Structural Fiberglass Shelters vs. CMU Shelters
Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) "cinder" block shelter construction is cheap, but does it provide the best value and usability when compared against structural fiberglass shelters? Let’s compare them below and see!
Unlike site constructed CMU, Openchannelflow Structural Fiberglass Shelters are pre-engineered and arrive on-site ready to go! Naturally resistant to the effects of corrosion and humidity, fiberglass shelters will not rot, rust, or decay.
Find out why fiberglass shelters can be a superior choice versus CMU buildings for a wide range of industries, providing long, useful lives and low lifetime ownership costs!
Comparing Fiberglass Shelters and Concrete Shelters
Corrosion Resistant: Fiberglass is naturally corrosion resistant. Concrete, on the other hand, requires specialty paints / coatings to improve their resistance. These coatings take time to apply and must be periodically refreshed. Chemically bonded to the fiberglass laminate, Openchannelflow’s gel coat won’t chip, flake, or peal, have U.V. inhibitors blended in, and are available in over 210 different colors.
Lightweight: Openchannelflow Fiberglass Shelters are considerably lighter than CMU construction. As a result, foundation, installation, and transportation costs are lower – saving on time, manpower, and equipment.
Frangibility: Aviation Shelter applications frequently require that a shelter be “frangible” – or able to be broken into pieces when sufficient force is applied. Frangible airfield structures are required to prevent catastrophic damage to aircraft during collisions. The ability to break apart upon impact minimizes the hazard to planes and personnel, and helps to preserve an aircraft’s integrity by absorbing energy and reducing large debris. The modular nature of Openchannelflow’s fiberglass shelters exactly meets this need.
Maintenance: With chemically bonded gel coat and seamless construction, Openchannelflow Fiberglass Shelters require no annual maintenance – and little maintenance over their considerable lifespan. When located at sites accessible by the public, CMU shelters require special coatings if graffiti might happen.
Ownership Cost: Openchannelflow Fiberglass Shelters provide consistently lower lifetime ownership costs than CMU constructed concrete shelters. They require no annual maintenance, have lower manpower and equipment needs, are quick to install, and have long useful lifespans.
Thermal Protection: Hollow block CMU provides little in the way of R value. In order to increase that value secondary insulation has to be added. This can be done by adding foam or using specialized inserts to reduce thermal bridging. This adds time and cost money.
Openchannelflow’s fiberglass construction encapsulates an insulating core directly from the factory. Available in thickness from 1 to 5 inches and in R values of up to 30, the insulation is fully encapsulated with each insulating cell encapsulated in our proprietary X-web technology Construction.
Time: Depending upon the size and complexity, CMU concrete shelters can take weeks to build. They typically require multi-contractor crews and require staging areas for the raw materials. Construction time can also be limited by rain, cold, or other weather conditions.
Shipping as a single, factory integrated structure with installed lifting points, Openchannelflow Fiberglass Shelters can be unloaded and set in place in a day on a prepared slab. Secure the shelter to the concrete slab and connect your power and the fiberglass shelter is ready to go!
