As the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and aviation industry develops, there has been a rise in demand for Rubb fabric hybrid modular hangars due to the efficient design and building system.
Rubb structures are modular designed, which helps to reduce the overall structure weight, compared to traditional hangars. The framework itself is hot dip galvanized, post-production, to prevent corrosion. To continue the reduction of overall structure weight, and support the ease of construction and save costs, Rubb hangars are clad with tough PVC impregnated polyester fabric. The membrane is tensioned over the steel structure and anchored to the foundations.
Rubb hangars are designed to British building standards or Eurocodes with regards to wind speeds and snow loadings. Like a traditional hangar, Rubb structures are designed to accommodate the full weight of snow acting on the roof. Being designed this way makes a Rubb structure a direct and comparable alternative to a traditional hangar.
Further advantages of this system are fast construction times and the ability to relocate if necessary. A hangar project for easyJet at Gatwick Airport took only six months to design, manufacture and build. The Rubb solution will also help meet the airport development plans, which require the hangar to be moved in the next few years.
To further improve Rubb’s eco-friendly hangar designs, steps are being made to invest in technologies to support running costs such as solar power and self-sufficiency. Rubb has been exploring how roof and gable surfaces of buildings can harvest and utilise solar energy to power maintenance and operations within hangar systems.
Rubb hangar roofs use a translucent membrane to allow natural daylight to illuminate the workspace, while the white roof surface reflects heat. Optional Thermohall insulation minimises heat transfer, prevents condensation and virtually eliminates thermal bridging and air infiltration. This combines a flame retardant, heavy-duty fabric as an outer layer, with high-density glass wool insulation as the core and a self-cleaning PVC fabric as an inner layer.
Rubb strives to ensure that its custom-designed hangars continue to be cost-effective. This could be by minimising heating space and costs, or looking at the long-term strategic plan of a company and working with them to create a hangar that can adapt and move with the growth of their business. By continuing to provide excellent and honest customer service around the world, Rubb is looking forward to another successful 40 years in aviation.