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Frequently Asked Questions

Fabric beef barns are increasingly recognized for their energy efficiency compared to traditional structures, primarily due to their innovative design features. One of the most significant advantages is the abundance of natural light these buildings allow during daytime hours. This natural illumination reduces the dependency on artificial lighting, thereby lowering energy consumption and costs. The translucent materials used in fabric barns ensure that a bright, well-lit environment is maintained throughout the day, which is not only energy-efficient but also beneficial for the well-being of the animals. Moreover, the design of fabric beef barns promotes improved air flow and cooler interiors. This enhanced ventilation means that there is less need for mechanical air movement systems, such as fans or air conditioners, leading to further reductions in energy usage, which makes them as much as 70% more energy efficient to maintain overall.

As customizable spaces, there are numerous benefits to using fabric buildings for beef barns, including that they improve ventilation overall. Options for ventilation and airflow include rollup doors, open sidewalls, ridge vents, and both covered and uncovered chimneys. By utilizing a customized layout and design, it is possible to create passive systems that incorporate both stack ventilation as well as cross ventilation, improving animal health and wellbeing while also contributing to the overall environmental safeguards necessary.

Yes, beef cattle barns with a fabric roof can be easily customized to fit virtually any size requirements necessary.  Our beef barns range from 24 feet wide to 210 feet wide without any length limitations. This allows for ample options whether you need small beef cattle barns for a hobby farm or a large space to increase production.

Simply, yes, fabric beef barns are ideal for beef barn construction. High quality, well-designed, and customized buildings can be effective for 25 to 30 years before the roof needs to be replaced, handling all of the demands of the cattle and the farm itself. The material used in these spaces is specifically resilient to the climate and conditions present, which helps to support its longevity. Fabric can withstand all aspects of nature while providing ample protection from predators as well.

For barn space for a cow that weighs 1,000 to 1,300 pounds, 35-50 square feet per head is ideal. For cow and calf pens, generally 200-500 square feet is adequate.

Cattle sheds and buildings must, at the very least, provide a space that is clean and comfortable for the number of animals present. They must allow for proper drainage of water, room for the animal to stand and lie down, and provide easy access to food and drink. Additionally, it is critical to consider how well the environment supports the production of beef in terms of management of the animals, keeping people and herd safe.

You must consider weather and topography of the area. You also have to consider the location based on feed and pasture availability and ease of access.

Beef cattle fabric covered buildings are highly customizable and designed to be easier to manage overall. They are lighter in weight, which can contribute to more flexibility in the layout, enhancing productivity.

Animal welfare is improved with our fabric material. The fabric material in our cattle buildings allows for more natural light, improving average daily gains (ADG). This fabric roof allows for better temperature control, keeping cattle cooler in the hot summer, and helping to provide protection from harsh winter elements. More so, the improved air circulation and cooler temperatures allow for enhanced cow comfort, leading to improved growth rates.

Fabric beef barns improve animal health, minimize health risks by improving ventilation, and they create an easier-to-manage interior. Because they have a lightweight structure, they are also capable of being designed without interior columns that get in the way of the space you need.

A fabric building has a steel truss frame structure with a fabric membrane roof. The fabric membrane tensions across the framework creating a strong, durable, and cooler space inside.

A fabric building is a frame-supported tensioned membrane cladded structure. Fabric buildings can be permanent, insurable buildings and temporary, portable structures. Fabric structures are available in a variety of quality levels.

All Britespan buildings are pre-engineered to ensure building safety and structural integrity. Our premium woven polyethylene fabric is fully tensioned over our steel structural trusses. The fabric material is UV protected, and our steel trusses are hot dip galvanized after all welding and fabrication are complete to maximize the lifespan.

Learn more about our fabric-building benefits here.

The top three reasons why our customers buy Britespan buildings are:

1) Our fabric allows natural light to illuminate the interior of the building, creating a shadowless and bright environment.

2) Britespan buildings have no interior load-bearing columns that create obstructions.

3) Lead times and speed of construction provide solutions to our customers faster than other methods of construction.

Beyond this, our customers enjoy exceptional ventilation, overall low maintenance management, and options for permanent or portable solutions.

Discover more about Britespan’s features and benefits.

You’ll find Britespan fabric structures in permanent agriculturalcommercial and public works building applications. When temporary and portable fabric buildings are required, Britespan delivers customizable solutions for maximum versatility.

Find a building solution that suits your needs here.

Several factors determine the final cost, including location, site conditions, building width and length, foundation type, finishes and accessories. We recommend getting a detailed quote from a local dealer for your specific fabric-building solution.

Click here to get a free building quote from your local Britespan dealer.

Learn more about our financing options here.

The main advantages of tension fabric buildings with steel trusses include the speed of construction, less maintenance, and an improved interior environment compared to steel or metal roof systems.

Fabric structures are installed in days or weeks, not months — a fraction of the time it takes for traditional building methods. You save on installation costs, operating delays, labour, and overall project timelines with our steel-framed fabric-covered buildings.

Additionally, fabric buildings have longer lifespans and require less maintenance. If kept tensioned, fabric covers are known to last over 25 years without needing repair or replacement.

Fabric buildings let in ample natural daylight, saving on utility costs. They improve ventilation and airflow, are non-corrosive, and have UV protection. Fabric cladding does not heat up in the sun, which provides two exceptional advantages:

1. Heat will not be emitted into the building envelope because of radiation.

2. With proper ventilation, the fabric will not experience condensation as steel does during temperature swings.

Learn more about the benefits of choosing a fabric building here. 

Here at Britespan, we pride ourselves in partnering with factory-trained authorized dealers who will install your building to exceed Britespan’s warranty requirements. Click here to get in touch with your local dealer. Learn more about our services here.

Britespan fabric buildings offer a great variety of customizable options, such as chimneys and eaves for ventilation, doors, insulation, foundations, side entrances, end/side walls and custom branding that can include logo printing.

We have an impressive series of eight different styles of buildings with various standard sizes for each. Britespan’s fabric buildings start as small as 24’ wide and span up to 210’ wide. Custom configurations are also available for our pre-engineered buildings.

View our fabric-building styles here.

If something happens to damage your fabric building, repairs are easily made with a heat-welded repair or by replacing the damaged panel.

Contact us if you need a fabric building repair.

Our pre-engineered buildings have hot-dipped galvanized steel trusses with a warranty of 20 years and a life expectancy that exceeds 50 years.

Our fabric building covers have a warranty of up to 25 years and a life expectancy that exceeds 30 years.

Learn more about our fabric-building warranties here.

Absolutely. Any fabric cover damage should be addressed promptly.

If minor damage has occurred with the fabric cover, we can provide you with repair accessories to quickly resolve the challenge.

With more severe damage, we will connect you with your local dealer to provide the best repair solution for your fabric building.

Fabric buildings require very little maintenance. Fabric structures are rigid and durable for decades when they are installed correctly.

Britespan building manuals contain recommended maintenance intervals. We recommend that customers check the lashing winches yearly to ensure proper tension.

Contact your Britespan authorized dealer to learn about preventative maintenance plans, so your Britespan fabric building remains in good serviceable condition.

Britespan’s pre-engineered buildings are sold through a network of local authorized dealers throughout North America and beyond. Our local dealer experts are professionally trained to assist you in selecting the ideal building series and customizations for your unique needs, whether you’re looking for an agricultural, commercial, or municipal building solution.

Our dealers provide turnkey building solutions and look after your project from concept to completion. Your fabric building incorporates local building codes, weather loads and all other features you’ve chosen.

To connect with your local dealer click here.

You can finance, lease-to-own or purchase your fabric structure through various financial institutions and lenders. We’ll connect you with the resources and professionals to help you understand the options for financing a new Britespan fabric building.

Find out more about our financing options here.

The choice of design for a dairy barn depends on specific requirements and preferences. However, fabric buildings offer convenience in terms of flexibility, customization options, and quick installation compared to traditional structures.  

Yes, fabric-covered dairy barns are more sustainable due to their long-lasting hot-dipped galvanized steel trusses. Also, the HDPE Fabric cover is sustainable due to the cradle-to-cradle designation. Natural lighting and ventilation reduce the energy needs for fans and the amount of light required.

The fabric material in dairy barns contributes to cow comfort and milk production by regulating temperature, reducing respiratory illness by producing better air flow, and allowing for ample natural light, creating an optimal environment for cows.

A "fabric building" is a steel frame supported, tensioned membrane cladded structure designed for column-free interiors, flexibility, cost-effectiveness and quick installation.

The benefits of using a fabric building for a dairy barn include excellent, natural light transmission, proper airflow, and customizable designs that promote cow comfort, feed intakes, herd health, and improves dairy cattle fertility and ultimately, results in higher milk production. To learn more about the advantages of our Britespan fabric structure.

Yes, fabric buildings are suitable and preferable for housing dairy cows throughout the year, as they offer insulation properties, ventilation options, and customizable features to adapt to various weather conditions.

Yes, fabric dairy barns can be customized for different widths, lengths and clearances to accommodate different herd sizes and milking systems, providing flexibility in design and layout to meet specific operational needs.

Fabric dairy barns offer various ventilation options, including ridge vents, eave openings, and sidewall curtains, to ensure proper air circulation. Natural lighting is achieved through fabric materials that allow ample sunlight into the dairy barn.

Yes, fabric dairy barns are cost-effective compared to traditional structures, as they require less construction time, offer lower maintenance costs, and provide energy savings due to their natural light and air space.

Yes, Britespan services all fabric structures.

Contact your Britespan authorized dealer to learn about repairs, re-covers and preventative maintenance, so your Britespan fabric building remains in good serviceable condition. A replacement cover will make your building look like new!

Learn more about our services here.

Britespan offers a 25-year warranty on elite fabrics (flame retardant & non-flame retardant), 20 years on standard fabrics (non-flame retardant) and a 20-year warranty on our steel trusses. Our warranty ensures peace of mind and is another benefit of Britespan’s pre-engineered buildings.

Find out more about Britespan’s warranties here.

Britespan’s pre-engineered buildings are available in a variety of styles and sizes. Our buildings range from 24’-210’ ft wide to any length, depending on the building style.

We have an impressive series of eight different styles of buildings with a variety of standard sizes in each.

To understand what building style best fits your needs, please click here.

Depending on location, site conditions, and building series, foundation types include containers, blocks, grade beam, helical screws, piers, poured wall, pre-cast, slab, posts and base rail. Browse our building series to understand what foundation options are available for each.

When you become an Authorized Dealer for Britespan, you work directly with the support of your Business Development Manager, who provides you with the resources, support, and tools you need to succeed.

Your local Business Development Manager will be happy to walk you through the process of becoming a Britespan dealer. Click here to connect with them and learn more about becoming a Britespan dealer.

We are excited that you’re interested in a career with the fastest-growing manufacturer in the fabric-building industry! Click here to see the list of current job openings.

If you want to become a Britespan dealer, we always seek skilled construction and contracting companies to service commercial and agricultural industries across Canada, the United States, and beyond. To learn more about becoming a dealer click here.

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