Technical FAQ's

Q: What is the fabric covering made of?

A: The fabric covering is composed of a woven polyester mesh impregnated on both sides with a PVC coating. The PVC is UV-resistant to protect the polyester from the effects of the sun. The fabric is available in a variety of colors and top finishes.

Q: How long does the fabric covering last?

A: The PVC covering has a nominal lifetime of 15-20 years, depending on the environment.

Q: How do I repair a hole in the fabric?

A: Rubb offers a PVC Repair Kit that can be used to heat-seal a patch over small punctures in the membrane.

Q: Will I need a new fabric cover if I expand my Rubb Building in the future?

A: No, the PVC sheets are designed to be modular. In most cases, the building can be expanded with no modifications to the existing cover.

Q: What is the difference between hot-dip galvanizing and pregalvanized steel?

A: Pre-galvanized tubing is typically thin walled, high strength steel tubing with the interior surface painted for protection and exterior surface coated with a thin zinc coating. During fabrication the tubing is cut to length and welded. A zinc rich paint is used to cover the area that was burned off through the welding process. This results in poor protection for the painted exterior and no protection on the unseen interior of the tube in the area of the welding heat.

Hot dip galvanizing to ASTM A-123 occurs after fabrication when completed assemblies are immersed in a molten zinc bath. In this method, both the inside and outside surfaces of the material are galvanized and the protective zinc coating is generally many times thicker than on pre-galvanized tubing. This method of producing a zinc coated truss insures protection inside and out for many years with a service life that is more predictable.

Q: How long does the steel framework last?

A: Indefinitely with minimal care. Rubb hot-dip galvanizes its welded steel after fabrication to ASTM A123 which gives a service life of 30 years w/ 5% rust.

Q: How do I repair damage to the steel framework?

A: It is advised that you consult with a Rubb Engineer to determine the extent of the damage and its effect on the structural integrity of the building. In many cases, repairs can be made quickly in the field. For more extensive damage, Rubb can manufacture replacement parts.

Q: What equipment do I need on site to erect the structure?

A: Some of our products, such as our smaller shelters and the RES hangar, are designed so that no heavy equipment is required. For other shelters, a forklift is suggested. For larger buildings manlifts, high-lift forktrucks and cranes can be utilized. Additional equipment may be needed for tasks such as driving earth anchors.

Q: Is a Rubb Building designed to meet building codes?

A: The Rubb Building range product is conservatively designed to meet local building codes for roof, wind and seismic loads.

Q: My project requires a Professional Engineer's review. Can Rubb provide this?

A: Yes.

Q: Can I move a Rubb Building around on my job site?

A: Rubb Buildings can be equipped with a variety of accessories to enable repositioning of the structure. Depending on your requirements, we can add wheels, rails or lifting points to the building.