fabric buildings:

1. Cost-effective: Fabric buildings are typically more cost effective than traditional buildings because they require fewer materials and have a shorter construction time.
2. Versatility: Fabric buildings can be used for various purposes, including warehouses, sports facilities, agricultural buildings, and event spaces.
3. Durability: Fabric buildings are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and are often made from durable materials such as PVC or polyethylene, which can last many years with proper maintenance, even in rugged areas.
4. Energy efficiency: Fabric buildings can be designed with insulation and other energy-efficient features, which can help reduce energy costs and improve environmental sustainability.
5. Easy to assemble: Fabric buildings can often be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled, making them a practical solution for temporary or temporary-to-permanent structures.
6. Customization: Fabric buildings can be customized to meet specific needs and requirements, such as size, shape, and color.
7. Low maintenance: Fabric buildings require minimal maintenance and can easily be cleaned and repaired.

Yes, fabric buildings can be very durable. Fabric buildings are designed to withstand harsh weather conditions, including high winds, heavy snow loads, and extreme temperatures. Many fabric buildings are made from durable materials such as PVC or polyethylene, which can last many years with proper maintenance.

Additionally, fabric buildings are often designed with structural steel frames or other strong and durable materials to provide additional support and stability. These frames can help to distribute the weight of the building and any contents evenly, reducing the risk of structural damage.

While fabric buildings can be durable, it is important to maintain the building to ensure it lasts long. This may include cleaning and repairing the fabric as needed, inspecting the building regularly for signs of wear or damage, and following the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance procedures. Taking good care of a fabric building can provide a long-lasting and reliable structure.

Yes, fabric buildings can be used for mining operations. These portable buildings are flexible and versatile solutions that can be used for a wide range of purposes, including storage, workshop space, and equipment shelter.

There are several factors to consider when deciding if a fabric building is suitable for use in a mining operation, including the specific needs of the operation and the environment in which the building will be used. For example:

1. The fabric material: Fabric buildings are typically made from PVC or polyethylene. These are durable materials that can withstand harsh weather conditions. However, it is important to consider the specific conditions the building will be exposed to, such as the type of climate, the presence of dust or other abrasive particles, and the likelihood of heavy machinery or equipment being used in or around the building.
2. The structural integrity of the building: Fabric buildings are usually designed with structural steel frames or other strong and durable materials to provide additional support and stability. It is important to ensure proper planning of the structure and the opening of the building based on the usage, like bigger entry points and wider frames for heavy equipment storage.
3. The safety of the building: Fabric buildings can be designed with safety features such as fire retardant materials, emergency exits, and ventilation systems to ensure the safety of workers in the event of an emergency. It is important to consider the specific safety requirements of the mining operation and ensure that the building meets those requirements.

Read more about how Fast Cover Fabric Buildings can help your mining operation.

Fabric buildings are primarily used for temporary or permanent storage, workshops, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and event space. They can be quickly and easily assembled, disassembled, and relocated, making them a versatile and cost-effective alternative to traditional buildings. These portable buildings are ideal for industries that often require additional storage or workspace to accommodate seasonal changes. 

Some industries we serve include Energy & Exploration, Maintenance & Manufacturing, Commodity Storage, Construction Warehousing, Industrial Operations and Mining. 

Check out the industries using Fast Cover Portable Fabric Buildings.

Fabric structures are more versatile, durable and cost-effective than traditional structures. They are typically made from a flexible material such as fabric or canvas rather than rigid materials like concrete, steel, or wood. This gives them a number of unique properties and advantages, such as being lightweight, portable, and easy to assemble and disassemble. Fabric structures are also more flexible and adaptable than traditional buildings, making them suitable for a wide range of applications. They can be used for temporary or permanent storage, workshops, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and event space.

Our buildings are designed to meet National building code for rain wind and snow loads. Engineered stamped drawings can be provided at an additional cost upon request.

We offer patch tape that can be used to repair small tears and holes in the fabric.

All of our structures come with a 15-year pro-rated warranty. Typical life span of the fabric is 20-25 years.

We sell extender kits that can be added on to any building to increase the length of your FastCover structure.

Our buildings range from 24’ – 140’ wide with unlimited lengths.

Check with your local jurisdiction to determine if building permits are required within your area.

A fabric structure requires very minimal maintenance. You may need to tighten the ratchets from time to time to ensure the fabric stays tight. And if your building is held down with anchors you may need to tighten the turn buckles.

Although FastCover provides a 15 year pro-rated warranty we see many of our structures with over 20 years of service. The fabric is warranted against defects in material and workmanship, ie: fabric welds separating, webbing in the storm flap pockets, etc. The majority of these items may arise within the first 6 months with years of service beyond that. In the event fabric is ripped, torn or punctured, FastCover provides “patch tape” with pressure sensitive adhesive which can resolve smaller incidents. We always recommend insuring your structure as act of nature are not covered under warranty. Our oldest FastCover at our manufacturing facility is going on 20+ years and continues to provide good service although it is not pristine white anymore.

We look at National and International Building codes for your specific region which provide the snow, wind and rain loads in the area. This information is then loaded into a computer program which we have developed over the years. The loads in your area are compiled with the computer modelling of engineered FastCovers and provided are relatively accurate determination of the type of construction required to meet those loads. The variable in meeting loads is generally the width between the structural trusses that we manufacture. As an example, in high snow load areas we may recommend that main truss spacing being be tightened up from 10’ to 8’ on centre. In the event of high winds we may increase the strength of door or end wall components so they can manage the wind loads. Many factors come into play when looking at putting up a new fabric structure. We design and engineer FastCovers to provide our customers with a quality product that meets and exceeds the conditions it will be used under. As always, in the event a new structure requires site specific engineered stamped drawings, modifications may be required to achieve the required loads.

We have been manufacturing and fabricating mild steel for over 40 years. Formerly Hi Qual, we produced millions of pieces of livestock handling equipment and then fabric structures to the ranch and farm sectors which were extremely harsh on their equipment. Relatively economical mild steel when combined with powdercoat paint make for an exceptionally robust finish providing great longevity and rust inhibition. All products are cleaned and washed in our 3 stage automated wash tanks and then powdercoated, ready for packaging. The majority of heavt equipment, especially in the Agricultural sector are powdercoated for durability, so why not powdercoat the structure used to store and maintain that same equipment.

Great Question!! In this day and age any manufacturer needs to provide good quality, great service and competitive pricing. These are 3 things all companies must have to even play in the game. FastCover is unique in that it is a relatively small privately held company that understands that there will always be others with lower pricing but not necessarily comparative quality and service. By helping clients make the best decision for them we have been fortunate to successfully capture more and more repeat business from our valued clients. They in turn have provided us with additional opportunities within their organizations or with other businesses they work closely with. When a client recommends FastCover to one of their valued partners it is of utmost importance to ensure the end result is successful. Why do you ask… because the reputation of your customer is also on the line for recommending FastCover. We know challenges can arise in manufacturing or on site during erection. Our clients understand this also and they evaluate us on how effectively and efficiently we resolve those challenges.

FastCover originally only manufactured fabric buildings and sold them through a network of dealers, who ultimately sold them to and sometimes installed them for the end user. In 2015 we made the decision to control the sales and installation aspects of our product. By moving to a “Factory Direct” model we were able to accomplish 2 things that added value for our customers. Firstly, the removal of dealers allowed us to sell FastCovers at a lower price directly to the end user and secondly the customer had direct contact with us before, during and after successful installations. This second aspect has provided peace of mind for our customers because FastCover has taken full responsibility for the entire process.