The principles of metal-fabric technology can be traced back to the 12th century on the harsh plains of central Asia. The Mongols were among the first peoples to construct buildings from rigid wooden frames and animal skins. The large yurts they made provided sufficient protection from extreme day-night temperature shifts, wild animal attacks, storms, and snow. The American Indians made smaller structures that could be easily assembled and disassemble at whim. Both teepees and yurts illustrate the notable benefits of metal-fabrics. This article looks at three ways in which metal fabrics provide remarkable security benefits at construction sites.
Metal Fabrics Defined
To truly appreciate the benefits offered by metal fabrics, you should start with an understanding of the material. The term ‘metal fabric’’ can be quite deceptive in that it prompts a comparison with organic fabrics. However, metal fabrics have only one thing in common with nylon, polyester, and cotton. This common material attribute has to do with how horizontal and vertical threads intertwine in organic fabrics. In place of intertwining threads of yarn, metal fabrics have metallic threads intertwining at right angles to form a loose mesh that can be used to make metal mesh walls.
Two types of metal fabric mesh are available for use by building contractors.
These two metal fabric mesh types are the Welded Wire Mesh and the Woven Wire Mesh. In wire welded mesh, the metallic threads are welded together at points of intersection. Doing so compounds the strength of the fabric. In woven mesh fabrics, the intertwining threads remain as they are. The woven mesh type of architectural metal mesh features immense stretching ability. Both metal fabric forms are suited for use in construction sites a metal mesh walls.
1. Impeccable Weight-Bearing Capacity
The most immediate benefit that metal fabrics avail at construction sites revolves around their enhanced weight-bearing ability. Metal fabrics can bear incredible weight due to two main factors. First and foremost, metal fabrics make use of stainless steel wire. The tensile strength of stainless steel is 2000 MegaPascals. The implication is that a stainless steel wire with a cross-sectional area of just 1mm2 can support up to 20 kgs without breaking. If this is the strength of only one thread in a mesh of intertwining wires, then stainless steel metal fabric must possess a remarkable weight-bearing capacity.
How metal mesh walls installed occurs also contributes to their weight-bearing capacity. Installation of stainless steel mesh fabric utilizes using a variety of secure attachments. These attachments include eye hooks, stainless steel frames, and eye bolts. Secure attachment of stainless steel mesh to buildings and scaffolding provides ample protection to both workers and bystanders. The woven mesh quickly stops falling debris, equipment, and other heavy objects, thereby ensuring the safety of pedestrians. Furthermore, metal fabrics can easily save the lives of workers by stopping falls from high elevations. Indeed, no other material exists to rival the protective capability that stainless steel wire mesh offers.
2. Opacity
Residents do often raise health concerns regarding the risks possessed by dust, falling debris, and noise pollution emanating from construction sites. Local authorities, in turn, respond by halting the affected construction projects translating to costly delays. A metal mesh facade can help avoid negative sentiments that construction projects can arouse within a locality. The opacity of metal mesh walls helps to keep material and noise pollution in check.
3. Ventilation and Dispersed Lighting
Finally, a solar mesh provides workers with protection from the effects of harsh sunlight, allowing consistent output throughout the day. The loose mesh also ensures that free air movement occurs, facilitating adequate ventilation of all areas within the construction site.
In Conclusion
The construction industry is involved in a quest to realize building technologies with low carbon foot-prints. Furthermore, various governmental bodies now enforce regulations aimed at achieving greater energy efficiency in buildings. It is a time in which there is considerable incentive to invest in sustainable materials and building technologies. Metal-fabric construction is one of the main ways in which architects, contractors, and investors will attain this sustainability objectives.
