| Is it possible to create a building with walls and a | | | | occupied space of the building is pressurised. |
| roof made from 99.5% fresh air? Would it then | | | | An inflatable building only requires pressurised air |
| be possible for this building to withstand anything | | | | within the cavities of the walls and so does not |
| the weather could throw at it - from gale force | | | | require airlocks since the occupied interior of the |
| winds to heavy snow fall? | | | | building is at normal atmospheric pressure. Since a |
| The surprising answer to these questions is yes! | | | | much lower volume of air is pressurised, inflatable |
| Not only is it possible but it is already being done | | | | buildings require a lot less power for continuous |
| in many countries around the world. The buildings | | | | operation. |
| in question are in fact inflatable buildings. | | | | The air contained within the walls of an inflatable |
| It's important at this point to make a distinction | | | | building become a true structural part of the |
| between air-supported buildings and inflatable | | | | building. The membranes used in the construction |
| buildings. A traditional air-supported building is one | | | | of such buildings are typically less than 1mm thick |
| which is comprised of a single layer membrane | | | | and so the amount of membrane used compared |
| attached to the ground around its perimeter. Air is | | | | to the volume of air contained within the walls is |
| blown under the membrane to lift it off the | | | | incredibly low (typically less than 0.5%). |
| ground and form the shape of the building. | | | | A major benefit of this style of construction is |
| An inflatable building on the other hand, uses two | | | | that air is available just about everywhere on the |
| layers of membrane connected together typically | | | | planet. When a building needs to be moved, the air |
| using spars made from the same material. The | | | | can simply be allowed to escape enabling an entire |
| cavity formed between the layers is pressurised | | | | building to be packed in to a very small volume |
| with air producing a rigid structural element which | | | | compared to its inflated size. The building can then |
| allows large span structures to be achieved. | | | | be transported easily to its new location and |
| The key difference between the two styles of | | | | inflated using the one building material which is |
| building is that air-supported buildings require | | | | readily available everywhere - air! Better still, this |
| airlocks at all the access points to prevent air | | | | building material is absolutely free. |
| being lost when doors are opened since the entire | | | | |