top of page
Search

Tents for agricultural and industrial storage: how to choose and what to send us

5 days ago
5 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

A well-chosen fabric tent can cover machinery, harvest, packaging materials or the stock overflow of a building that runs out of space in certain months. The advantage over putting up a fixed construction lies in how quickly it goes up and in the option to take it down, extend it or move it if the needs of the farm or the business change from one season to the next. This guide covers how to choose a tent for agricultural or industrial use and what information is worth having ready before asking for a quote, without promising wind or snow performance, permits or structural calculations, which depend on the project and the engineer who signs it off in each case.

Common uses on farms and in industrial buildings

  • Covering agricultural or industrial machinery during months of lower use, sheltered from rain, sun and damp without needing a permanent building or construction work.

  • Storing harvest or raw material while it awaits processing, packaging or sale, in a structure that is put up and taken down according to the calendar of each farming campaign.

  • Keeping packaging materials, empty pallets, boxes or spare parts in a covered space close to the production line, freeing up space inside the main building.

  • Absorbing stock peaks when the fixed building runs short at certain times of year, without building work or a permanent extension of the existing structure.

These uses share the same starting point: the need for extra covered space that does not always justify a permanent construction, whether because the peak in activity is temporary, the land is rented, or it is not yet clear how long that storage need will last. In every case it is also worth thinking about the tent's orientation and leaving enough access for machinery or loading vehicles to come and go.

Why a fabric tent instead of a fixed building

A tent goes up in a few days, needs no masonry foundation, and can be taken down or moved if the business need or the site changes. That speed and reversibility are the main reasons farms, cooperatives and industrial buildings turn to a fabric structure rather than a fixed construction, especially when the intended use is seasonal or when it is not yet decided whether the storage will be permanent.

A fabric structure also makes it possible to react to a temporary rise in activity without tying up capital in a building that could later turn out oversized or underused. If the need for space turns out to be permanent over time, the same structure can stay up year after year, with only the cover renewed when needed, without starting the project over from scratch.

What to define before asking for a quote

  • The width and length needed, and whether it is worth leaving room to extend the tent later without changing the whole structure.

  • The internal free height, especially if tall machinery or vehicles will enter or pallets will be stacked at several levels.

  • The type of ground the tent will stand on (earth, concrete, asphalt) and the anchoring system available or permitted on that site.

  • Whether the tent will stay up all year or only for a particular campaign or season, which shapes both the structure and the fabric choice.

Choosing the fabric

PVC-coated fabric for tents is made in different weights: a heavier fabric gives more resistance to daily use, goods handling and contact with machinery or pallets, while a lighter one may be enough for occasional, short-season or less demanding use. There is also a choice between an opaque finish, which blocks direct light better and protects goods that are sensitive to sun or heat, and a translucent one, which lets natural daylight through and reduces the need for artificial lighting during working hours.

When the site's insurer or the competent authority asks for a fire reaction certificate for the fabric, Plastold supplies its fire-rated fabric with T2 class under UNE-EN 15619, with the corresponding certificate included with the material. It is worth checking first with the insurer or the authority exactly what that installation requires, since not every warehouse or agricultural building is subject to this requirement, and asking for it without need only raises the cost of the quote.

For replacements, future extensions or projects with their own measurements, it can make sense to buy the fabric by the 100-metre roll rather than ordering a made-to-measure cover straight away, especially when the installation is done with in-house resources or when it helps to keep fabric in stock for occasional repairs.

Maintenance and replacing the cover

A tent's fabric should be checked periodically for chafing, cuts or worn areas, especially at the anchor points, the seams and the areas where machinery or people pass frequently. A regular check makes it possible to spot small damage in time, before it spreads with the wind or under the weight of the fabric itself. It is also worth clearing off leaves, dust or accumulated dirt from time to time, since a clean surface ages more slowly than one left continuously exposed to residue.

When the cover starts to show signs of ageing from use or prolonged sun exposure, only that replacement cover needs to be replaced rather than the whole structure, which extends the life of the installation and avoids a bigger investment in a new structure that is in fact still perfectly usable.

What to send us for an accurate quote

  • The width, length and internal free height you need, and whether an extension is planned later.

  • The intended use: machinery, harvest, packaging, general stock or another specific use of the farm or building.

  • Whether the tent will be permanent or for one particular season or campaign only.

  • Whether you need the fire reaction certificate for your insurer or for the competent authority in your area.

Get in touch

With that information, Plastold prepares a quote suited to the complete tent or to the replacement cover you need for your farm or industrial building. You can also request the fabric sample book to assess weights and finishes before deciding, or write to us directly through contact and tell us about your case. The more information you provide from the first contact, the more accurate the quote you receive will be, and the fewer exchanges will be needed before confirming the order.

Real project: PVC grandstand roofs and 288 tent side walls, made in Málaga for a major motorsport event in Madrid. See the project

 
 
 

Comments

  • WhatsApp Plastold
bottom of page