Q: What type of coatings/venting would you recommend for storage of corrosive materials (salt/fertilizer)?

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1 Andrew K. Maxim S. Q: What type of coatings/venting would you recommend for storage of corrosive materials (salt/fertilizer)? A: For corrosive materials such as fertilizer, we highly recommend installing a fabric inner liner for ultimate protection against corrosion. With the addition of a liner, we can also enhance our steel warranty. Please contact us directly for more information. Q: What kind of heating systems do you use in your fabric athletic facilities? A: Although radiant heat is most commonly used in tennis facilities, we can include almost all other types of heating systems. Q: How large can a sports arena skylight be? A: The skylight can be any size you want. Remember that by adding a skylight, you will lose R-value but gain natural light and its benefits. Q: How are viewing platforms created in athletic buildings? A: Viewing platforms may be added onto the column by designing a point load on the frame. The load needed will depend on the platform size. Q: How many athletic fabric tennis facilities have you built? A: We have built numerous facilities from small to very large across the U.S. In fact, we have three scheduled for Q Q: How is the Spirit AeroSystems building heated? A: This building is heated with a forced air system. Q: How is radiant heat installed in an athletic facility? A: The heating system is suspended from the frames. Q: Is it possible to install glass into the ceiling for a skylight? A: It is possible and will add to the cost of the structure. 1

2 Bob S. Jacob L. Q: What is typical cost per SF of fabric building compared to traditional metal building? A: We are generally about the same price for materials, but we are almost always less expensive to build. Q: When the fabric is not anchored to the top of the roof structure, will all wind uplift be transmitted through the fabric to the winch and base of the frame? Is that an advantage to kedering it to the frame and inducing wind uplift into the frame itself? A: When the fabric is not attached to each frame and it is lifted due to suction, the forces applied to the fabric are all applied to the frames/trusses they are attached to and the tensioning system at the base. We would find it extremely difficult to calculate the forces this scenario applies to the frames, thus we always attach the fabric panels to every frame. Q: What is the typical lifespan of the fabric? A: The typical lifespan for our most commonly used fabrics is 20 to 30 years. Our most common fabric is warrantied for 20 years. Q: I currently have an existing fabric structure. We want to retrofit it to have fire sprinklers. Should I ask the vendor what the collateral load is to accommodate? Are there any questions that should be posed? A: I recommend asking the vendor for more information to determine if the building can handle the new loads. The next step would be having the fire suppression system designed and the loads calculated so that necessary upgrades can be made to accommodate your building-specific suppression system. Q: Can or how do you retrofit a fabric building for insulation? A: We would start by verifying that the frames/trusses can handle the additional dead load. Additional insulation will depend on a lot of factors, truss vs. frame, depth of truss/frame, etc. Please contact us if you want help or more information. 2

3 Edward S. Dan W. Julie G. Paulo V. James L. Q: What is the standard width between frames? Are there any options for different widths? A: At Legacy Building Solutions, our standard bay spacing is 20' wide, and yes, we can offer different widths, typically to accommodate larger sidewall doors. We can also offer jack beams for very large sidewall doors. Q: What is the R-value or is separate insulation used? A: A non-lined building (single skin) is very airtight but has no real R value. Adding a liner typically adds R3 to R6 depending on the frame depth. We commonly use R30 fiberglass insulation. I see you are in Minneapolis; I would like to invite you to come see our office and fabric manufacturing plant which are both insulated with R30. We are located a little over an hour west of Minneapolis. Q: What is the life span of fabric? A: The typical lifespan for our most commonly used fabrics is 20 to 30 years. Our most common fabric is warrantied for 20 years. Q: What is the cost of replacing the fabric? A: This can depend on the type of fabric and the size of the panels. On average, the price for fabric only (no install) ranges from $1 psf to $1.50 psf. Q: What is the cost difference between metal-clad rigid frame and fabric-clad structures? A: The cost difference will depend on numerous factors, but typically our materials-only price is similar and our construction costs are less. Q: How can a fabric structure comply with current Energy Code requirements? A: We can easily comply by adding a liner and insulation package (typically R30). 3

4 Nathan C. Denny M. Q: What does LEED stand for? A: LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Q: Do you guarantee the welding for the life of fabric? A: Yes, our warranty definitely covers our fabric welds. Our welds are continuously tested to verify they meet our standards, which are above industry standards. Q: How much cost does insulation add to the overall install? A: Typically adding R30 insulation adds from $3 to $5 psf depending on size, height, install conditions, etc. Q: Any case studies in very cold climates with increased snow and wind load? A: Yes, we have installed buildings in the Arctic Circle with no issues. Q: Do you provide complete engineering/design services? A: Yes, we offer complete services for the building and can offer foundation design as well. We also offer full construction services. Q: What happens to the fabric in -40 C weather? A: The colder it gets the more fabric wants to shrink. Once it is properly tensioned this force (of shrinking) is applied to the frames. Our frames and secondary framing are designed to handle these loads. Installing a fabric structure in extreme cold can be very challenging and cost more. Having a crew that has cold weather fabric installation experience is critical for success. Q: What are the ROM costs of PVC and PE fabric materials only for a typical 90 mph wind and 20# snow loads? A: This will vary greatly depending on size, height and design criteria. Please contact us and we can offer ROM pricing after receiving some more information. Detailed packages including ROM and building drawings are typically available in 1-2 business days. 4

5 Gary A. Thomas M. Q: This is a steel frame as opposed to a pipe truss; can this support a permanent steel roof making a code-compliant permanent building someday after the fabric becomes not desired? A: Yes, if we know of this intention prior to design and manufacturing we can design the frames to be used to support metal cladding in the future. Q: Can I have fabric roof and wood frame walls? A: Yes, we have done this numerous times and it performs very well. The steel frame is not installed atop the wood wall; the steel frame continues to grade and the wood walls are incorporated within/beside the columns. Q: Are erection costs included in quoted costs, or am I getting a load of parts? A: We prefer to install all of our structures with our in-house installation crews. If you request a proposal it will clearly itemize the installation cost. Q: Most tensile fabric "tents" are clear span; can I have a part span to save costs? A: Yes, we can design interior columns. Q: The Texas web structure collapse and the Minnesota Vikings tear seems to have begun by the failure of the "fabric" first, causing a further stress failure. The web truss guys say they use a 12.5 oz. 15 year fabric; is your fabric any different and, how? A: We offer better-quality fabrics with a far better performing tensioning system. Q: An equine arena made with a web truss system is "legally" called a temporary structure, or "tent." Are your buildings able to share this low tax advantage? A: This will vary by location, and is ultimately at the discretion of the local building official. This authority does not lie with the manufacturer of the structure. Q: I noticed the roof slopes are fairly steep - what is the minimum? A: In higher snow load areas we prefer to keep the roof pitch at a 3/12 or greater. Where there is no snow load we have gone as low as a 1/12 pitch. 5

6 Todd O. Swapnil U. Bradley S. Q: Is the material classified as combustible or non-combustible? A: Our fabrics are fire rated and meet the requirements of NFPA 701. Q: How do fabric roofs meet energy codes? A: We can meet the energy code by adding insulation and liner systems. Q: Is there a minimum roof slope? A: Our minimum roof slope is 1/12 in no-snow areas and 3/12 in snow areas. Q: Can RTU's be used for heating and cooling? A: Yes, we use them often but we set them on the ground along the building. Q: Can the fabric be easily penetrable? A: Yes, it is fairly easy to add penetrations into the fabric. Something small like a conduit can take minutes, and a large HVAC duct can take a few hours because framing would be required. Q: In all of the images when you say the span of the walls, is that the span in between the trusses? A: Our standard bay spacing is 20' wide, but we can offer wider and narrower depending on needs of the customer. This bay spacing is the span between the trusses along the length of the building. Q: If there is an accumulated snow load on the roof and it is not practical to heat the building what is a method to get the snow to slide off? A: Significant snow seldom (or never) accumulates on a properly tensioned roof. This is why it is very important to have panels installed in individual bays with a keder system. 6

7 Fernando A. Satish S. Ray W. Q: Could you induce a vibration to the frame or girders and through the vibration create an avalanche-like effect to get the snow to slide off? A: We have never found the need to attempt to use vibration to remove the snow. The frames and fabric are designed to carry the snow load indefinitely, but if the snow stays on the fabric long term (weeks or months) then the fabric can start to elongate - therefore we use the steeper roof pitches. An owner would typically witness no more than 2-3 inches of snow accumulation before it is coerced from the roof via wind, vibration or the liquification of the lower layer. Q: I am located in Puerto Rico; what strategies or alternatives do I have when specifying a fabric building for the Caribbean Region where the hurricane season and potential 140 MPH winds are a reality we have to deal with? A: We have experience designing buildings for high wind loads, up to 200 mph. We would love the opportunity to work with you in Puerto Rico. Q: What is approximate $/SF cost for a simple gabled roof structure? A: There are many variables including size, height and design criteria. Please contact us if you have a specific size in mind and we can offer a rough order of magnitude. Detailed packages including ROM and building drawings are typically available in 1-2 business days. Q: What is kedered edge? A: A keder edge is basically a rope welded into the edge of a fabric panel. Q: How long is your nominal custom design period? A: We typically have ROM quotes in less than 48 hours and firm quotes in another 48 hours. From that point we can typically offer approval drawings within weeks. Q: How long is your nominal manufacturing period? A: From NTP our typical manufacturing timeframe is 6-8 weeks for primed buildings. Add 2 weeks for hot dip galvanized. This is dependent upon the time of year, and there are opportunities to expedite of course. 7

8 Jose R. James B. Q: Have you provided a fabric structure for vehicle/equipment storage? Any with a gravel floor? A: Yes, we have numerous buildings for equipment storage with gravel floors. Q: How do you protect from puncture. If the end use is a warehouse for security purposes? A: If puncturing or vandalism is a high concern we would recommend steel cladding for the bottom 8'/10'. All fabric cladding can be cut with a knife. Q: How are the prices differences between a standard pre-engineered building with metal siding vs. fabric? A: Our building material package is typically very similar to PEBs, but our construction cost is typically considerably less. Of course, our system installs much faster, offers natural light, is relocatable and resists corrosion very well. Q: How does it protect with to heat transmission in tropical areas vs metal siding with reflectivity capacities? A: Properly ventilated fabric structures are naturally cooler than steel buildings in tropical climates. Q: What is the DL of fabric in psf vs steel cladding? A: The DL of our fabric system (including purlins/struts/girts) is typically 1# psf lighter than all steel. Q: For cold-weather climates, is there a "R" insulation value or range for a fabric structure? I know there are sometimes Energy Code requirements that need to be achieved. A: A non-lined building (single skin) is very airtight but has no real R value. Adding a liner typically adds R3 to R6 depending on the frame depth. We commonly use R30 fiberglass insulation. 8

9 Ben L. Edgardo R. Murilo O. Bob N. Q: How do you manage condensation under the membrane within occupied spaces? A: Fabric by nature has less condensation than steel. Condensation is controlled by proper ventilation. Furthermore, since none of our purlins touch the fabric the condensation typically follows the fabric down the roof and exits the building. Q: How compare the prices of tension fabrics buildings vs standard metal buildings. A: There are many variables including size, height and design criteria. Please contact us if you have a specific size in mind and we can offer a rough order of magnitude. Detailed packages including ROM and building drawings are typically available in 1-2 business days. Q: For areas subject to strong winds, is there emergency release systems to avoid destruction of the building/cladding? A: Yes, it is possible to offer an emergency release system, however it is not our standard practice. We can offer this system in the method we attach our fabric to the frames. Q: For a salt storage facility, what do you do to prevent salt dust from building up on the steel structures and corroding them? A: The ultimate solution is to add an inner fabric liner as this will seal the building from the inside out. When adding a liner we can offer longer steel frame warranties. Please contact us and we can offer drawings, pictures and references for this system. Rupesh G. Q: Can you please suggest how to effectively fabric an existing structure which is 2: 12 low slope pitch. It is on open web truss. We have had fabric replacement on this structure but it does not remain in tension. Any suggestion is helpful? A: Please contact us with more information; we would appreciate the opportunity to help you. 9

10 Lawrence D. John K. Thomas K. Peter C. David H. Q: Can you install fabric skin to PEMB structure? A: Depending on details this may be possible. We would need more information, so please contact us if interested. Q: What about insulation? How do you retain conditioned air and block cold/heat from exterior? A: We often offer full insulation and interior liner systems to retain heat/cold. Q: Can the fabric be repaired due to accidental damage? How? A: Yes. One advantage of offering individual fabric panels is that we can easily replace the affected panel if the damage sustained is too great to be simply repaired. The repair, when feasible, would typically consist of one or more heat-welded patch(es). Q: Can please you talk about roof penetrations for material handling equipment and spouting? (i.e. Can I put an elevator leg through the roof?) A: Yes, this is easily done if we have all of the proper information in advance. Q: Can you give some examples of what the insulation package is comprised of? A: We typically offer R30 fiberglass with an interior liner. Please contact us and we can offer drawings and more details. Q: Is the steel framing system made in the USA or imported from China? A: All of our steel is made in the United States. Q: How is the roof membrane insulated? A: We often offer full insulation and interior liner packages. 10

11 James W. Mr T. Mojtaba T. Q: Can the membrane resist 120 mph wind loads along the East coast? A: 120 mph wind loads are no problem as we build all along the East Coast, including 150-MPH regions in Florida. Q: How can fabric buildings account for extreme loads placed on the fabric itself that may not be distributed to the frame? A: Legacy structures are designed to handle extreme snow loads including in British Columbia and the Andes in Chile. In a properly tensioned fabric system the loads applied to the fabric are always transferred to the frame. Q: Can flexible solar panels be installed on fabric roofs? A: At this time, we do not have experience with flexible solar panels on our roof system. Please contact us with more information and we may be able to help you. Q: Do you have branch in Iran? A: I am confident we may assist you from our base office in the US as we have significant experience worldwide. At this time do not have a branch in the Middle East. 11