When you need covered space on a construction, mining, or industrial site, both fabric and steel shelters can be good options. Both can protect equipment, vehicles, and work areas from weather and jobsite exposure.
The right choice depends on what you need the structure to do, how quickly you need it, and whether it needs to remain in one location.
How Fast Do You Need a Shelter on Site?
If you need covered space quickly, a fabric shelter usually has the advantage.
Traditional steel buildings can be a good fit when you have more time to plan and the structure is meant to be permanent. They often require significant site preparation, foundation work, material delivery, and construction before they’re ready to use. Depending on the project, this can take weeks or longer.
Fabric shelters use prefab components that can be assembled more quickly. Some container-mounted shelters, including Allshelter, can be installed in 1-to-4 days depending on the size, configuration, and site conditions.
For a jobsite with a tight schedule, getting a conex canopy into operation quickly can mean less disruption and faster access to needed storage or workspace.
Cost of Fabric Shelter vs. Steel Building
Steel buildings can require a larger investment upfront. In addition to the building itself, you may need to budget for foundations, site preparation, labor, equipment, permitting, and other construction costs.
Fabric shelters can reduce some of that initial expense because their components are prefabricated and installation is generally simpler. They also typically require less site preparation.
Keep in mind that cost should be evaluated based on the entire project. A steel building might make more sense when you’re investing in a permanent facility with extensive utilities and interior requirements. But a fabric shelter may be a better fit when you need covered space without the cost and construction time of a traditional building.
Flexibility and Relocation of a Shelter
This is one of the biggest differences between fabric and steel.
A traditional steel building is designed to stay where it’s built. Moving it can be complicated, and components may need to be modified or replaced.
On the other hand, fabric shelters are designed with flexibility in mind. Their frames and fabric covers can be disassembled, transported, and installed at another location. They can also be modular, making it possible to expand or reconfigure the shelter as project requirements change.
This is particularly useful for construction and mining companies that operate across multiple sites. Instead of building new covered space every time a project changes, the same shelter can be used again.
Other Factors to Consider When Choosing a Conex Shelter
Beyond installation, cost, and flexibility, there are a few other differences worth considering when comparing a conex shelter with a traditional steel structure.
- Natural light: Fabric covers can allow natural light into the shelter, reducing the need for artificial lighting during the day. Steel buildings generally require windows, skylights, or translucent roof panels to achieve the same effect.
- Temperature: Fabric is non-conductive and does not radiate heat in the same way steel does. An open-ended fabric shelter can also allow airflow, creating a cooler working environment during hot weather.
- Usable space: Because they don’t require numerous interior support beams, fabric structures can provide wide, open interior areas. Steel buildings may require additional structural supports that can limit usable floor space for equipment and storage needs.
- Weather resistance: Both fabric and steel structures can be engineered for demanding weather conditions. The important factor is choosing a structure designed for the wind, snow, and other environmental loads at your specific site.
Materials: Fabric vs. Steel Structures
The materials used in each structure affect how the building performs.
Traditional steel buildings use steel for the primary structure, as well as exterior walls and roofing. Steel is strong and durable, making it a good choice for permanent facilities. However, exposed steel can require maintenance to address corrosion, and metal buildings can get hot when exposed to direct sunlight.
Fabric structures use a steel frame but replace the traditional metal walls and roof with a fabric membrane. Allshelter uses Straatex® HDPE fabric, which is designed for durability and weather resistance.
The fabric also provides natural light and can help create a cooler interior compared with a steel-clad building. The tradeoff is that fabric shelters aren’t designed to provide the same type of enclosed, finished environment as a conventional building with insulated walls, HVAC, plumbing, and interior finishes.
When Should You Choose Fabric or Steel?
The best choice depends on the specific needs of the job and the site.
Choose a fabric shelter when:
- You need covered space quickly.
- Your project is temporary or medium-term.
- The shelter may need to be relocated.
- You want to cover equipment, vehicles, or materials.
- A large, open interior space is needed.
- Lower upfront construction costs are important.
Choose a steel building when:
- The structure will remain in one location for many years.
- You need a fully enclosed and finished building.
- Extensive utilities, HVAC, plumbing, or office space are required.
- The building is part of your site’s permanent infrastructure.
There are also situations where either option could work. For example, a mining operation may use a conex canopy for equipment storage while also building a permanent processing facility from steel.
Why Choose Allshelter?
If a fabric shelter makes sense for your project, the structure still needs to be properly engineered and built with high quality, weather-resistant materials.
Allshelter container shelters combine engineered steel frames with durable, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fabric. The shelters are designed for demanding construction, military, industrial, and other jobsite applications.
Allshelter also uses ISO-certified manufacturing processes and offers container-mounted designs that can be installed directly to shipping containers. This provides a practical option when you need covered space without needing to build a permanent structure.
Finding the Right Shelter For Your Job Site
Fabric and steel shelters both have their place on a jobsite. Steel can be the better choice for a permanent, fully enclosed facility, while fabric shelters can offer faster installation, greater flexibility, and large open spaces for storage and work areas.
The key is to choose based on how you actually plan to use the structure. If you need a durable, fabric container shelter that can adapt to changing project requirements, contact us at Allshelter or call 1-888-481-3889. We’d be happy to discuss your options.