January-February 2011

Operational Flexibility With Temporary Structures

Materials recovery facilities (MRFs) that have outdoor storage areas, that are expanding, or that require flexibility can benefit from temporary structures. A major advantage is the MSW manager’s ability to move the structures around the operation as needs dictate.

One type of temporary structure is the fabric structure, which is becoming increasingly attractive for such operations as recycling, composting, and asphalt shingle recycling. ClearSpan Fabric Structures, South Windsor, CT, utilizes white, semi-opaque 12.5-ounce polyethylene—which has an estimated life of 20 to 25 years—stretched over a galvanized steel frame. According to ClearSpan, the fabric lets in significant natural light, which reduces or eliminates artificial lighting costs and helps shorten the payback period.  Natural light also keeps the interior dry and free of bacteria and mold. Unlike permanent buildings, the exteriors never need to be painted and the structures are erected quickly, reducing labor costs.

Because the structures are considered temporary, the owner owes little or no property taxes on them. Minimal foundation requirements allow the structures to be easily relocated. One Cleveland-based private refuse hauler is planning to move an entire 120-by-60-foot ClearSpan structure and relocate it to another operation in Cincinnati. Temporarily erecting such a structure can allow MSW managers to control moisture content in commodities, such as compost and discarded tires that are recycled into paving material, while also addressing air-quality and water-runoff issues.

The structures do not require center supports, making them suitable for the movement of such equipment as loaders. They can be manufactured to any length and in widths from 20- to 300-feet. The structures reportedly provide temperature differentials of 15 to 20 degrees in the summer and winter.  Zinc-coated frames stand up to corrosive environments, and the structures are engineered to local wind-load and snow-load requirements.

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